10 Best Climbing Shoes In 2021

Are you looking for climbing shoes? Are you having a difficult time deciding which climbing shoes to buy? In this review, we not only give you the factors to consider when choosing your climbing shoes but we also review some of the best climbing shoes available today. It’s our hope that this guide will help you to get the best climbing shoes for your needs.

 

 

 

1.  Mad Rock Drifter Climbing Shoes

The Mad Rock Drifter Climbing Shoes is a 100% leather shoe. It features a rubber sole and the closure is a hook and loop. This climbing shoe is versatile and ideal for climbers. For easy on/off handling, it features a split neoprene tongue.

Additionally, the Mad Rock Drifter Climbing Shoes feature a 3D molded heel with sticky rubber and a cushy EVA for a great fit. To produce the best friction, these climbing shoes feature a Science Friction 3.0 rubber sole.

For comfort, these climbing shoes feature a slightly asymmetric last and flat profile. Its midsole is a 1.8mm polyester midsole and it features a medium level of stiffness.

 

 

 

 

      What We Like:

• Asymmetrical Curvature: Moderate
• Upper Material: Leather
• Rubber: Science Friction 3.0
• Midsole: polyester (1.8mm)
• Closure: hook-and-loop
• 100% Leather

 

 

 

 

2.  Black Diamond Zone Climbing Shoes

The Black Diamond Zone Climbing Shoes is a two-strap velcro high-performance shoe. It is a comfortable and breathable climbing shoe that is built with innovative engineered knit technology.

 

 

 

 

3.  CLIMBX Rave Women’s Climbing Shoes

The CLIMBX Rave Women’s Climbing Shoes feature a padded collar and heel for comfort. These women’s climbing shoes feature double stitch construction, polypropylene midsole, and one-piece binding.

 

 

 

 

4.  Black Diamond Momentum Lace Climbing Shoes

The Black Diamond Momentum Lace Climbing Shoes feature a consistent grip with its 4.3mm rubber. Additionally, it has a breathable woven upper and it has a lace-up closure.

 

 

 

 

5.  La Sportiva Men’s TarantuLace Climbing Shoes

These rock climbing shoes are ideal for intermediate climbers. It features a leather upper and synthetic leather overlay which gives the right amount of support. The midsole is 1.8mm LaspoFlex and its sole is 5mm FriXion RS thereby making these rock climbing shoes durable and very stable.

The La Sportiva Men’s TarantuLace Climbing Shoes feature a quick-pull lacing harness that allows for the regulation of inner volumes. Its fast lacing feature allows wrapping the foot for excellent support, comfort, and fit.

Breathability is enhanced and moisture is controlled with its lined tongue. It features an aggressive rubber heel rand, sticky FriXion RS rubber soles, and a low-asymmetry RN45 that allows you to stand in micro edges without pain or discomfort.

 

 

 

 

       What We Like:

• Fast Lacing System
• Durable
• Comfortable & Breathable

 

 

 

 

6.  Black Diamond Momentum Climbing Shoes

This climbing shoe is a two-strap Velcro shoe that is ideal for beginners. It is comfortable climbing shoes that use innovative technology with a flat-last design. It has a hook-and-loop closure.

Employing engineered knit technology on the upper fabric, this rock climbing shoe provides stretch, support, and breathability. To minimize stretch and maximize comfort, a micro-fiber liner has been added to the front.

 

 

 

 

      What We Like:

• Engineered Knit Technology
• Hook-and-Loop Closure

 

 

 

 

7.  Evolv Defy Climbing Shoes

The Evolv Defy Climbing Shoes feature a new high-quality upper material, Synthratek VX, which offers a soft and secure fit.

 

 

 

 

8.  Five Ten Women’s Anasazi LV Climbing Shoes

This climbing shoe is 100% synthetic with a synthetic sole. It has a hook-and-loop strap closure as well as a stealth C4 rubber outsole. Comfort and support are assured with its narrow fit and asymmetric toe shape.

 

 

 

 

9.  Climb X Rave Strap Climbing Shoes

These climbing shoes feature double stitch construction for durability. For comfort, it features a padded heel, polypropylene midsole, and one-piece binding.

 

 

 

 

10.  Black Diamond Men’s Momentum Lace Climbing Shoes

This climbing shoe is ideal for intermediate and advanced climbers. It ensures comfort by employing innovative technology with a flat-last design. Additionally, these climbing shoes also feature a hook-and-loop closure. Moreover, these Men’s Momentum Lace Climbing Shoes feature a stiffer flex and a tighter fit thereby resulting in more precision.

 

 

 

 

What To Look For In Climbing Shoes?

1.  Shoe Type

When you are deciding which climbing shoes to buy, you need to determine which type of climbing shoes you want to get. There are three types of climbing shoes: neutral, moderate, and aggressive shoes.

Neutral shoes are ideal for beginners but also work for experienced climbers. Neutral shoes are very comfortable as your toes lie flat in the shoes. Neutral shoes usually have medium-to-stiff midsoles and thick rubber soles for support.

