For climbers who are looking for the best rock climbing shoes, then this is for you. Whether it is for long alpine routes or overhanging sport climbs and bouldering, we have got you all covered. The good news is that climbers have more quality designs and styles to choose from. Below are a few of the best rock climbing shoes you can add to your collection this 2021.
La Sportiva Miura VS
La Sportiva’s Miura VS is embodied with the expression, “If it is not broken, do not fix it.” It edges on a dime, climbs steep terrain, and heel hooks like a champ. It has vertical toes in on small pockets as well as any shoe in the business. There are not too many rock climbing shoes that can climb 5.13 sports, boulder V10, and punch up hard finger cracks, but Miura VS is one of them.
Butora Endeavor
Butora is a Korean company that quickly gains traction in the US. Nam Hee Do, the brand’s shoe designer, had been in the business for over 30 years before launching Butora in 2014. With the use of top-notch materials and impressive attention to detail, their Endeavor quickly became our top choice for a beginner shoe. This shoe is ideal for anyone new to the sport, even to guides or gym rats looking for an ultra-comfy all-day shoe.
Scarpa Instinct VS
The relatively new shoe, Instinct VS from Scarpa, has quickly grown in popularity. Known as a versatile choice for sport climbing and bouldering, this shoe is also a favorite pick for both indoor and competition climbing. The rubber-shrouded toe and heel are excellent on steep rock, while the medium-stiff rand offers more edging power than the other bouldering shoes available.
La Sportiva TC Pro
You probably know Tommy Caldwell, who climbed the Dawn Wall in Yosemite a few years ago, which some of the biggest climbing news ever became—and this is the shoe that TC designed for the job. The TC Pro is an absolute pair for climbing vertically to less-than-vertical terrain. While we often associate a flat shoe with a beginner shoe, the TC Pro is a notable exception with the stiff make-up and sticky XS Edge rubber, making it an ultra-high-performance edger and slabber. And the upper that continues over the ankles is another game-changer for protection.
La Sportiva Katana Lace
When it comes to outdoor climbing shoes, one of the most popular and versatile is the La Sportiva Katana Lace. Its ability to do almost everything well from crack climbing, technical face, smearing, slab climbing is what this shoe stands out most. If you are tackling vertically to less-than-vertical terrain, the Katana Lace is one of the best rock climbing shoes for the job. Its size is comfortable for an everyday shoe with more precision than the like of TC Pro, and its edging prowess is on par with the like of the Miura VS.
