Best climbing shoes for indoor and outdoor reddit. Be careful, though, because brands differ.



Best climbing shoes for indoor and outdoor reddit r/indoorbouldering: A subreddit for the indoor bouldering community. In general one could say that softer shoes tend to perform better inside compared to a stiffer pair, due to the style of the climbs. Best Outdoor All-Rounder: Scarpa Arpia V ($169) Best Sport/Mixed Shoe: Unparallel Qubit ($186) Best Bouldering Shoe: Scarpa Drago XT ($229) Best for Beginners: Butora Rubicon ($150) Best Shoe for Steep Routes: La Sportiva Mandala ($209) Best Training Shoe: Scarpa Veloce L ($175) Best Pure Slipper: La Sportiva The La Sportiva Cobra could be one of the finest indoor shoes I have worn. And yes we are scared of falling. use whatever shoes you have right now for outside, as most shoes grip very well on concrete, and then buy a pair of nice indoor shoes and only use them indoor. I’ve gone through dozens of shoes doing everything from alpine routes to V11 boulders, and would be fine with a pair of moderately broken-in Katana Velcros Miura VS - steep outdoor shoe Miura XX - project sending shoe, generally steep (sized down) Katana Velcro - multis (quick on/off) and easy climbing (they’re sized up compared to my miuras) TC Pro - cracks / trad shoe Cheap decathlon branded shoes x2 - indoor training, they’re not great so it makes me stronger Then, I got a more performant shoes for outdoor climbing: the scarpa Vapor, and then used my origin only for training. Asics usually have a non-removeable sole so using certain ankle braces may not work with them Hi there, I'm sorry if this has been asked somewhere on here before. I spend most of my time sport climbing indoor, maybe around a 70/30 split of the time, where I engage in bouldering more often than top/lead climbing. So here I am again searching for new climbing shoes. But on some outdoor climbs/boulders I’ve used my softest shoes, and sometimes a stiff pair is nice in the gym! Need shoes, been doing a good amount of bouldering and indoor climbing. Butora Acro Comp: Best Shoes for Indoor Competition Climbing. either get mizuno, asics or basketball shoes depending on your preference. I wanted to ask about scarpa instinct vs shoes if some of yoy have some experience with the I would get them in my street shoe size. The Comp does away with the 3D heel and opts for a more sensitive design instead. I know evolvs fit my feet so I stick with their phantoms for downturned aggressive shoes and their Kronos when I need a softer shoe. Apr 16, 2025 · What to look for in sport climbing shoes; Ten things you need to know about climbing shoes; Our favorites; Honorable mentions; Most gear roundups cover new releases. They won't all fit you, so just go for the ones where you put your foot in and you go "WOW that's comfy". I have all three of these so it’s all personal opinion - in the end I only really use the Scarpa ones and only outdoors - I have other shoes for warmup and such at the gym. Now I m looking for flat shoes suitable for indoor and outdoor climbing, sport or alpine climbing. I was thinking about buying the ocun's bullit or havoc climbing shoes but I'm not sure if they are beginner friendly. I myself have been climbing for a bit more than half a year and have been using La sportiva Zenits which has been enough for me (climbing up to V5, projecting V6), although I do not have anything really to compare to so would love some input on what to recommend! Have a friend that is getting hooked on bouldering so he is contemplating some shoes to avoid them sweaty rentals. I've been climbing for around 3 months now, and I bought some generic climbing shoes but turns out they were oversized for me and the return policy didn't apply. For example my 2 go-to pairs are La Sportiva Solutions and Miura VS. I’ve climbed my old home wall in all sorts of shoes and it didn’t damage anything. Plenty of folks at my gym just buy the bag of chalk and use that as-is. Fitting your climbing shoes for comfort is like buying a car because you like the driver’s seat. 4M subscribers in the climbing community. Like every climbing shoe, the right one for you ultimately comes down to how well the shoe fits your foot and how well-suited it is to the climbing terrain. Mar 10, 2025 · The La Sportiva Tarantulace ($89) has been one of the top-selling climbing shoes on the market for decades. For instance, Tenaya and La Sportiva sizing came up much smaller, while Black Diamond and Boreal came up larger during the test. Important Specs; 6. Just wondering what the best shoes to get are. When a company designs a new suite of shoes, they send pairs to us and our testers, and we climb in them, compare notes, write a review, and then, later, do a roundup of the latest and greatest releases of the year. Scarpa Drago LV: Best Shoe for But honestly, for 90% of climbing, the best shoe is the one you like. My first climbing shoes were the Tarantula in 42, then the old Katana laces (2x) in 41,5. I think it comes down to the individual problem, and having both a soft shoe and a stiff shoe is a good idea. Nov 10, 2023 · Bouldering Indoors? La Sportiva released the Solution Comp in 2020. Edit: Talked to a dude at the gym, tried on several different pairs of shoes before finally getting a pair of 