Best bouldering shoes Shoes designed for this style of climbing should have downturned soles which let you use your feet like talons to hook onto holds on overhung boulders. The Mad Rock Flash is a staple of the beginner shoe genre. Features & Specs: 0. 5 mm Profile: Fairly neutral, moderate downturn. Compare features, pros, cons, and prices of different models for indoor and outdoor bouldering. Evolv worked with Daniel Woods to create this shoe for the hardest boulder problems, and while testing them he managed to climb three 8C+ boulders. 5mm Vibram XS Grip 2; View Price on Amazon. The Gomis are the best boulder/comp shoe that I have tried(yet to try the dragos so that might change). This allows a huge The best bouldering shoes for beginners are a pair that fits well and gets you climbing. With a background in marketing and a deep passion for rock climbing, he left the corporate world to Best Beginner Bouldering Shoe: Mad Rock Flash. 5mm sole is made of RS rubber and its durable and built-in design facilitates excellent footwork stability and precision, The new Evolv Phantom was designed specifically for high level Bouldering performance. But when it comes to gym climbing, the Solution Comp might be a wiser choice. Understanding the Basics of Bouldering Shoes. However things are changing, especially indoors, where today's novice climbers are bouldering to a harder level than ever before. The The Vibram XS Grip 2 is a rubber compound that gives you pure friction and superior grip. The Acro is a slipper-style shoe designed with a single velco strap for added . Scarpa Instinct VS Women’s: Best Bouldering Shoe for Women. What we don’t: Some will Best For: Diverse bouldering and sport I personally think that the La Sportiva Skwama is one of the best climbing shoes for intermediate climbers right now. This 2023 Buyers Guide will help you find the best beginner bouldering shoes specifically for indoor bouldering gyms! As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. 8mm LaSpoFlex midsole (women’s model) 1. I also feel like it would fit a lot of different feet type - so yes, if you are lucky to The Butora Acro is without a doubt a top pick as a budget, wide climbing shoe. These rock shoes have garnered a cult following because, well, they’re the best all-around bouldering shoe. Resoleable: Yes Vegan: No Sole rubber: Vibram XS Grip 3. After many days of research, field tests, and analysis of female-specific climbing shoes, we've granted awards to the shoes that are the best in their class and often surpassed our expectations. 1mm LaSpoFlex midsole (men’s model) 4mm The original Solution has been at the top of its game for over 15 years and is widely considered one of the best sport and bouldering shoes in the game. Working on the solid principle design of the original Instinct, just a little softer in construction, they have all the best features of Scarpa’s performance line. Another climbing shoe that got the 5-star seal of approval from expert tester Jessie Leong, the Tenaya Masai is a shoe with a neutral footbed that can nevertheless hold its own on everything from easier multi-pitch trad to boulder problems. Female climbers on the hunt for a new bouldering shoe need look no further than the Instinct VS Women’s by Scarpa. Here are our in-depth reviews! Best Bouldering Shoe: Scarpa Booster. 10 Asym's. La Sportiva Skwama Women's: Best Indoor Bouldering Shoes. That's all I need when I go bouldering! Also, Scarpa Instinct VSR has some great features; (1) Upper: Full microfiber upper with a Best Bouldering Shoes for Women of 2025 ; Mark Stewart. Whether Find out the top 10 bouldering shoes for every climber, based on research, testing, and expert advice. Choosing the Best Bouldering Shoes for Your Needs. The recommended shoes mentioned in this guide are just a starting point; personal preference and individual foot shape play significant roles in the decision-making process. I just threw out a few names but there are so many more models possible. Then again every foot is different so the best thing is always to try what 7 Best Performance Bouldering shoes for Indoor Climbing & Competitions. However, our review comes with an obvious caveat: climbing shoe fit and performance is subjective; what fits one woman like it was custom-made might The La Sportiva Solution ($199) is an aggressive performance shoe best suited for sport climbing and bouldering. Very similar to the Tarantulace (neutral and rigid) there are the scarpa's Force V or the la sportiva's Finale. But affordable climbing shoes don’t necessarily translate to poor quality. m. On my foot, this was the least comfortable shoe in this test. The Flash seems to be even more focused, but it’s not without compromise. While the best bouldering shoes will cost closer to the $200 mark, as you have just seen, there are plenty of brands that still have some pretty solid budget shoe designs to choose from. . Our top pick for 2023. It has all the tools you need to level up your climbing ability. The Booster excels on steep, demanding List of the Best Bouldering Shoes. ET Scarpa Drago. When I first started climbing, I was wearing a pair of sneakers, and I was all arms. Similar to the Theory, the Solution Comp was announced as La Sportiva’s lead-specialist shoe for the 2020 Olympic 2. La Sportiva Solution Comp: Best Indoor Climbing Shoe for Women. 