Reach Your Climbing Goals With The Best Rock Climbing Shoes In 2022

The Miura lace-ups are one of my go-to climbing shoe options for a couple of reasons. First off, they are very versatile outdoor climbing shoes. Size them down and they are downturned enough to be a great steep sport climbing or bouldering shoe. Size them up and they’re comfortable enough for multi-pitch climbing.

These are my go-to shoes for thin crack climbing, sport climbing, and bouldering. The lace-up design makes these great shoes for anyone with narrow, low volume feet as you can easily adjust the fit. If you’re looking for something more aimed toward bouldering, the La Sportiva Miura VS is a great option that uses velcro straps instead of the lace-up closure of the Miura lace.

They’re stiff shoes compared to some sport climbing shoes, which for me is a pro since I have wonky toes that need a lot of support and can’t handle soft shoes. The stiff last helps you stand on tiny edges with ease. However, if you want more sensitivity, you may want a softer shoe.

The thin, asymmetrical toe helps when toeing into a small pocket, crack, or overhanging climb. Dentex lining in the leather upper prevents stretch while the Vibram XS Grip 2 rubber is thicker at the toe to add durability. If you like the Miura but are looking for something easier to take off and designed for steep climbing, try the La Sportiva Miura VS. The La Sportiva Miura VS is even stiffer and more aggressive than the Miura. The La Sportiva Miura VS excels in steep terrain that the Miura Lace can’t quite handle as well. But if you’re looking for a customizable and versatile shoe, you can’t go wrong with a Miura Lace for men, or for women. Read the in-depth review here.

These iconic shoes are pretty much every trad climber’s favorite. And as someone who has been known to mostly climb cracks, I agree with the hype. TC Pros are my go-to shoe for crack climbing (as long as the crack is hand-sized or larger), slab climbing, and multi-pitch climbing. I’ve even been known to wear them for sport climbing too, but mostly because I need new sport climbing shoes. This crack climbing shoe has taken me up peaks in the PNW, sandstone towers in the desert, and granite cracks in Yosemite.

The relatively stiff shoe and moderate curvature of the last allow you to use your toes on small edges. And the Vibram XS Edge rubber provides the perfect tackiness to stick to small smears, while not compromising durability. The leather upper conforms to your feet, making these shoes comfortable enough to wear all day long. The lace-up design allows you to dial in the fit for your foot shape and maintain comfort which makes them great multi-pitch climbing shoes. The TC Pro is one of the most popular climbing shoes for crack climbing, especially due to the high-top design which keeps your ankles from getting cut open by a crack. Read the in-depth review here.

The Free Range Pro from So iLL is an aggressive shoe with a stiff toe box but enough flexibility to handle nearly any terrain. This shoe has climbed with our tester all over the world from France and Italy to Mexico and the USA and on nearly every rock type including limestone, granite, basalt, and sandstone. Our tester loves the stiff aggressive toe box that is perfect for steep caves, precise feet, and overhung climbs. This shoe is so aggressive it may not be ideal for easy sport climbing but once the shoe is broken in, it can be used for hard sport climbs.

Between the aggressive asymmetry and angle of the shoe, you may think there’s nothing flexible about the Free Range Pro. However, the split outsole allows for exceptional mid-foot flexibility for heel-toe cams and other techy foot moves making this an all-around bouldering shoe. A pair usually lasts our tester approximately 9 months to a year climbing and training 3-5 days per week with a break-in period of approximately 10 wears but our tester downsizes heavily from her other So iLL shoes for a better fit in the heel. This shoe truly shines on hard, overhung boulders but can be used for hard sport climbing, gym climbing, and a huge variety of rock and terrain.

These were some of my favorite climbing shoes until I realized that my feet didn’t do well in softer shoes. The Five Ten Moccasyms smear fantastically and many people love them for crack climbing. They are an iconic slipper-style climbing rock climbing shoe that is designed for trad climbing but also performs well in a variety of other styles. The thin toe does exceptionally well in thin cracks as you can get more of your foot inside. However, the slipper style does not do great at edging.