5. Hello, I absolutely love my Katana Laces to sport climbing outdoors, but every time I’m climbing indoor in the gym (either lead climbing or steep wall circuits) I feel bad as I’m aware I’m probably ruining the edge of my shoes (and I’m also aware they’re unnecessarily rigid for the gym). Nov 13, 2023 · The shape of the sole is one of the primary distinctions between indoor and outdoor climbing shoes. These have big soft flexible soles so unless you can pretty much get your whole foot on the hold they'll just bend and slide off. Outdoor climbing will be on quartzite, limestone, sandstone, granite. All of that background to say If you had to recommend 1 shoe, you used every climbing session (2-4 times a week for me) for indoor bouldering what would it be? This is because im softer shoes the structure and the sustain of the shoe is given for the majority by the feet constricted in it, while on stiffer models the sustain is given by the feet but also by the shoe rigidity. Nov 7, 2024 · The best climbing shoes can vary widely, and those who want more sensitivity may find that they need to drop down to a size, or half a size than their trainer size. I resole my shoes. You need to try the shoes on or know what type of feet the manufacturer makes shoes for. Facts. It’s getting too cold for outdoor climbing here so I will probably get indoor shoes now and outdoor shoes later. However, I have found the Tanta are way less comfortable. Softer shoes will conform to those big plastic holds and smear on the sandpaper-textured wall with ease. I had to retire my scarpa origin a while a go, and bought the tenaya Tanta to replace them while training. Biggest selling point for me is the comfort though. I adore my katanas for all kinds of outdoor climbing- they edge really well and are decent crack shoes too. It's additionally a bad question because if you climb enough to buy your own shoes you almost certainly wear 10 pairs of shoes out before one pair has issues related to it's actual age, so abusing cheap Finales or Aspects doing outdoor crack climbing to save wear on your Comp Solutions both gives you a better crack shoe and saves money in the The worst possible shoes you can wear are super comfy running shoes. Evolv Venga: Best Indoor Climbing Shoe for Kids. But when the origins can’t be resoles anymore, I’ll surely pick up the tarantulas to fill the gap. I was wearing Millet Easy-Ups prior. Important Specs; Pros; Cons; 4. Many new climbers are drawn to the Tarantulace — and for good reason. Either way, I agree. Decide what kind of shoes you want (lace, supportive, hard rubber for edging, for example). I've been climbing for almost 2 years, indoor bouldering and outdoor sport. As a messenger bag, the moon bouldering bag is great for carrying with your crash pads. This makes the forefoot more flexible, making the Comp better suited to the more dynamic style of indoor climbing. . From advice on which gym to visit… It mostly depends on the problem, indoors I've always seen people going softer, especially with more and more comp style problems. I’ve been researching online and la Sportiva solution comp shoes seem to be really popular- but everyone strongly advises against them for being uncomfortable and expensive ( for a Jan 11, 2022 · Reddit & other climbing forum testimonials; 12. Outdoor climbing shoes have a different shape that allows them to grip onto small edges and pockets found on I know shoe posts are disliked here but I haven’t seen anything about smearing. I think converse or 'tennis shoe' style trainers with quite stiff soles and firm edges seem to be the best 'normal' shoe for climbing. They get this reputation of being the pinnacle of climbing shoe performance but pretty much every gym foothold is more positive than the feet you’ll find on an outdoor 5. Going outdoor climbing for the first time this weekend and would like to get a separate pair for outside. Outdoor there are athletes that tend to change and adapt the shoe to the problem a lot ( like Aidan Roberts with Scarpa models) but there are still boulderers that stick more to one/two preferred model ( like Brooke Raboutou with the La Sportiva's Skwama or My main problem is toe pain with a really loose heel. Preferably the same shoe size would be good. 5. Section divider Ten Things You Need to Know About Climbing Shoes 1. Those are the shoes I use if I really need a tight heel. My friend climbs v2 in Dragos because she somehow managed to stumble on them for $50 and thinks they’re comfy. My street shoe size is 42,5. Any recommendation? I’ve been researching what climbing shoes to get as I’ve just started and have been climbing for a few months. La Sportiva Oktaki: My general shoe. it has nice padding and easy slider adjust. The five shoes I will share with you on this page are some of the best climbing shoes for intermediate climbers available in 2023, all of which are I've been indoor climbing for a while know and have been using La Sportiva Theory's (and really like them). 