Best Climbing Shoes Reviewed & Tested for Performance

Sports performance, in general, calls for lightweight equipment; in the modern era, manufacturers are in a consistent race to achieve the lightest design possible. Even casual shoes are optimized for weight, and it’s all because of a simple reason: a lighter shoe requires less effort to move. That’s it.

Even shoes meant to be thick and heavy are optimized for weight – not necessarily to make them light, but to make them not as heavy. This is because when it comes to sports performance, you want your shoes to weigh just what’s necessary, in order to execute the practice properly and not an ounce more or an ounce less.

“Not an ounce less, I thought we wanted to go as light as possible,” you may ask? This is partially true. You should go as lightweight as functionally possible. Just like the excess of weight becomes an obstacle to performance, the lack of it becomes so, as well. The problem isn’t really the lack of weight itself, but rather what it takes to achieve the lack of weight.

A shoe that is too minimalist will lack structure and support. Think of a climbing shoe made entirely from mesh; it certainly would be nearly weightless, but nowhere near functionally acceptable. Achieving minimalism shouldn’t be about the shoe’s total weight, but rather the weight of its components in relation to the objective they’re meant for.

For example, winter boots are meant to be thick and heavy to a certain extent, but this doesn’t imply that they must weigh a ton. They still can, and should, be optimized to deliver the adequate protection at the least amount of weight possible.

Decreasing the weight of a shoe not only allows you to move it with less effort but, also, more accurately. Regarding the effort it takes to move your feet, a lot of users underestimate the weight of their shoes. The amount of reduced effort may be insignificant if we’re talking about one step; but, when we’re talking about multiple hours of hiking and climbing, all those steps add up to a considerable reduction in muscular fatigue.

Climbing shoes, specifically, should be lightweight for these two reasons. You want to use the least amount of energy as possible on each motion, and you want to be able to perform them freely and accurately. A lightweight shoe is much easier to maneuver with and this is of critical importance in climbing practices where accuracy, mobility, and stability are paramount.

In some of our guides, we’ve previously discussed the importance of flexibility in a performance shoe. The ability to flex our feet is the very base of nearly any motion that involves our legs. There’s a very limited amount of movements that can be performed without flexing the foot, and they’re often highly uncomfortable. This is because our feet are simply anatomically designed to flex.

Any shoe that lacks flexibility contradicts the human anatomy, and thus, it disrupts any sort of performance; more specifically, those related to aerobics or sports. But flexibility is one of the most delicate aspects of climbing shoes, in comparison to other traditional performance footwear, like running shoes. Normally, the flexibility of a shoe is designed to assist the human walking gait in which the arch is the highest point of flexion.

Climbing shoes require a whole other perspective when it comes to the flexibility of the frame. As opposed to most other performance shoes, climbing shoes may count with a stiffer midsole; although this varies depending on the specific practice you perform. But this doesn’t mean it should be only flexible or only stiff; that is, stiffness and flexibility are not necessarily opposite features, and they can work together as one.

Despite the outsole being hard for stability and protection purposes, it should still feature a certain grade of flexibility. The upper build should, also, be involved in this feature, because in climbing feet are meant to ‘wrap’ the points of support. A flexible climbing shoe will allow you to place your foot slightly around objects rather than just sitting completely flat upon them.

The best climbing shoes are those that allow your feet to flex freely. Keep in mind that flexing your feet isn’t the same as flexing the shoe; your feet are capable of flexing and moving to a certain extent without affecting the state of the outsole. The upper build becomes a critical point of flexibility for this task; as well as, the frame of the shoe because they will allow you to perform the unnatural twisting and turning motions required for certain obstacles.

It’s important to not get an utterly-flexible climbing shoe; rigidness is a must, in order to maintain support at an optimal point. An excess of flexibility and softness will, ultimately, result in the lack of structure and support.

