The 7 Best Climbing Shoes of 2025

The right pair of climbing shoes is the ultimate link between you and the rock. They transform microscopic edges and slick smears into secure, confidence-inspiring footholds.

For this update, diehard rock hounds Rob Simpson and Miya Tsudome put eight new climbing shoes through a three-month testing cycle, logging over 30 sessions to evaluate performance across gym training, steep bouldering, and technical face climbing. From the pocketed volcanic tuff of Bishop to the massive granite multi-pitches of Yosemite Valley to the steep granite towers near Buena Vista, Colo., they pushed these shoes to their absolute limits in a variety of vivid conditions.

The La Sportiva Katana Lace is our best overall men’s pick for its versatile blend of precision, support, and comfort. Meanwhile, the La Sportiva Skwama is our top women’s pick for its sensitive, aggressive, and slipper-like performance. For newer climbers or those looking to spend less, the La Sportiva Finale is our new favorite budget option.

Since 2021, our team of six experts has tested over 50 pairs of climbing shoes.

Editor’s Note: We updated this guide on May 18, 2026, adding eight new shoes to our lineup, including the SCARPA Drago LV (a supremely sensitive bouldering specialist), the Black Diamond Momentum (a highly comfortable, flat-lasted beginner shoe), and the La Sportiva Mythos Eco (an all-day multipitch legacy classic we’ve been wearing for a decade).

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Other Climbing Shoes That Crush

Climbing Shoe Comparison Table

Climbing Shoe	Price	Best For	Rubber	Profile
La Sportiva Katana	$240	All-around climbing, edging, and longer routes	4mm Vibram XS Edge	Slightly downturned with subtle asymmetry
La Sportiva Skwama	$220	Women’s all-around performance, steep sport, and bouldering	4mm Vibram XS Grip2	Aggressively downturned with medium asymmetry
La Sportiva Finale	$140	Budget all-around climbing and newer climbers	5mm Vibram XS Edge	Slightly downturned/flat with medium asymmetry
Black Diamond Momentum	$130	Beginner gym climbing and long training sessions	BlackLabel rubber	Neutral flat last
SCARPA Drago LV	$230	Steep bouldering, overhanging sport, and gym climbing	3.5mm Vibram XS Grip2	Aggressively downturned, soft, low-volume
SCARPA Instinct VS	$220	Sport climbing, steep terrain, and technical bouldering	Vibram XS Grip2	Moderately downturned
La Sportiva TC Pro	$240	Trad climbing, cracks, and long multipitch routes	4mm Vibram XS Edge	Moderately downturned
La Sportiva Solution	$220	Steep sport climbing and hard bouldering	4mm Vibram XS Grip	Aggressively downturned with high asymmetry
SCARPA Vapor V	$199	Intermediate climbing, edging, and all-around progression	Vibram XS Grip2	Moderately downturned with moderate stiffness
Black Diamond Aspect Pro	$240	Big-wall trad, cracks, and all-day multipitch routes	BlackLabel Fuse	Slightly downturned
La Sportiva Ondra Comp	$240	Indoor competition climbing and modern gym movement	3.5mm Vibram XS Grip2 with SenseGrip	Aggressively downturned with moderate asymmetry
La Sportiva Mythos Eco	$180	Comfortable trad, cracks, and all-day mileage	4mm FriXion ECO	Flat
Tenaya Indalo	$230	Pocketed limestone, precise sport climbing, and hard edging	3.5mm Vibram XS Grip	Downturned and aggressive
SCARPA Arpia V	$180	Intermediate climbing, gym training, and easy outdoor mileage	3.5mm Vibram XS Grip2	Slightly downturned with mild asymmetry and medium stiffness

How We Tested the Best Climbing Shoes

To put together this list of the best climbing shoes, the GearJunkie team rigorously compared notes on dozens of models. Our ongoing testing involves systematic trial and observation.

Our Testing Team

Our ongoing effort to test every climbing shoe on the market is led by GearJunkie testers Rob Simpson and Miya Tsudome. Simpson has more than 25 years of experience climbing, guiding, and leading outdoor trips across the Western United States. He climbed his first big wall route, Liberty Crack in Washington’s North Cascades, in 1999, and currently tests climbing shoes on the technical gym terrain and local granite crags around Salida, Colorado.