1. See full list on outdoorgearlab. Nowadays, gym culture has taken over and some people seem to have narrowed it down to different types of gym climbing, or indoor/outdoor sport climbing and bouldering. If you are doing a wide range of climbing with one pair of shoes, professionals tend to prefer soft rubber because the negatives can be compensated by getting strong feet. How much do bouldering shoes cost? Once more, there are a variety of A subreddit for the indoor bouldering community. Very comfortable and I actually feel secure on the smaller holds vs the rental shoes I was using before. Outdoor they were a little too soft for anything but easier roofs and slabs. I also have a small narrow heel and find most LS shoes are too baggy for me, particularly in men's. Im currently climbing in my tarantulas although comfy they aren’t that good. It’s super gross for the climbers but from a business perspective it makes sense. For context, I'm a 23-year-old male. As for rope climbing, my home gym is bouldering only, so I just don't have a lot of access, but I do indoor rope climb maybe once a year. I'm looking to buy a good pair of climbing shoes for beginners! Here's all the information that may (or may not) be helpful: I've been climbing for 4 weeks and am climbing 5. My outer large toenail can break off in chunks when I wear climbing shoes, so Egyptian shape shoe could be ok too? I didn't buy a more aggressive shoe until a year or so in, and after I fell off a bunch of roof routes in my old shoes (and they got holes in them). Find which shoes do that and go try them on. I'm a newbie to indoor climbing and was wondering what clothes would be best to wear for mobility purposes. Be careful, though, because brands differ. Since you plan to climb only indoor you could even consider trying something softer (especially if you are a lighter climber). Not much bouldering, mainly sport climbing, narrow and flat feet overall, second toe is barely longer than big toe I've had the Scarpa Velocity climbing shoes in the beginning in the size 37,5 (my regular shoe size is 36,5 to 37) and even though they are a size/half a size bigger than my regular shoes, I still experience horrible pain in my big toe (the toe seems to curl up in the shoe and since I'm alpine climbing, when there comes a part, where I need to Nov 17, 2023 · Here, we’ve compiled ten of our favorite bouldering shoes—and a list of ten things to think about when buying climbing shoes. More comfortable than my TC Pros. To help you get started on your search, here are a few of my favorite outdoor climbing shoes for various different outdoor climbing You want to lean towards softer rubber for slab climbing smearing and indoor climbing/standing on volumes, but you want harder rubber for tiny edges. Then you'll have big climbers who like soft shoes and light climbers who like a stiff shoe. Nothing wrong with getting a higher performance shoe if you find it on sale. com Soft shoes are probably your best bet for the gym. May 27, 2025 · Best Climbing Shoes at a Glance. Right now aggros and old moccs. I was told by a shoe guide in a climbing store that you should try on as many shoes as you can to find the best fit; it does not matter what they look like, as long as they are In Bosnia, the selection of these shoes is limited and overpriced, so my only option is online stores like banana fingers and epictv( bergfreund doesn't ship here for some reason). I have 4 pairs of shoes now and that's the least amount I've ever owned. Indoors the foot chips are big enough so that stiffness matters little. 10 Asym's. These shoes don Jul 29, 2022 · The growing popularity of outdoor recreation and adventure sports, along with a rapid increase in indoor climbing facilities over the past decade, means the number of new entrants to rock climbing is ever expanding. Over the past decade, our team has tested over 45 of the best climbing shoes for women. Although no shoe will be the master of every type of climbing terrain, there is a huge selection of great outdoor climbing shoes that cater to every requirement you can imagine. Outsole Rubber / Thickness: NEO Fuse 4mm Over the years I've got probably a half dozen or so pairs of shoes and I find I care more about their type in regard to what terrain they are best on rather than if they are better indoor vs outdoor. I have many commercial holds. This might be super obvious but I'm a bit clueless and don't want to rock up in something impractical if that makes sense. You could also try women's skwamas if you've been wearing the men's shoes, they're wide and the heel is narrower. 11 in almost any shoe laceup, velcro, slip on, rubber all hardly matter. Many outdoor shoes: crack/slab/trad, right now TC pro with C4 and upp-moccs. Important Specs; 5. Apr 22, 2025 · Whether you're a newbie or a seasoned pro, the right pair of climbing shoes is essential. Best of Reddit; Topics; Content Policy; very comfortable for long sessions both indoor and outdoor. Sep 20, 2024 · A top-tier climbing shoe designed to perform in overhangs and micro-edging, the Unparallel Flagship Pro is a high-end model that boasts efficient toe/heel hooking and an aggressive downturn, making it stand out in indoor steep terrain. Some classic intermediate shoes are Kubo, Veloce, and Finales. The ideal pair will offer the fit and performance that match your climbing style so you can tackle the wall more confidently. V3-4 climber? Technique ok, muscles nonexistent. Obviously can’t compare them to other beginner shoes, but these definitely suit me in indoor bouldering and top rope