Climbing is an activity that will harm your feet if you’re not properly prepared for it. The right materials are required, in order to prevent your feet from being exposed to superior amounts of stress. Although certain parts of our feet suffer more than others while climbing, it’s important to look for all-around protection.

It may look like a tough material is all it requires to prevent your feet from being hurt, but in reality, it takes more than just protective materials. In most cases, you don’t get to perform gentle motions in which your feet are softly placed on the climbing rocks. Climbing involves forceful movements that, upon impact with the rocks, generate a lot of shock and stress on feet.

While the materials will physically protect the surface of your feet, some residual shock will always get to them. This is why it’s important to look for climbing shoes that offer a sufficient amount of shock-absorption or some form of a stress-relieving method. The best climbing shoes feature an absorptive outsole material or individual technologies like gel absorption systems, in addition to a heel cup. Even the midsole will act as both stability and comfortability when considering shock-absorption.

Outsole :
The outsole is possibly the most important element of a climbing shoe. Obviously, an outsole alone doesn’t determine the quality of a climbing shoe, but you won’t get anywhere without a good outsole. This element is what, ultimately, determines whether you stay on the climb or not.

It’s paramount that your climbing shoes feature a high-end outsole. At the same time, multiple sub-factors determine the quality of an outsole. For starters, and most importantly, one of these sub-factors is the grip. A good grip will have a considerable impact on your climbing performance; that is, the better it is, the easier and more securely you’ll be able to grasp objects.

The materials that compose the outsole have a clear impact on its gripping qualities. Normally, rubber is the most widely used compound for this task. Its abrasion-resistant qualities make it ideal for the rough sport, and rubber is not a material that slips off things when in its natural state. However, we’re not necessarily talking about traditional rubber.

Synthetization plays a huge role in performance shoe materials. Through synthesizing chemists are able to combine and modify the properties of some materials; removing, adding, combining, and/or altering the qualities required for a specific practice. For instance, vulcanized rubber has a slightly stickier surface than traditional surface rubber, which proves to be extremely handy; especially, at the moment of gripping uneven rocks when climbing.

A quality outsole will be able to grip to a wider variety of objects, and much more efficiently. It, also, allows users to grip elements that aren’t necessarily in their natural state (e.g. a moisturized surface). This, of course, depends on how moisturized or affected the surface is. As a side note and a very important one at that: never assume you’ll be able to grip the rock before going for it.

Another paramount aspect of a climbing shoe outsole is the stability. The outsole, aside from providing protection to feet, must be able to act as a firm platform. Without this feature, you won’t be able to make efficient use of your own impulse. A solid base is necessary to take confident and powerful steps.

An outsole that wiggles, as you place tension on them, gives you no security or certainty. You won’t use your true potential if you don’t rely on your outsole; no one feels comfortable climbing with an outsole that feels weak. On the other hand, when you’re standing on a solid and reliable shoe, you’re able to give the most power without any concerns.

Comfort is, possibly, the most underrated performance feature of sports footwear. Unlike many people might believe, comfort isn’t just something you can ignore. It’s possible to force yourself into uncomfortable shoes when we’re talking about casual shoes (although you shouldn’t), but this is by no means the same when talking about performance footwear; more specifically, climbing shoes.

An uncomfortable shoe isn’t suitable for performance and it’s as simple as that. The facts are that, in order to perform at your best, your feet must be in a comfortable state. Realistically speaking, you won’t be able to climb for long if the footwear discomforts you in any way. You can’t expect an optimal performance if you’re thinking of how uncomfortable your shoes are while you perform.

In some cases, beginning users aren’t able to determine what it is that makes rock climbing shoes comfortable. While there are certain comfortability standards for every element of the shoe, personal preference always has an impact on what is more comfortable for you individually.

