Which Climbing Shoes are the Best

[@bensonchang8657]

Great video Jason, I wish you posted a year early before I went through these struggles. I end up with tc pro+solution p3, for either outside or gym climbing. l have learned so much from your channel. Thanks!

[@summitseekersexperience]

Yeah, better late than never. Glad you got some value out of the video and you are enjoying the channel. Hopefully more good tips to come!

[@Csilvis39]

I've found that for me Furia Airs (aggressive and super soft) are great for anything indoors. I like having a ton of feel and the almost sock like fit. For sport climbing and bouldering outdoors, I like the Arpias (moderate downturn and mid stiff). I can't speak to multi-pitch because I'm just not there yet. I'm definitely just an intermediate climber but I love my soft downturned shoes.

[@summitseekersexperience]

I found that the Furia's eventually broke in and I could actually keep them on for an entire session. Gotta get some Multipitch brah!!

[@lidontlo]

I’ve been in a mid/soft shoe with minimal downturn or asymmetrical shape(like 2012 5/10 dragons). Rarely had a problem on the boulders. I did just get a much stiffer pair of aggressive shoes for a very overhanging route and it helps a ton. I feel like for general climbing and for sure on slabs a softer shoe is much much less strain on the toes and calves.

[@summitseekersexperience]

For sure. The aggressive shoes really do help pull you into the wall so there's definitely a place for them.

[@the_original_dane]

My boss is one of the strongest climbers I know (5.13+) and he only wears la Sportiva Katanas. Good intermediate all-rounders. I'm convinced you don't need more than that. Great video! Keep up the good work.

[@summitseekersexperience]

Nice... Your boss needs to teach me how to climb 5.13!!!

[@the_original_dane]

@@summitseekersexperience you and me both! 😂

[@johnmartin4427]

Wow! Great video! Wish I had seen a year ago.

[@summitseekersexperience]

Thanks man, better late than never right ;-)

[@johnmartin4427]

@@summitseekersexperience - I’m sending you a photo of how I am trying to ease the toe crushing pain.

[@DVMCellini]

I use Timberlands

[@summitseekersexperience]

🙃🙃🙃

[@mikel1425]

I think it's interesting when you see boulderers killing it in the gym wearing less "advanced" shoes, clearly it's the user not the shoe. I haven't worn approach shoes but if the edge holds - shouldn't that be more common for outdoor moderate climbing shoes? Price is similar. I presently wear trail runners as approach shoes but when they wear out I guess I will try them. Similarly I wonder about shoes like the Scarpa force which has padding in the heel unlike most shoes. I love placing the asymmetrical toe and lacing on my Muira's and find them comfortable and mostly confidence building. My argument for tight shoes: Mine aren't terribly tight and I've had to put my toe on something tiny and I felt space- almost like trying pinch something with gloves that are too big.

[@summitseekersexperience]

Cool Cool. I think the reason you don't see approach shoes around is simply because they don't sell them at a lot of retailers so people don't know about them. I've never seen them at a store, I've always bought online. I think you'll like them for moderates and then you can save your feet for the hard pitches.

[@Climbingdude]

My first pair were la sportiva climbing shoes. Not sure on the brand. They were too comfortable. Way to big for me. 😂. I currently have BD momentum’s and scarpas vapors.

[@summitseekersexperience]

Nice, Better to error on the side of larger and comfortable than painful and never put on again.

[@ruthlopez7977]

Very nice video!

[@mk2mike]

Hear me out…. TC Pro’s for everything.

[@summitseekersexperience]

hahaha... YES

[@DerrickNedzelMtnBike]

Very helpful video Jason, thank you! I would add that that some of us have more uniquely shaped feet and this can add some additional issues for us. I have a wide forefoot and high arch and instep. This makes for a high volume foot and I have found that a moccasin style shoe (like a 5.10 Anasazi) that slides on easily for many people is very difficult for me to get into and then is extremely uncomfortable. Sizing it up enough to allow me to get into at all makes the shoe way too lose and big. But for people with a more typical foot volume those shoes are super comfortable and easy to get into and out of. Too bad as I thought that shoe would be perfect for a lot of the slab and smear type climbing I do. For me, developing a strong understanding of my foot shape has been a big help when selecting a shoe that works for me. Scarpa has a great infographic that shows their different shoe’s foot volumes: world.scarpa.com/page/climbing-collection-structure Thanks again for your excellent videos!