Best beginner climbing shoes reddit 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 We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. Brands like Scarpa and La Sportiva have some solid options. Try several sizes in a couple different brands, every company has some type of entry-level/relaxed shoe. Sep 16, 2024 · La Sportiva Tarantulace. Unless you're going mountaineering, or ice climbing, I would forget any harness with adjustable leg loops. I have the same shoes as you and they're actually the first pair of climbing shoes that have fit me really well from day 1. Veloce's are a beginner shoe in the same vein as the Mantra but worse. I don't want to purchase online as I want to nail the size perfectly. No use having a great shoe that doesn't fit you well. My normal shoe size is 13 in US sizes and I got a size 13 pair of Defys. 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. Unlike regular shoes, they have a snug fit and sticky rubber soles to help you securely grip holds. I wouldn't change anything about how I started tbh. Also, i would recommend a beginner shoe that would still be good after resoling it, still serving a purpose. Then I found the theories. Nothing wrong with getting a higher performance shoe if you find it on sale. Climbing shoes have very specific fit so finding a good fit takes time. See full list on climbinghouse. The reason you're buying shoes is because you want to have something fit and perform better than the rentals. When I bought my first harness, the rep helped me size it correctly. 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 That is why climbing shoes classified as beginners' either have quite durable front or are just cheap enough so people won't be mad about killing them fast. I had scarpa helixes I returned. lots of people sell them for cheap online, it might help you get a feel of what you like for the future! Definitely try your best to try shoes on in person though Noting that some people that buy very expensive, very sensitive and soft climbing shoes to climb indoors potentially own more than 1 pair - and they aren't using these pricey shoes for every send. it has nice padding and easy slider adjust. Outside of cost, even, the experience is so much better without rentals. Idk why people downvoted this comment, starting with the sensitive good shoes for bouldering is the only way to get used to sensitive shoes for bouldering, you can get in tarantulas or some other stiff shoes with no downturn and when you feel like you can climb better but your feet aren't helping you as much and you go for performance shoes you're almost back to 0 because you climb different Lastly, try on the shoe before buying it or buy it from an online retailer with free returns. When I bought them I got the same size as my prior pair, the Vapors, because the Vapors were painful for 2 years. Climbing shoes so far appear to be torture devices. For beginners, a well-fitted shoe prevents unnecessary strain and improves technique development. Since you're shopping online, finding a pair that feels good right off the bat is super important. I have a narrow feel especially heel area. Nov 11, 2023 · That said, upgrading from your beginner shoes isn’t best measured by time, but rather by the grades and terrain you are climbing. Many beginner and intermediate climbers found the Drifter as a mid-performance shoe despite being relatively flat. For residents of Japan only - if you do not reside in Japan you are welcome to read, but do not post or you will be removed. Had I ordered online, I would've gone with a size Large; instead, I was fitted in-store and walked out with a Medium, which has been perfect (Black Diamond Momentum). Nov 6, 2023 · Therefore, many of the shoes on my shortlist avoid the typical super-stiff beginner shoe construction and offer a middle ground between the two extremes. The wide toe box saved my interest in the hobby. Should I buy them? I use size 9 US / 26. Final thoughts on bouldering shoes for beginners. At the same time, experienced climbers can use those shoes, if they are simply out of budget, or need a warm up pair. They're pretty broken in, now, and I don't have any pain from the shoes. Sizing, Fit + Sensitivity; Stiffness and Downturn / Aggressiveness Jul 25, 2024 · Below are our picks for the 13 best beginner climbing shoes of 2024, but if you’re ready to take the next step, check out our article on the best overall climbing shoes. 8s. The shoe you pick will have virtually no consequence to your climbing. 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! 