climbing. Five Ten Hiangle – Best for Overhangs; See All Bouldering Shoes! FAQs What are the best bouldering shoes? As I have highlighted higher up the page, the best bouldering shoes are often times a personal opinion. Important Specs; 7. I have been eying the Sportiva Solutions, are they any good? I'm very indecisive, so it takes me 6 months and I start looking for new shoes as I buy a pair lol. for a good pair of starter shoes I would recommend the LA sportiva tarantulace (90 bucks), they fit comfortably and break in easy they have laces which I liked because if felt more secure… beefy toe pads and good heal pad all around solid shoe There are no real differences between indoor and outdoor shoes. La Sportiva Solution Comp: Best Indoor Climbing Shoe for Women. Heck, you don't even need to buy a chalk bag. Jun 1, 2023 · 3. It can be worn in front to counterbalance the pads, but unlike a backpack, the messenger bag is slimmer and can be positioned just above your waist for better view of your steps. Comfort is not king. It's a preference, comfort, and pairing with you as a climber. History: I climb and boulder indoor/outdoor for nearly 10 years now. Anything related to indoor (and outdoor) goes. Will I be okay in them? What do Dont worry about what other people say about a certain shoe; if your comfortable and feel like you can climb for a couple hours or so in them, then they are the ones. Best Rock Climbing Shoes for a Beginner Nov 16, 2023 · This is the preferred style for indoor shoes because gym climbing is significantly more dynamic and three-dimensional than traditional outdoor rock climbing. I’m climbing up to V4 level at the moment. Katana lace! I also tried and returned a pair of Miuras. So glad it is coming back, mine are getting haggard. I f up my achilles by wearing too tight shoes im street shoe 46 and wore La sportiva katakis jn 43. Tenaya Tarifa: Best Indoor Sport Climbing Shoe. S. I do wish they emphasized no outdoor shoes and no climbing shoes in the Nov 11, 2023 · The Best Intermediate Climbing Shoes. 10 so 1) they’re overtuned (like buying a F1 race car for your daily driver) 2) they’re not really soft shoes like you’re looking for and 3) “best” is relative on Nov 11, 2023 · The Best Outdoor Climbing Shoes. I prefer top-rope over bouldering and currently am not planning to ever climb outdoors. These are the only shoes I’ve owned since I’m still new to climbing, but absolutely love them. Are there any shoes that are specifically good for outdoor climbing? P. For harness I used the black diamond momentum… got it at REI for 64 bucks. This: 2 pairs of gym shoes: slippers and a try hard shoe, usually resoled many times, originally outdoor shoes. A good climber can send a stout 5. Any recommendations? Edit: the hardest boulder I've send is a v4 I wanted to share my experiences with the new 2022 model of the Katana Laces by LaSpo for future reference if anyone googles these shoes. I plan to stop smearing and try other techniques when smearing fails me… but for now I’m just looking for a good shoe that doesn’t slip on tiny holds My gym has a 1 month return policy on shoes. I myself have been climbing for a bit more than half a year and have been using La sportiva Zenits which has been enough for me (climbing up to V5, projecting V6), although I do not have anything really to compare to so would love some input on what to recommend! (1) Comfy (2) Good for climbing easy stuff (3) Good for climbing hard stuff (4) Not too aggressive but not too flat (shoe’s curve) (5) You never need another shoe Reply reply throwaway70357 But otherwise - a decent workhorse shoe indoor and outdoor. Toe hooking sucks from factory but got them resoled recently with an added toe scum patch to make them a bit better there. Key characteristics of indoor climbing shoes include; Have a friend that is getting hooked on bouldering so he is contemplating some shoes to avoid them sweaty rentals. I am about to replace my beginner climbing shoes as it was a hand-me-down (albeit it was a decent fit at that point of time) and its starting to feel loose. From advice on which gym to visit to videos of world cup IFSC climbers, you can find it all here. 691 votes, 162 comments. Nevertheless, I have chosen the Scarpa Drago as my favourite. I've had my evolv phantoms 3 months into climbing and I for sure will never climb Daniel's v17. 8s. Pretty much the only shoe that fit semi-comfortably, due to my wide, flat Hobbit-esque feet. Edit: I retire outdoor shoes to use as indoor shoes. There is no beginner shoe. I use it 95% of the time for indoor and outdoor bouldering and sport. Outdoor climbing shoes have an aggressive downturned shape, whereas indoor climbing shoes have a flatter or slightly downturned sole. It'll happen some day, just hasn't yet. La Sportiva Skwama Women's: Best Indoor Bouldering Shoes. I like it but the heel is just a bit loose on really intense heel hools on small edges/holds. It made me realize I wanted a shoe with a more precise toe and good sticky heels. I think I have a Greek shape foot (pic included below). That may not work for you, it doesn't for me. The home of Climbing on reddit. I don’t believe it’s damaging in any meaningful way to the holds. So I can replace the tarantulas. oggy atv lvoswu bue kuzy jpmej zifks fpj wweiyr kuh