If you’re looking for high-performance footwear for technical climbing and mountain scrambling, these top-rated La Sportiva approach shoes would be a solid choice. As one of the giants in the ap[…]
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Teddy Dondanville
Teddy is a professionally trained Apprentice Rock Guide with the American Mountain Guides Association and a Wilderness First Responder with the National Outdoor Leadership School. Besides guiding outdoor rock climbing, Teddy also has years of experience in route setting and coaching climbing indoors. Through his guiding, route setting, and coaching, Teddy has experimented with climbing shoes for over a decade.
Guides
One of the giants in the climbing footwear industry is the Scarpa brand. If you consider diving into this trusted label, you may expect to spend from around $80 to as much as $200 a pair. Scarpa climb[…]
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Whether you’re a seasoned climber or a new kid on the block, getting a new pair of Tenaya climbing shoes is a solid investment. Known for its high-performance kicks that offer a superb balance o[…]
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Head out on your next adventure wearing any of these highly-rated Butora climbing shoes. Starting in South Korea in 2014, the Butora brand is relatively new in the climbing scene. But it has gained a[…]
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Since 2003, the Evolv brand has continued to build an impressive lineup of world-class climbing shoes. The label has gained the trust of both professional athletes and weekend warriors for its award-w[…]
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Whether you're planning to climb the local park boulder or up a mountain with climbing buddies, these Black Diamond shoes are comfy, precise, and tough enough to scurry to the summit. The BD brand has[…]
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Boost your climbing performance with these top-rated bouldering climbing shoes. The good news for all climbers out there is that they have tons of superb options from leading brands such as Scarpa, Te[…]
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Get ready to scurry to heaven with these highly-rated indoor climbing shoes. Having a pair or two with these awesome kicks give you that flexibility to get your core workout and climbing dose in the g[…]
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Being in your best element is always the way to go when sending routes of varying difficulties. For such an objective, you can rely on La Sportiva and its roster of amazing climbing shoes. We have tes[…]
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If you are new to climbing—whether indoor or outdoor—you need a nice pair of entry-level climbing shoes. And it is best to have reliable gear that won’t let you down. Many of the bes[…]
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Nowadays, thrill-seeking rock jocks have hundreds of choices when it comes to climbing shoes. While having a lot of options has its pros, this makes the task of picking the RIGHT one a nightmare. Luck[…]
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Reviews
87
Great!
Called a "best buy" by a professional gear reviewer, the TX2 Evo Leather from La Sportiva doesn't hold back where the sole meets the rocky surface. It's an intensely grippy machine that provides heigh[…]
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89
Great!
In the head-turning Wildfire Canvas from Salewa, there's no shortage of mobility and surefootedness, making every approach encounter a success. Its well-rounded performance is complemented by great pl[…]
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88
Great!
Hailed by a professional climber as a moderate shoe that has the "ability to punch above its weight," the Vapor S from Scarpa excels in multiple disciplines, including smedging (smearing + edging). It[…]
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74
Decent!
That sense of being able to take on various beginner-level climbing challenges is quite apparent in the Tarantula Boulder from La Sportiva. Called "solid for the price" by a seasoned sender, this neut[…]
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70
Bad!
Often likened to the La Sportiva TC Pro, the Yosemite Bum from Evolv delivers convincing tenacity where cracks are present. There's a big amount of support going on here, making it a shoe that conquer[…]
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80
Good!
With the hype surrounding its bracing support system, the Spirt Evo from Scarpa makes extended trail-to-rock trips a walk in the park. It carries its own weight grip-wise, giving climbers extra surefo[…]
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78
Good!
When it comes to bouldering, the Phantom LV does the OG version proud, even being referred to as "a monster" by a trusted critic. This aggressive climbing shoe from Evolv is beastly front and back, la[…]
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78
Good!
Promoted by a reviewer as "every bit as great as the original," the Skwama Vegan from La Sportiva is a natural when it comes to vertical and roof ascents. You'll be given a set of claws for feet in th[…]
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78
Good!
Called "pretty stellar" by a professional vlogger, the TX Canyon from La Sportiva is the multibladed knife of approach shoes. Whether the adventure involves meandering through canyons, riding rivers o[…]
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73
Decent!
Pure performance bliss is something that you'll get while sporting the Wildfire 2 from Salewa. From trails to boulder-filled valleys, this featherweight approach shoe cuts through the terrain with min[…]
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80
Good!
If we didn't know any better, we would be mistaking the Best La Sportiva climbing shoes for a full-fledged hiking shoe. This is not to downplay its approach prowess (because it's mighty on that front), but the way i[…]
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84
Good!
"Pointy, powerful, and precise" is how a trusted critic describes the Indalo. From the most crooked of slots to nubbin-filled ceilings, this aggressive climbing shoe from Tenaya is like bringing a kat[…]
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77
Good!
There's very little doubt that the TX2 Evo from La Sportiva is more stellar as a climbing shoe than an actual approach kick. That's not to say that it doesn't perform well on trail-to-rock hikes; it's[…]
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80
Good!
We're siding with a professional tester who said that the Quantix SF is like an "ice cream flavor that hits all palates." Its well-roundedness is quite remarkable indeed. That said, this moderately do[…]
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87
Great!
Whether your next problem is peppered with edges or demands great toeing tenacity, the Instinct S has your back. Built more adaptive than ever, this moderate, semi-asymmetric shoe from Scarpa will hel[…]
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82
Good!
The Anasazi Lace is back but better than ever in the NIAD Lace, according to a professional reviewer. That said, this all-rounder from Five Ten is able to "forge a reputation of its own", as another t[…]
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81
Good!
A conqueror of shifting terrain—this is the Konseal FL 2 in a nutshell. Engineered stiffer than usual, this approach shoe from Arc'teryx does not cower at the face of various rocky obstacles, be[…]
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79
Good!
A shoe that rewards those who practice multiple climbing disciplines—this describes the Quantic quite accurately. Suitable for entry-level and intermediate climbers, this slightly downturned kic[…]
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81
Good!
Where the lead-up to your rock climbing spot is strewn with low-lying boulders and rocky inclines, you can turn to the zestful Scarpa Spirit Evo. Built with a wide climbing zone and ridged heel[…]
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80
Good!
For a semi-downturned climbing shoe, the Zenit favors easy to moderate routes. Armed with a sufficiently rigid sole unit, this La Sportiva piece provides more than enough footing security and exceptio[…]
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