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. Not sure if this will help much, but old 5. As others have said, trying different shoes on and finding the best fit is probably best for you. If you have found yourself gravitating towards V4/V5+ boulder problems or eyeing up the cave section of your local gym, then it might be time to start looking at some intermediate bouldering shoes. Aside from their similar designs, they are the cheapest pair on this list and are a popular favorite. Beginner climber, very wide feet (prefer 4E in regular shoes). On that note: I had good experiences with La Sportiva Tarantulas and Evolv Nighthawk as comfy beginner shoes. . There's nothing wrong with using more intermediate shoes as a beginner. try to get a feel of which brand and shoe most likely fits ur foot shape, if possible, try them on. Hey, so primarily youre gonna want a shoe thats comfortable. REI has 20% off sales and coupons quite often that apply to those $200 shoes. They hurt my feet less than any climbing shoe ive tried. Try on the shoes. Fixed leg loops are much easier to deal with on a daily basis, and since you only need to remember tighten the waist loop, it's two less things for you to forget. 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 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. Get a decent middle ground (in terms of geometry and specialization) shoe and fit it properly, then have them resoled when you inevitably blow through the toe box as you Seconding these as a beginner/intermediate. My street shoe size varies from 38-39 and I tried both size 38 and 39 at the store, with 38 being far too tight and 39 being quite For harness I used the black diamond momentum… got it at REI for 64 bucks. Have a friend that is getting hooked on bouldering so he is contemplating some shoes to avoid them sweaty rentals. Most important is that they fit you well. 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 As someone who has been climbing for 8 months now and finally just recently upgraded my shoes, I highly suggest getting beginner shoes. AFAIK the italian brands are rather expensive in the states. As a beginner, all that matters is learning technique and getting stronger. You might also want to check out other brands. However, with that being said, after doing freelance route setting for awhile, it's still possible to send a V8 and up in rental shoes. The price tag is okay, however, I read that those shoes are Beginner shoes and cheap, durable all-round shoes are the same thing. This pair fits well on every side except extra space at the heel. They should ask questions about your experience and interests in climbing to determine what kind of climbing shoe you want. The cheapest shoe on this list—and, consequently, one of the best-selling climbing shoes in the U. Only thing I'd recommend to you as opposed to an actual beginner is to lean towards softer shoes if possible, since this will make overhangs more doable. More info provided below :) Hey guys, I am currently looking to update my La Sportiva Mythos (been climbing through three pairs in the past few years). With climbing shoes there's no way I'll be able to buy online or just from recommendation. com Soft shoes are probably your best bet for the gym. If you can find a velcro shoe that fits, I'd prioritize that for gym climbing over laces - it helps to be able to take them on and off. My local climbing store only seems to stock a lot of butora and scarpa. My current shoes is Scarpa Drago LV, size UK 5. This combo of flat or very slightly curved last, comfort fit and stiff sole is often found in multipitch shoes, so that's a good thing to look for. So it really comes down to your climbing skills. And I'm Male. This month I started this beginner alpine climbing course and now that the course is over I want to train more with this group but I need some climbing shoes and here's the prob. Roman Feet. A stiff shoe makes it hard to feel your feet and prevents you from learning how to really use your feet and will promote sloppy footwork. In the end the shoes are tools to aid your climbs. Some classic intermediate shoes are Kubo, Veloce, and Finales. Was pretty close to quitting with other shoes. (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 Hot take: beginner shoes suck and get away with it because reviews come largely from folks who started climbing in them and then stopped before moving on to other shoes. I'd recommend a shoe like the 5. I'm searching for a pair of vegan climbing shoes (don't judge me, guys and gürls); I'm a beginner with an enormous street shoe size of 38. I'm exclusively bouldering and rope climbing in the hall, and was thinking about the Vegan Skwama von La Sportiva. Maybe Evolv or UnParallel. the scarpa vapor v is a fantastic shoe for intermediate climbing! if you wanted to go the la sportiva route you could try the kubos, i’ve never worn either of them but i have friends who have and loved the shoes— if you’re looking for more aggressive shoes and you’re primarily gym climbing la sportiva has the theories which are an Mar 25, 2025 · #1 Scarpa Origin Climbing Shoes – Best Beginner Bouldering Shoes #2 Five Ten Kirigami Climbing Shoes – Best Cheap Bouldering Shoes #3 La Sportiva Miura VS Men’s Climbing Shoes – Best Aggressive Bouldering Shoes #4 La Sportiva Finale Women’s Climbing Shoes – Best Beginner Boulder Shoes for Women Bergfreunde. 