Moderate shoes have a slightly downturned shape which makes them ideal for technical climbing. They work well for slab routes, crack climbs long multi-pitch climbs, and overhung sport routes.

Aggressive shoes put your feet in a strong and powerful position because of their downturned toes and lots of heel tension. Many aggressive shoes have an asymmetric shape that curves toward the big toe thereby focusing power over the toe for precise placements on small holds.

 

 

 

 

2.  Closure

The closure is another important feature to consider when you choose your climbing shoes. There are a number of different closure types like laces, straps, slip-on, etc.

 

 

 

 

3. Lace

Laces are easy because you can easily the laces when your feet become uncomfortable.

 

 

 

 

4. Strap

Straps are also known as hook-and-loop. They are ideal for bouldering and gym climbing when the situation calls for slipping it off between climbs. Straps provide easy on/off maneuvers.

 

 

 

 

5. Slip-on

Slip-on has a low profile which makes them ideal for getting into thin cracks. They have an elastic closure system that gives great sensitivity.

 

 

 

 

6.  Shoe Fit

Climbing shoes have to fit you snugly but without any pain. Make sure you get the right fit as it will help you climb harder and longer.

 

 

 

 

7.  Materials

The materials the climbing shoes are made of are very important. Climbing shoe uppers are either leather or synthetic. Leather shoes are either lined or unlined and they are the easiest to take care of. Synthetic shoes offer high performance.

 

 

 

 

8. Unlined Leather

Unlined leather shoes have the ability to stretch to a full size. One tip is to size them such that your toes barely touch the end of the shoe so you can feel your knuckles touching the knuckles against the leather.

 

 

 

 

9. Lined leather

With lined leather, the stretch is reduced to half size or less. It is common today to find manufacturers only line the toes to keep the cost down and reduce stretch.

 

 

 

 

10. Synthetic Materials

Synthetic shoes soften with use and they also don’t stretch much.

 

 

 

 

11.  Shoe Last

A “last” is the foot-shaped model that a shoe is built around; it’s like its structure. The last gives the shoe its instep height, volume, heel, toe dimensions, and width. Climbing shoes are mostly slip-lasted while few are board-lasted.

 

 

 

 

12. Slip-Lasted

Slip-lasted shoes are sensitive and less stiff than board-lasted ones. They don’t have an instep and get their “stiffness” from the midsole.

 

 

 

 

13. Board-Lasted

Board-lasted shoes are usually stiffer than slip-lasted ones. They are more comfortable but lose some sensitivity.

 

 

 

 

14.  Shoe Last Shape

The shape of the climbing shoes is determined by the last. There are three last shapes: straight, asymmetric, and downturned.

 

 

 

 

15. Straight

Shoes that feature a straight last shape have a relaxed fit for comfort. They work well for long climbing days and crack climbing.
Most neutral shoes are built on the straight last.

 

 

 

 

16. Asymmetric

The asymmetric shape features the longest point over the big toe thereby increasing power on the inside of the shoe and giving you a single point of contact on the rock. Most aggressive and moderate shoes are built on an asymmetric last.

 

 

 

 

17. Downturned

A downturned shape bends towards the toes. They are ideal for difficult routes when maximum performance and control are required. Moderate and aggressive shoes usually feature the downturned last shape.

 

 

 

 

18.  Outsole

The outsole is the outer rubber part of the shoes. Its thickness and the type of rubber have an effect on climbing performance. The outsole can have many different types of rubber used on it. Some rubbers are softer and stickier than others.

You benefit from better edging and support from firmer rubbers while you get a better grip with stickier rubbers, but stickier rubbers are not very durable.

The performance is also impacted by the thickness of the climbing shoes. Thicker soles give support for edging and they are durable but do not have great sensitivity and feel for the rock as you would get from thinner soles. Thinner soles are ideal for smearing on slab routes. They are ideal for experienced climbers.

 

 

 

 

Types of Climbing Shoes

1.  Neutral

Neutral shoes give a relaxed fit for comfort. Neutral shoes are good for beginners but also work for experienced climbers as well. They feature a medium-to-stiff midsole and thick rubber soles for support. Additionally, they are good for slotting into cracks.

 

 

 

2.  Moderate

Moderate shoes feature a downturned shape which makes them ideal for technical climbing as they work well with slab routes, crack climbs, long multi-pitch climbs, and overhung sport routes.

They put your feet in a more powerful position than neutral shoes thereby allowing you the opportunity to climb more challenging routes.

 

 

 

 

3.  Aggressive

Aggressive shoes have downturned toes and lots of heel tension thereby putting your feet in a powerful position for overhanging climbs. They are usually worn for single-pitch sport climbs and routes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Bottom Line

Climbing shoes and climbers cannot be separated. A quality pair of climbing shoes, which will also allow for high performance and provide comfort and safety, is essential to climbers. We have reviewed some of the best climbing shoes available today. It is our hope that this article has helped you to make the best choice. We recommend the Black Diamond Zone Climbing Shoes as our top choice for climbing shoes.