Tsudome is an avid climber with over a decade of experience and has spent the last five years reviewing high-end gear. She has climbed El Capitan in Yosemite Valley, clipped sport bolts in Greece, Mexico, and Spain, and worked as a rock climbing guide for the Yosemite Mountaineering School.

Together, they lead a wider team of six GearJunkie experts who have tested more than 50 pairs of climbing shoes since 2021, thoroughly evaluating varying foot shapes, rock types, and climbing styles.

Our Testing Grounds & Process

For this update, Simpson and Tsudome put eight new climbing shoes through a rigorous three-month testing cycle. The testing spanned a vivid array of landscapes and rock types, including limestone pockets in Ten Sleep, Wyo., sandstone boulders in Joe’s Valley, Utah, massive granite cracks in Yosemite Valley, the steep volcanic tuff of Bishop, Calif, and the granite towers of Buena Vista, Colo.

Each shoe was rigorously tested in a performance-oriented fit and worn for at least three climbing sessions before inclusion — though many models on this list have seen far more use through long-term testing, and some have been in our rotation for years. Across this update alone, our testers logged more than 30 total climbing sessions.

We critically evaluated each shoe’s fit, break-in period, closure security, baseline stiffness, underfoot sensitivity, edging platform, smearing capability, crack comfort, and hooking reliability. Because fit is deeply personal, we also heavily considered foot shape, shoe volume, width, heel tension, and the specific climbing style each model served best.

Products remain in ongoing testing long after their initial inclusion, and this guide is continually updated as new models are released and long-term durability notes develop.

Our Climbing Shoes Rating System

Fit & Security: Comfort, break-in time, sizing accuracy, heel cup fit, and overall confidence during gymnastic heel and toe hooks.

Precision: Edging power, big-toe placement, pocket performance, and confidence when standing on microscopic footholds.

Sensitivity: Smearing ability, underfoot feel, sole flex, and performance on slick slabs, gym volumes, and steep terrain.

Durability: Rubber wear, rand construction, upper material stretch, resole potential, and overall financial value.

The overall score reflects extended real-world performance and is not a simple average of the category scores.

Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose a Climbing Shoe

Long gone are the days of toiling up big walls in Yosemite in a pair of stiff-soled mountain boots. In 2026, climbing shoes are sticky, lightweight, and fine-tuned for the job at hand.

It can feel daunting to decide where to begin when sifting through the numerous high-quality options. As a climber, that’s a good problem to have.

Beginner climbers may especially feel overwhelmed while navigating a sea of technical specs and shoe terminology. Experienced climbers may already have an idea of which specific footwear features they are looking for, but it can still be tricky to differentiate between similar options. This buyer’s guide can help any climber make an efficient and informed climbing shoe purchase.

Climbing Disciplines

Though rock climbing is considered a unified sport, it is really a collection of similar, but different, disciplines. Sure, trad climbing and bouldering both involve climbing on rock, but the techniques and gear involved are wildly different. For this reason, most climbing shoes are designed to specialize in a certain kind of climbing and appeal to a certain kind of climber.

If you’re a beginner climber who enjoys bouldering in the gym, avoid shoes that are designed for elite trad climbers. Shoes do not make the climber, but it is important to select the correct tool for the job. To fully kit yourself out, check out our recommendations for climbing ropes, harnesses, and approach shoes.

Bouldering

Bouldering consists of climbing relatively short routes on small cliffs and freestanding boulders. This discipline is all about difficult climbing in its most distilled form.

Steep overhangs are common in this style, and bouldering shoes are typically designed with overhanging terrain in mind. Bouldering shoes are characterized by a downturned profile, toe and heel hooking capability, and a soft and sensitive sole.

Of course, not all boulder problems require the same kind of shoes. A thin and slabby v1 is very different from a juggy V5 roof. That said, shoes like the SCARPA Drago LV and the La Sportiva Solution will work well in a lot of different bouldering scenarios.

Gym

Gym climbing continues to ride a major popularity boom. Gym climbing offers a convenient, social, and effective workout, and many gym climbers are perfectly content to climb exclusively indoors. As new gyms continue to pop up across the world, many shoe manufacturers are now offering shoes that are marketed specifically for gym use.

Typically when shoes are marked as gym shoes, they’ll be geared toward beginner climbers who have recently entered the sport. These entry-level shoes, like the Black Diamond Momentum are made to be comfortable and progression-focused.