The first factor that has an impact on comfort is the sizing. At first sight, it’s a bit obvious; nobody is going to get a pair of shoes that don’t match their sizing. However, some people can’t accurately tell how suitable each sizing is for them. This is, in part, because climbing shoes are meant to fit differently than traditional performance footwear. The adequate sizing is one in which your big toe barely touches the tip of the inner shoe. If it doesn’t touch the shoe, it’s too big. Likewise, if all of your toes are compressed against the tip, it’s too small. Keep in mind that climbing shoes will always fit tightly in comparison to other shoes, but not an annoying type of tightness; but rather, a supportive one.

Breathability, also, has a direct impact on the comfortability of a shoe. A consistent flow of air through the shoe is necessary to prevent excessive sweating, the development of bad-smelling bacteria, fungi, and the sub-consequences involved with each of these things. Additionally, the sensation of overheating feet makes it very hard to perform any activity.

The lining material is another factor you must check before purchasing any climbing shoes. The best climbing footwear will have a cushioned and soft lining that comforts your foot throughout the performance. Any sort of discomfort generated by the physical contact will prevent you from giving your best, as you’ll instinctively restrain your motions to avoid hurting your feet. And the more tired you become, the more your mind will stray toward the discomfort.

Cushioning within a shoe plays a role in both comfortability and functionality. Cushioning is a key point to shock absorption and prevention of hurt feet when climbing. The only things standing between our feet and the external materials of a performance shoe is the insole, the lining, and the cushioning. If we were to take the cushioning away from the inner of a shoe, your feet would experience a massive part of the impact shock generated on each step. While the external materials may hinder the initial impact, the shock will work its way up the shoe and into your feet.

The cushioning should be composed of a material that delivers comfort and has performance qualities at the same time. Materials that include shock-absorbing qualities work as excellent cushioning for climbing shoes, such as foams and similar soft compounds.

These kinds of shoes call for a minimalist approach in all senses and aspects, and this involves cushioning. As much as climbers would love to, it’s not practical to have a thick layer of cushioning foam under their feet while performing; thus, the minimalism of the materials represents as much importance as the cushioning itself.

Compounds like the ones used in gel cushioning systems take the lead for this kind of shoe. The gel features excellent absorbing qualities and provides a soft sensation when compressed; but more importantly, only a thin layer of gel is necessary to equip a climbing shoe with the necessary amount of cushioning and shock absorption at the same time.

The best climbing shoes are those that cushion you throughout the whole practice; not only reducing muscular fatigue during the process but, also, relieving post-performance stress that remains on heels, toes, and the arch.

It’s important for climbing shoes to incorporate a feature of breathability. Without breathability, shoes will be hot and uncomfortable for the user’s feet. This will produce lots of sweat, and there’s nothing more uncomfortable than having sweaty feet when trying to climb. Breathability in a shoe ensures that feet will be able to get fresh air.

Excessive sweating comes with a list of consequences at the same time, which will become obstacles during your performance. Initially, the sweat can be a cause for your feet to slip within the shoe. There isn’t too much space within a climbing shoe for the foot to slip around, but slight discordances in your feet movement are enough to affect your balance and performance in a sport, like climbing.

Additionally, overheated feet are just uncomfortable. As explained in the comfort section, you’re not able to focus and give 100% during the performance if there’s something disrupting the activity, like overheated feet. The annoyance of the heat concentration within your shoe becomes a psychological factor that has a considerable negative impact on your abilities; not to mention, overheated feet can simply start to be physically painful, as well.

The lack of breathability, also, has post-performance effects, such as the accumulation of bacteria on the inner of the shoe. This bacterium contributes to the development of bad smells that stick to the insole and the inner materials of the shoe. It’s, also, a common cause for athlete’s foot and other fungi.

The best climbing shoes are those that feature an acceptable level of breathability. The air must be able to flow freely through the shoe, preventing any heat from accumulating in a prolonged fashion. Furthermore, the constant flow of fresh air becomes a comforting factor for the users; not only reducing the sweat stimulation but, also, preventing skin irritation caused by heat.