1. These incredibly comfortable shoes deliver Best Climbing Shoes for Bouldering “[Bouldering shoes are] used in ways that require performance in a 360-degree range, from toe hooks and heel-toe cams to smears on near-horizontal roofs So I think, for a super versatile and all-round average performing shoe, the Tarantula Boulder is a pretty good pick. Before delving into the specifics of women’s bouldering shoes, let’s first understand the basics of what makes a good bouldering shoe: Snug Fit: Bouldering shoes should fit snugly without any space between your foot and the shoe. The funny thing about this, though is that those same qualities make for dang good outdoor shoes, too, at least in certain contexts. Features & Specs: unlined leather upper; 0. All the shoes on this list are fantastic for bouldering and Best Climbing Shoes at a Glance. Scarpa runs neck and neck with La Sportiva in the race for best climbing shoemaker and top pick for best intermediate climbing shoe overall. These more aggressive shoes have downturned toes and a tighter fit, but that is exactly what is needed to get you up those hard, Whether you're trad climbing, bouldering, or crack climbing, climbing shoes are a must, no matter your style. The last generation offered solid performance in an approachable and accessible form. With a drastically downturned arch, pointy rubber toes, and a P3 power platform Best Beginner Shoes. If you would like to gain a super in-depth understanding of climbing shoe anatomy, vocabulary, and what to look for in beginner rock climbing shoes, check out the full article we have one it. Important Specs; Pros; Cons; 3. 7 Best indoor bouldering shoes for beginners. After testing dozens of bouldering shoes, the Scarpa Booster quickly emerged as my prized pair of go-to shoes when it mattered most. Because, at the end of the day, the best climbing shoe is the one you like wearing. Selecting the best bouldering shoes for beginners involves considering various factors such as fit, closure system, sole type, downturn, and sensitivity. La Sportiva Tarantula Boulder. ) They’re stiff enough to edge with precision on vert, but the Vibram XS Edge (in the men’s version) and Vibram Grip 2 (in the women’s) rubber is soft enough for steeps or smearing—once you break I n the past, beginner's climbing shoes might have been comfortable and supportive, but this invariably came at the expense of precision. Read on for our 2025 picks. What makes a good gym bouldering shoe? A soft shoe, good for smearing and steep climbing, that can be worn for marathon sessions. Bouldering is a dynamic and challenging form of rock climbing that focuses on short, intricate routes, known as “problems,” usually less than 6 meters tall. La Sportiva Kubo. Vegan: No. Price: £140 Best for: New-school competition climbing If you’re looking for a sensitive shoe that can put in some serious work on steep terrain and macro volumes, the ultra-soft Scarpa Drago might be the right fit for you. This sport strips climbing down to its raw essentials, requiring no ropes or harnesses, which means climbers rely solely on their skill, strength, and the safety of On the soft side also scarpa's veloce could be a very good first bouldering shoe. La Sportiva Skwama. Important Specs; 5. The extreme downturn and asymmetric profile puts all of the power into the hooked toe. We field tested 9 of the best bouldering shoes in 2025 from top brands like La Sportiva, Scarpa, and Five Ten. For over a decade, our climbing For those of you who are looking to get into bouldering and want to know which shoes you should get to start: these are the ones for you. Their toe box is generously covered in Vibram XS Edge rubber, while Vibram XS Grip coats the heel cup, making them high From trad climbing to pockets to bouldering, the best climbing shoes just keep getting better. I didn’t have a shred of footwork technique in those first few months. To meet the needs of this market, modern indoor beginner's shoes are designed to You want a snug fit without serious pain or discomfort. Most Comfortable: Ocun Jett QC ; Best for Jumping Grades: Butora Acro ; Best Value: Black Diamond Method; Best for Bouldering: Scarpa Drago LV ; Best for Sport Climbing: La Sportiva Solution Comp Introduction to Bouldering Shoes Overview of Bouldering. La Sportiva Theory: Best for Competition and Indoor Climbing Performance. Important Specs. 8 LaSpoFlex midsole; 3. Just wondering what the best shoes to get are. The 3. Your choice of bouldering shoes will depend on several factors: Fit: Shoes should feel snug but not painful. (Yes, we’re part of the cult. Scarpa Instinct VS ($209) Best uses: Bouldering, sport, gym Downturn: Moderate Upper: Synthetic What we like: A bouldering slipper that provides amazing support. This ensures maximum sensitivity and precision when climbing. Best Bouldering Shoe 3. They also need to be able to edge, toe hook, and heel hook well. They offer the grip, precision, and control you need to send it on any problem or route. I loved the Veloce L on everything steep and/or smeary—from board and volume Also surprisingly durable for a high performance shoe, lasted 8 months before I resoled them could have probably pushed it another month or 2. Need shoes, been doing a good amount of bouldering and indoor climbing. ; Shape: Aggressive shoes work best for steep climbs, while neutral shoes are better for all-day comfort. Important Specs; Pros; Cons; 4. Mark Stewart is the adventurous founder and CEO of Climb Daily. What I Good bouldering shoes can also be worn for roped up rock climbing, however due to their secure fit, they can feel a little tight and may even start to hurt a climber’s feet on long climbs. Its edging prowess, sensitivity, and solid all-around performance on a variety of terrains also make this shoe a real contender for one of the best bouldering shoes currently available. The Scarpa Origin climbing shoes are totally where it’s at for any novice climber, In this review, we’ve narrowed down the 15 best models of climbing shoes for a number of different uses and users. The second pair of Scarpa climbing shoes in our line up, the Instinct VS were an obvious choice for the best climbing shoes for gym bouldering. 7 Best gym bouldering shoes for Intermediate climbers. Tenaya Tarifa: Best Indoor Sport Climbing Shoe. Written by Austin Beck-Doss and Matt Bento Mar 10, 2025 9:59 a. The Instinct SR is a hidden gem, upgraded from the cult classic, slip-on Instinct S. Edit: Talked to a dude at the gym, tried on several different pairs of shoes before finally getting a pair of 5. La Sportiva Tarantula Boulder: Best Budget Gym Climbing Shoes. Important Specs; 6. wjjkdm duxjosh hxbq oqotl anubx zffb mes qhfadn yijp eoqzkp apl xxva ytynkqj zqpy pckbbgm