Because most new climbers start out in the gym, it makes sense that beginner shoes and gym shoes have become almost synonymous. Beginner-focused, gym-style shoes also work great for learning to climb outside.

However, today’s market also includes indoor-specific shoes intended for elite-level competition climbers. These styles, like the La Sportiva Ondra Comp have been custom-built for the demands of modern-day indoor climbing competition.

Climbing competitions of today require a unique combination of gymnastic movement and precise footwork. Shoes in this category tend to have thin, soft soles and an aggressive profile.

Multipitch

Multipitch climbing involves long routes and full days spent with climbing shoes on. Comfort is an especially important consideration for multipitch climbing shoes.

Aggressively downturned and ultra-tight climbing shoes tend to be painful over long periods, so these traits are often avoided for multipitch routes. Most climbers prefer comfortable shoes with a flat profile for multipitch climbing.

If the route in question requires a footwork-intensive crux at your limit, comfy all-day shoes won’t do the trick. Still, for most big days on the rock, we recommend something with a tolerable fit and profile like the La Sportiva Mythos Eco, La Sportiva TC Pro, or La Sportiva Katana.

Trad

Traditional climbing routes usually follow cracks and fissures in the rock. Climbers jam their hands and feet in these cracks while climbing, and trad climbing shoes are designed with this application in mind.

Footjams tend to work best with shoes that have a semi-flat profile and are not aggressively downturned. Jamming with aggressive or severely tight shoes is unpleasant and not especially effective.

On this list, the La Sportiva TC Pro and the Katana Lace offer a low-profile toebox that can squeeze into narrow fissures. The Black Diamond Aspect Pro is another comfortable, cuffed option for long crack and big-wall routes

Of course, steep and powerful trad routes exist too, and sometimes aggressive shoes actually are your best bet. As always, picking shoes for the job is not a perfect science. It’s wise to be flexible with your shoe choice. Sometimes trad climbing calls for aggressive shoes, and sometimes bouldering calls for flat and stiff shoes.

Sport

Sport climbing comes in all angles and difficulties. Technically, sport climbing refers to a climbing ethic rather than a specific style. The word “sport” means something slightly different as far as shoes are concerned.

When shoes are marketed for sport climbing, they’re usually soft and aggressive, just like a pair of bouldering shoes. However, many sport climbing routes are not severely overhanging.

There are all kinds of sport routes out there. On vertical to slightly overhanging terrain, you’ll likely want a relatively stiff shoe with only a slight downturn like the La Sportiva Katana or SCARPA Instinct VS. On steep powerful routes like those found in Rifle, CO or El Salto, Mexico, go with a softer, more downturned shoe like the SCARPA Drago LV or La Sportiva Solution.

Stiff vs. Soft

Every climbing shoe exists on a spectrum from soft to stiff. A shoe’s stiffness comes from its construction. Thicker material — especially soles and midsoles — results in stiffer shoes. Meanwhile, thinner materials create a softer and generally more sensitive shoe.

The stiff/soft spectrum works just like hiking boots. Stiffer shoes offer more support and help prevent foot fatigue and soreness. Softer shoes are more pliable and sensitive, allowing you to feel the nuanced texture of the rock through the sole and manipulate the shape and position of your foot.

When the route requires you to stand on lots of minuscule footholds in more vertical terrain, stiffer shoes are most effective. For smearing or bouldering on severely overhanging rock, softer shoes are the go-to choice.

On this list, the La Sportiva Katana, La Sportiva TC Pro, and Black Diamond Aspect Pro are great stiffer shoes that can handle tiny footchips and nubbins with ease. The La Sportiva Solution and SCARPA Drago LV are both soft shoes. They won’t work as well on technical and vertical terrain, but they are perfect for steep overhangs or indoor competitions.

Shoe Profile: Aggressive vs. Flat

Aggressive climbing shoes have a downturned shape that looks and feels similar to a claw. Thanks to this shape, aggressive shoes are great for climbing overhanging rock. Usually, aggressive shoes are also better for toe hooking and heel hooking.

Flat shoes tend to be more comfortable than aggressive shoes, as they keep your foot in a more neutral position. Flat shoes are great for beginners.

When climbers are just starting out, an aggressive profile will probably create more pain and distraction than actual climbing benefits. For this same reason, flat shoes are most climbers’ preferred option for all-day multipitch excursions. The La Sportiva TC Pro, Black Diamond Aspect Pro, and La Sportiva Mythos Eco are both relatively flat and designed for all-day edging. The SCARPA Arpia V is only slightly downturned and is comfortable enough to wear on longer climbs.