I’ve worn these shoes for years climbing cracks in the desert and as a bouldering shoe in a gym as well. They do tend to stretch over time, which makes them insanely comfy but adds to the fact that they’re not good at edging. The C4 Stealth Rubber is some of the stickiest rubber, which makes these shoes great at smearing. Size down from your street shoe size (potentially multiple sizes) for performance, or buy your size for ultimate comfort — just beware of the stretch if you want a tight fit.

Built for beginning climbers, the Black Diamond Momentum rock shoes are practical in design yet highly functional in performance. Available at a more modest price compared to some more high-performance climbing shoes, these are comfortable, flat shoes that allow you to focus on technique and getting better. The Black Diamond Momentum shoes are the perfect indoor climbing shoes for getting started or moving outside for the first time. Once you have a better idea of the type of climbing you will be doing, you can find something that fits your needs better.

The Black Diamond Momentum shoes use Engineered Knit Technology, a synthetic knit fabric that provides exceptional breathability and stretch. A microfiber liner adds comfort and minimizes stretch, while two velcro straps create the climbing shoe closure. Built for all-day comfort on moderate terrains, the Black Diamond Momentum is a high-quality beginner shoe that will help you trust your feet and gain confidence on the rock. Many newer climbers hesitate to take off their shoes between climbs (we all know about the classic climbing shoe stink) and the breathable upper helps reduce odor and bacterial growth. They’re also great indoor climbing shoes.

When I first started rock climbing, I bought a pair of Climb X shoes on Amazon. It was just the most accessible way for me to get started. They were affordable and they did the trick for me to learn the basics. These are still a good option for someone who doesn’t want to spend $100 dollars on a new activity that they don’t even know if they like yet.

This is a great beginner and intermediate shoe and although it comes with a lower price tag, it’s still quite a durable and worthwhile option. With double stitch construction and a soft padded collar and heel, these climbing shoes not only offer a tight and snug fit, but they also boast an anti-microbial hemp footbed which helps to reduce foot odor. Size up for a comfortable fit.

For more must-have climbing gear, check out these reliable climbing harnesses.

Down-turned for peak performance, Butora Acros are particularly loved by climbers with wide feet, as they have a wide option, giving you a wider toe box and heel. From limestone pockets and small edges to overhanging bouldering, these shoes are ready to send on technical terrain. The high tension rand brings the power to the middle of your foot, giving your big toe lots of control while toeing in on tiny edges.

NEO Fuse sticky rubber covers the soles, plus extends to much of the rest of the shoe. The toe is covered in rubber, making these some of the most secure toe hooks in any shoes we’ve tested. The heels are also covered in rubber, but our tester found that there was too much space in the heel which made heel hooking slightly awkward. However, due to all the rubber covering the shoe, they aren’t as breathable as an all-leather rock climbing shoe. The Butora Acros excel as a bouldering shoe but could be used for gym climbing, and they fit easily in any gym bag.

A favorite of many competition climbers, the Scarpa Instinct VS are popular climbing shoes for many lovers of steep climbing. The stiff design of the Scarpa Instinct VS puts your big toe in the perfect spot for edging or toeing into pockets. Plus the rubber over the toe makes them great for toe hooking and the shape of the heel excells for heel hooks. The toe box is wider than some, making the Scarpa Instinct VS less ideal for small pockets and thin crack climbing. Also, due to the stiffness of the shoes, the Scarpa Instinct VS isn’t the best for hard slab climbing route out of the box. After a while, they soften up and become better for smearing.

The Scarpa Instinct VS features Vibram XS Edge rubber, allowing the shoes to excel at edging on steep routes and helping the shoe’s toe hooking ability. They are not as sensitive as some soft shoes, but they do gain sensitivity over time once they are broken in. The Scarpa Instinct VS also includes a stretch-resistant microsuede upper and a single power strap to keep your foot locked in. Overall, the Scarpa Instinct VS is a great option for high-performance sport climbing or steep bouldering shoes.