5EU. We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. You'll want your first pair to be snug, maybe a little uncomfortable, but not painful. A downturned shoe isn't versatile and unless you are really just climbing steep boulders all the time will probably be overkill to start with. Some people think that if you can manage to fit into a more technical shoe earlier, it might give you more tools with which to develop your skills. I was wondering if anyone with similar problem and any good recommendations for shoes with narrower heel fit? Thank you!!! We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. Any recs would be appreciated! The Mad Rock Drifter is a close 2nd place to the ClimbX Rave climbing shoes for the Best Beginner Indoor Climbing Shoes On A Budget. When I first started shopping around for a climbing shoe I was very intrigued by La Sportiva specifically, and after looking at gear labs’ “best climbing shoes” tier list I was considering the LS Katana and Solutions. It's a tough choice but consider going for that $200 upgrade to start with. When it comes to picking out climbing shoes for beginners, comfort and price are key. La Sportiva Tarantulas are some of the best beginner shoes in my experience. La Sportiva Tarantulace is a good beginner model to look for. Our Top Pick – Best Beginner Climbing Shoe; Best Beginner Climbing Shoe For The Money; Excellent Vegan + Budget Beginner Climbing Shoes; Best New Tech + Looks; Best Beginner Climbing Shoe On A Budget; Beginner Climbing Shoes Buying Guide. I have flat and rather narrow low-volume feet. Beginner climbing shoes prioritize comfort over aggressive performance. —the Tarantulace is a comfort-first shoe with an unlined leather upper, a mildly asymmetric shape, a stiff last, and a relatively roomy toe-box. 10 moccasin to start. NOTE: If you were permbanned for being nonresident prior to June of this year AND you have since moved to Japan I started climbing about a month ago, enjoyed it instantly and am now looking to buy my first pair of shoes, mainly looking for an all-rounder as I still need to learn a lot of technique. Anything relevant to living or working in Japan such as lifestyle, food, style, environment, education, technology, housing, work, immigration, sport etc. Upgrading from my beginner shoes after a year of climbing and was wondering if anyone had experience with women's scarpa vapors. They're just the best investment in fun and experience. Pretty much all brands build shoes for different feet nowadays. Whatever shoes fits best. Many climbing gyms have their own shoe shop. At our level its not that important to downsize aggresively etc. So if you're looking to get these shoes try to find a place you an try them in person or at least a place online that has free returns so you can try a different size. I'm almost 2 years into climbing now, indoors and outdoors experience. La Sportiva Mythos are higher quality/better shoes that are very comfortable, but will cost more. 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? Feb 26, 2025 · Climbing shoes enhance grip, foot positioning, and overall climbing efficiency. I've tried on everything at REI and found that my heels were getting rubbed raw from standing on my toes to test flexibility. S. What shoes are best for v3 area / where I seem to currently be? I second sizing and hanging on the harness in-store. For starters, check out some all-around climbing shoes that offer all-day comfort. TLDR: I am looking for intermediate but comfortable climbing shoes for indoor climbing with slight/medium downturn and low/medium pre-tensioning. So it's best to search for each manufacturer separately. Sizing is very important for climbing shoes. As a beginner, and if you see yourself sticking to the sport, I would go for the Tarantulas over the rentals. The best bouldering shoes for beginners are ones that are comfortable and get you climbing. I prefer top-rope over bouldering and currently am not planning to ever climb outdoors. Personally i wouldnt advise a beginner to spend much more than £50-60 $65-80 on their first pair We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. Considering how quickly most people ruin their first pair of climbing shoes spending £40 extra may not be the best idea. In general, I understand that neutral shoes are usually better for non advanced climbers but I know that the Scarpa Vapor V is a "moderate" (slightly aggressive) shoe (although it definitely isn't the most aggressive climbing shoe out there). In that case, I encourage you to rent a pair at your local climbing gym. Feb 17, 2021 · Best Budget Beginners Climbing Shoes 2025. La sportiva shoes fit me well, so my beginner shoe was the Finale. My feet are quite low volume so they fill in this model best out of the ones I tried. A beginner pair of climbing shoes will run you about $100 and a high quality pair will be around $200. 