Asymmetry

When a shoe is described as “asymmetrical,” manufacturers are referring to the shape of the shoe. A highly asymmetric shoe will curve inward at the toe and look almost banana-shaped. A highly asymmetric shoe like the SCARPA Drago LV will focus more power on the big toe to facilitate edging and overall sensitivity. The drawback here is comfort since the human foot is not shaped like a banana.

A shoe for all-day wear like the La Sportiva TC Pro or La Sportiva Mythos Eco is much less asymmetric and generally more comfortable, while the SCARPA Instinct VS, La Sportiva Solution, and La Sportiva Katana lay somewhere in the middle. The degree of asymmetry you can handle is dependent on your foot shape, and folks with Morton’s toe tend to suffer in more asymmetric shoes.

Too much time in these sticky rubber foot binders could even cause you to develop bone spurs or hammer toe. Your best bet is to try on as many shoes as you can when you get the chance in a shop. Keep in mind that a softer asymmetric shoe (again, like the Drago) will be a bit more forgiving, whereas a stiffer model will only break in so much.

Closure System

Rock climbing shoes typically feature one of three closure-system styles: laces, Velcro, or slippers. Some shoe models come in multiple closure styles, but most options in this guide use either laces or Velcro. Though a closure system may seem like a minor detail, it can actually be an important factor to consider when choosing climbing shoes.

Laces

Laces are the classic closure system for just about all kinds of footwear. On climbing shoes, laces require a little extra time compared to Velcro or slippers. That said, laces allow you to thoroughly customize the fit of your climbing shoes.

For example, climbers with a wide toebox can keep the laces in that area slightly looser to accommodate their foot shape. Lace-ups are versatile. They can be kept loose for long multipitch routes or cinched up aggressively for increased precision.

Velcro

Velcro closures are quick and efficient to use. However, it can be difficult to create a precise fit with only a few straps. Also, Velcro straps can sometimes hinder a shoe’s toe hooking ability and can come undone while foot jamming in cracks.

The La Sportiva Solution uses a single Velcro strap with a slipper-like harness system. The result is an impressively customizable fit.

Slippers

A well-fitted pair of climbing slippers can be comfortable, convenient, and excellent for smearing and jamming. However, because slippers rely on elastic fabric to create a precise fit, they tend to stretch out and become less effective over time.

We’ve had some luck with the SCARPA Drago LV. These slippers offer precise edging and fairly secure heel hooking with the comfort of a slipper. For more traddy applications (Jamming!), we recommend the La Sportiva Mythos Eco or La Sportiva TC Pro for a low-profile toe and a wide toebox for jamming comfort. The La Sportiva Solution and SCARPA Drago LV both bring slipper-like sensitivity with added strap security.

Parts of a Climbing Shoe

The primary parts of a climbing shoe are the sole, midsole, closure system, rand, and upper. Each part has a specific role to play in the shoe’s construction, and each can have an effect on overall performance.

Upper

The largest component of a climbing shoe’s construction is called the upper, which covers the top and sides of your foot. Climbing shoe uppers are made of either leather or synthetic material. Neither is strictly better, but they each have unique strengths and weaknesses.

Leather uppers stretch and conform to the shape of your foot. If you’re interested in a shoe made from leather, you can purchase a slightly smaller size under the assumption it will stretch and expand.

On this list, the La Sportiva TC Pro is built with a robust leather upper. Though the TC Por feels a bit stiff and uncomfortable right out of the box, it will stretch and become well-fitted over time.

Synthetic uppers do not stretch, and they will generally maintain their original shape in the long term. When purchasing synthetic shoes, it’s important to make sure you buy the exact size and fit you want, as it will not change over time.

Another benefit of synthetic uppers is they can be quite thin without sacrificing durability. The SCARPA Instinct VS uses a microfiber/Alcantara upper, while the SCARPA Drago LV uses microsuede and leather for a soft, sensitive fit.

Climbing Shoe Rubber

As a primary point of contact between the climber and the rock, the rubber outsole is a crucial part of any climbing shoe.

All climbing shoes feature sticky rubber soles. As a general rule, soft and thin rubber outsoles are better for steep routes and bouldering. Soft rubber is stickier, and the thinner the outsole, the easier it is to feel the texture of the footholds underfoot.