Five Ten released the Grandstone as an alternative to the TC Pros. And they do perform — albeit differently — similarly well to the iconic Yosemite-inspired shoes. The perks of the high-top shoe mean that you won’t scrape your ankle bones on the side of a wide crack — something I’m intimately familiar with — ankle scabs are not cool. The Grandstone has a microfiber upper which reduces stretch and adds comfort. These shoes are well suited to all-day outings all around the world.

The Grandstone has more of a downturn than other trad-specific shoes typically have, and is softer than similar styles of shoes. The softness leads to more sensitivity, but they are still stiff enough to excel at edging. The downturn helps with steep terrain, allowing these shoes to fold and move with your foot compared to stiffer shoes. With the addition of Stealth C4 Rubber, these shoes are ready to stick to whatever rock you throw them at.

Don’t forget to also check out our list of the best climbing helmets on the market.

Another well-loved shoe for gym climbing and steep bouldering, as well as pretty much every other type of climbing, La Sportiva Skwamas have been around for a long time. These soft climbing shoes are super sensitive and ready to toe in on small holds on steep sport routes. They’re also surprisingly good for crack climbing, with the thin toe fitting well into thinner cracks. Plus, because they are a softer shoe, they smear well in crack-less corners and on slabs. Trad, sport climbers, and boulderers alike will love these shoes for indoor and outdoor climbing.

P3 technology and a split-sole construction reduce edge deformation on the Vibram XS-Grip2 sticky rubber sole. And the unlined leather upper keeps some odors at bay compared to other shoes with synthetic uppers. Plus a patch of rubber on top of your toe allows these bouldering shoes to feel secure on heel hooks. The heel is lower volume and uses S-heel construction for heel hooking maneuverability and a good fit.

One of the best moderate climbing shoes for the money, the Evolv Nighthawk is an affordable option for those wanting to get into, or progress in climbing. Suitable for indoor or outdoor climbing, this rock climbing shoe features a lace-up design that is easily adjustable for different shaped feet. The flat shoes have a leather unlined upper with an antimicrobial split tongue and are comfortable enough to wear for hours. That makes them great for multi-pitch routes and outdoor climbing or just long indoor climbing sessions.

Good at standing on a variety of footholds including pockets, edges (but not the smallest), smears, and foot jams, these shoes will help you progress. Just remember not to step on the climbing rope! A good intermediate shoe, the Evolv Nighthawk won’t help you send your hard bouldering project, but they will provide the comfort and feel of a beginner shoe, with the performance of something a bit better. Size up from your street shoe size when ordering these shoes.

Designed by Chris Sharma himself, the king of steep routes, these shoes are inevitably great bouldering shoes and shine on steep terrain. The shape of the rock climbing shoe pushes your toe into the front of the shoe, which helps your toe in on tiny footholds. It also helps these shoes remain downturned over their lifespan, instead of losing shape over time. However, due to the shape, these are not the shoes to use on vertical, or anything less than vertical terrain. They also are not great at edging, as the rubber is so soft that it can deform around small nubbins in the rock.

The Evolv Shamans use 4.2mm TRAX XT-5 rubber, which is a lot of rubber. This makes them feel less sensitive than other aggressive shoes, but also adds durability. The rubber extends over the toe giving enough control for toe hooking. These shoes are surprisingly comfortable for how aggressive they are, due to the shape of the toe that keeps your toes in place without needing to size them too tightly which can lead to pain. However, you will probably want to size up from your street shoe size for a comfy fit.

The La Sportiva Tarantualace are some of the most popular shoes for beginner climbers. They’re comfy, affordable, and easy to adjust. The flat, larger toe box provides lots of comfort, but can also detract from the precision of these shoes. The upper of the shoe is made of leather which feels soft to the touch and adds to the shoe’s comfortable and lightweight fit. However, the leather can stretch over time, so size down slightly for a shoe that will feel good for years to come.

The soles of the Tarantulaces use a 5mm FriXion RS rubber sole, which is pretty thick compared to higher-end shoes. This adds durability and stiffness, which makes these good shoes for edging. The lace-up design makes these easy to adjust, but harder to take on and off. These shoes are just as good at climbing outside as they are at gym climbing, so if you’re looking for a beginner climbing shoe on a budget, look no further.

Make sure to also check out these bouldering crash pads from our list.