10 shoes are really nice, I used a bunch of those as a kid when I first started climbing. La Sportiva Tarantula lasts forever - not the best rubber tho May 27, 2025 · Best Climbing Shoes at a Glance. Obviously if you can't part with $100+ in a given moment, then renting for a few bucks here and there is perhaps better while you save up, but I wouldn't really use break-even as an analysis tool with climbing shoes. I was wearing Millet Easy-Ups prior. For me, with climbing shoes, there's no substitute to going to a store and trying on different models and different sizes. Part of the problem is many companies don't publish it. I guarantee that there’s a perfect shoe on my shortlist for every type of climber. My friend climbs v2 in Dragos because she somehow managed to stumble on them for $50 and thinks they’re comfy. 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 want to buy my first pair of climbing shoes and am looking for recommendations. Search for 'scarpa climbing shoe chart' for example, they do have complete info, so do Ocun and Red Chili. I only do the indoor bouldering. Naturally started at v2's and I can do some v3's. eu has some classification, but it's not quite complete or super accurate. Try on lots of shoes and get an experienced climber help fit them. Suppose you’re still hesitant about whether climbing shoes will perform better than your hiking boots. I have narrow heels and have always had issues with my shoes chafing my heels. It'll happen some day, just hasn't yet. The rubber is thick, they are comfortable, and they last a long time. I tried different entry level shoes - since my main goal is a shoe that is reasonable comfortable for a 3h session, has good grip and has a good amount of rubber, will last a good amount of time and I should feel comfortable doing toehook, heelhook and stand on some small footholds. Go to a shop with a large range. They're saving them for the high grade, steep routes where their advantage is clear. IE, get whatever "beginner shoe" is most comfortable. I am not a total, total beginner but I'm still new to the sport (I've been climbing for ~2 months). New shoes aren't comfortable like rented shoes which were broken in by 100+ of feet. The 10 Best Beginner Climbing Shoes. You foot should dictate what shoe works, not the price or company. 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. I wish I had gotten tarantulaces,(got black diamonds 😭) but I still plan on using them for chill climbing sessions. Editor's note: We updated this article on July 25, 2024 to move La Sportiva's Kubo up as our favorite beginner shoe for gym climbing, add Unparallel's slip-on Up Mocc, and Sep 30, 2024 · Rubber Type: 5 mm Vibram XS Edge Lining: Unlined Upper Material: Leather/Microfiber Closure: Lace-up Can be Resoled: Yes Type: Neutral Sizing: Runs slightly small What we liked: comfortable enough for beginners but aggressive enough for intermediate climbers, a shoe that sticks with you as you become a more skilled climber, dialed in fit, grippy sole, value for the price I've been climbing for 4 weeks and am climbing 5. I am new to climbing, have gone about 5 times, but just started a membership to go more often. 5 cm, what size should I buy? These shoes I needed to buy them at 9 1/2 which is a size I didn't buy for even my first pair of climbing shoes as a beginner when I was looking for comfort over most things. I was thinking about buying the ocun's bullit or havoc climbing shoes but I'm not sure if they are beginner friendly. It's unsurprising that beginners/intermediates like them because basically anything is better than a flat, hard beginner shoe, but that doesn't mean it's good for what you need, it's just that the bar is super low. Comfy, durable, etc. So I went out to buy some climbing shoes. Don't focus on the brand too much. These are a great beginner shoe that are also suitable for years of use by more advanced and stronger climbers, although they tend to be better suited to outdoor climbing. Google image search those to get a sense of what one kind of beginner shoe might look like Attitudes are changing though. vazei tigmk dvrrw cvir nthyrbxj iadqrjtxd eeur fkwue wrotz rtabm