While soft and thin outsoles can be great, they also tend to wear out quickly. It’s a bummer to pay $200+ for a shoe that runs out of rubber after 4 months — but that’s the price climbers pay for top-notch performance.

On the other end of the spectrum, harder, thicker outsoles are ideal for vertical routes with tiny footholds. On the famous Dawn Wall on El Capitan, Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson utilized La Sportiva TC Pros with firm rubber outsoles to stick to minuscule quartz crystal footholds. Harder rubber compounds also tend to last longer before they require resole or replacement.

Some shoe manufacturers make multiple types of rubber for various climbing applications. For example, some La Sportiva shoes include XS Grip 2 rubber, while others include XS Edge. The softer, rubber-like XS Grip is ultra-sticky and soft, but also wears down quickly.

Meanwhile, the slightly harder XS Edge rubber is less sticky but a bit more durable in the long term. Many other shoe brands, including Tenaya and SCARPA, also use XS Edge and XS Grip rubber.

There is a lot of debate in the climbing shoe world about which shoes have the best rubber. All of the shoes we have included on this list come with quality, highly capable sticky soles.

Fit & Sizing

Properly fitting a pair of climbing shoes is a puzzling task. Every shoe manufacturer seems to fit their shoes according to their own unique system. Often, sizing will even vary from style to style within a single brand’s lineup. Ideally, the best way to choose the right size is to physically try on the shoes.

How tight or loose to wear climbing shoes will depend on your needs as a climber. Generally, climbers like to fit their shoes tightly when trying routes that are challenging for them.

A tight fit ensures minimal negative space within the shoe. A tightly fitted shoe will slightly curl the toes, which helps to channel power into the toe edge when standing on small footholds.

However, the performance benefits of tightly fitted shoes come at the cost of discomfort. Your feet do not want to be held in an unnatural position, and tight shoes will need to be regularly taken off during your session to give your feet a break.

There is nothing wrong with sizing your climbing shoes for comfort. Beginner climbers especially should prioritize comfort over an aggressive fit. For long sessions at the gym or all-day multipitch routes, you don’t want to worry about nagging pain and foot cramps.

SCARPA offers low-volume versions of performance shoes like the Drago LV, so if you really like one of those shoes, you can try a low-volume version with a narrower heel. Sportiva has reclassified their men’s and women’s shoes into “regular” and “low-volume” versions, acknowledging that many men will choose the women’s model if it fits better, and vice versa. The low-volume version of the Katana Lace has a split midsole for lighter climbers or climbers looking for more sensitivity than the regular version of the Katana.

Price & Value

Climbing shoes in this guide range from $130 to $240, and the right price depends on how often you climb and what kind of performance you need. Newer climbers can get plenty of mileage from a comfortable, flatter shoe, while sport climbers, boulderers, and trad climbers pushing into harder terrain will benefit from better rubber, more precise lasts, stronger heels, and longer-lasting construction.

Budget

The best budget climbing shoes keep the fit comfortable and the construction simple. The Black Diamond Momentum ($130) is the most beginner-friendly option in this guide, with a flat profile, forgiving fit, and easy Velcro closure for gym sessions and casual outdoor days. The La Sportiva Finale ($140) costs a bit more but climbs better outside, thanks to a supportive shape, precise lacing system, and thick 5mm Vibram XS Edge rubber that should hold up well for newer climbers.

Mid-Tier

Mid-tier shoes balance comfort, support, and performance without jumping all the way into top-shelf pricing. The La Sportiva Mythos Eco ($180) is a long-running favorite for trad climbing, cracks, and all-day mileage, while the SCARPA Arpia V ($180) is a strong step-up shoe for climbers moving beyond flat beginner models into more technical gym and outdoor climbing.

Premium

Premium shoes generally bring stickier rubber, more refined lasts, better heel and toe performance, and more specialized designs. The La Sportiva Katana ($240) and La Sportiva TC Pro ($240) sit at the top of the price range, but both justify the cost with long-term durability, strong edging, and enough versatility for demanding outdoor routes. The La Sportiva Skwama ($220) is another strong premium value, especially for climbers who want a softer, more sensitive shoe that still works across bouldering, sport climbing, and multipitch routes. For steep bouldering or sport climbing, models like the SCARPA Drago LV ($230) and La Sportiva Solution ($220) are worth the investment if their specialized fit and performance match your goals.

Frequently Asked Questions