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A person climbing a rock wall with climbing shoes and a harness. Credit: Getty Images

The Best Climbing Shoes of 2024

Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed's editors. Purchases made through the links below may earn us and our publishing partners a commission.

A person climbing a rock wall with climbing shoes and a harness. Credit: Getty Images

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Reviewed's mission is to help you buy the best stuff and get the most out of what you already own. Our team of product experts thoroughly vet every product we recommend to help you cut through the clutter and find what you need.

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Product image of La Sportiva Katana Lace Climbing Shoe

La Sportiva Katana Lace Climbing Shoe

Check Price at REI

These comfortable and super durable climbing shoes are said to be top of the line when it comes to all-day comfort. Read More

Pros

  • Durable
  • Good for long-term wear

Cons

  • Expensive
  • Limited sensitivity
Product image of La Sportiva Miura VS

La Sportiva Miura VS

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Solid with a slight downturn, climbers who use Miura climbing shoes love them for technical footwork and their absolute precision. Read More

Pros

  • Stiff
  • Good for edging

Cons

  • Shape may not fit all feet comfortably
  • Heel sits high
Product image of La Sportiva Skwama

La Sportiva Skwama

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The La Sportiva Skwama is a top-performing climbing shoe that’s comfortable without the need for breaking in. Read More

Pros

  • Easy to take on and off
  • Versatile

Cons

  • Stretch out quickly
  • Lack support
Product image of Scarpa Drago Rock Climbing Shoes

Scarpa Drago Rock Climbing Shoes

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One of the softest bouldering shoes on the market, the Scarpa Drago was designed with a nice clean curve, making them a top pick for toe hooking. Read More

Pros

  • Comfortable
  • Good for toe hooking

Cons

  • Too soft for technical edging
  • Expensive
Product image of Evolv Venga Climbing Shoes

Evolv Venga Climbing Shoes

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An adjustable heel strap adds to the Venga’s breathability, and single-pull velcro adjustments make it an easy wear for kids. Read More

Pros

  • Good for variety of climbing styles
  • Comfortable

Cons

  • May wear quickly
  • D-ring may push on points of foot
  • La Sportiva Katana Lace Climbing Shoe
  • La Sportiva Miura VS
  • La Sportiva Skwama
  • Scarpa Drago Rock Climbing Shoes
  • Evolv Venga Climbing Shoes
  • More Articles You Might Enjoy

When it comes to climbing, it’s obvious that safety is what’s important first and foremost, but that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice comfort and style at the same time. The best climbing shoes are determined by the person wearing them, and as such, finding the right climbing shoes can be a daunting task. Whether you have narrow or wide, small or large feet, everyone has a different body and therefore different needs, and there are a variety of options from some of the top names in outdoor gear on the market.

Whether you’re a traditional climber who places your own holds and prefers a flat-soled shoe to fit into cracks—or looking for a downturned sole with additional arch for bouldering—there’s sure to be a great pick out there for you. To help you find the right outdoor rock climbing shoes, we dug through thousands of reviews for different styles of climbing shoes available online. Based on our research, these are some of the best pairs of climbing shoes you can get right now.

Editor's Note:

The recommendations in this guide are based on thorough product and market research by our team of expert product reviewers. The picks are based on examining user reviews, product specifications, and, in some limited cases, our experience with the specific products named.

Product image of La Sportiva Katana Lace Climbing Shoe
La Sportiva Katana Lace Climbing Shoe

The ever-reliable La Sportiva Katana lace climbing shoe is a common sight on climbers across the country. This is the best, all-around climbing shoe when it comes to durability. It is said to be the most comfortable climbing shoe on the market. And while their downturn may look intimidating to new climbers, they actually manage to keep the foot fairly flat, making them great for use on edges as well as for crack climbing.

Due to the snug heel and snug midsole, this shoe provide precise heel hooking and focuses a lot of weight in the toe, and the sensitivity through these climbing shoes is less than that of others available. If this isn’t as important to you, then we would pay no mind, as these are top-tier, advanced and beginners climbing shoes that should work well for all climbers.

Pros

  • Durable

  • Good for long-term wear

Cons

  • Expensive

  • Limited sensitivity

Buy now at REI
Product image of La Sportiva Miura VS
La Sportiva Miura VS

A top pick for those who often find themselves edging, the La Sportiva Miura VS offers a solid foothold wherever necessary. Solid with a slight downturn, climbers who use this aggressive shoe love them for technical footwork and their absolute precision.

This stiff shoe comes in both laced and velcro-closure styles, making it easy to find your perfect preference to guide you along your routes, and is said to be best used in difficult vertical climbs or for overhangs. So if you’re a skilled climber looking to increase speed and agility on climbs, these stiffer shoes would be a good choice.

Pros

  • Stiff

  • Good for edging

Cons

  • Shape may not fit all feet comfortably

  • Heel sits high

Buy now at Amazon
Product image of La Sportiva Skwama
La Sportiva Skwama

The La Sportiva Skwama is a top-tier climbing shoe for all-day comfort and performance, without the need for breaking in. While this climbing shoe isn’t terribly expensive, replacements could get pricey, and due to the amount of stretch associated with the Skwama, we would suggest making sure you purchase your true shoe size. Easy to put on, this velcro-strapped, stick- and rubber-soled climbing shoe has a great arch for digging into cracks without crunching your toes in the toe box or cutting into your heels, despite its aggressive curve.

Overall, the La Sportiva Skwama seem to be a great choice for a variety of climbing styles, and while they may wear more aggressively than others because of their rate of stretch, they’re not to be overlooked.

Pros

  • Easy to take on and off

  • Versatile

Cons

  • Stretch out quickly

  • Lack support

Buy now at Amazon
Product image of Scarpa Drago Rock Climbing Shoes
Scarpa Drago Rock Climbing Shoes

One of the softest bouldering shoes on the market, the Scarpa Drago was designed with a nice clean curve, making them a top pick for toe hooking. Due to their soft nature, we wouldn’t suggest these as a shoe for technical edging, but for climbers looking to scale steep climbing routes, they would be a good bet. Folks who wear this climbing shoe rave about the sensitivity factor, claiming more confidence in their micro-footholds, due to the thin makeup of the Drago, and were impressed with the tactility encompassed in this sticky, no-stretch climbing shoe with a synthetic upper.

Pros

  • Comfortable

  • Good for toe hooking

Cons

  • Too soft for technical edging

  • Expensive

Buy now at Amazon
Product image of Evolv Venga Climbing Shoes
Evolv Venga Climbing Shoes

Widely considered the absolute best climbing shoe for kids, the Evolve Venga is comfortable for long use, and the slightly flattened design makes this shoe great for numerous climbing conditions such as cracks, slab, and face. An adjustable heel strap adds to the Venga’s breathability, and single-pull velcro adjustments make it an easy wear for kids. The polyester mesh, synthetic material used for these is less abrasion resistant than others out there, and the position of metal D-rings can cause the occasional annoyance, but these are still an ideal pick for young climbers.

Pros

  • Good for variety of climbing styles

  • Comfortable

Cons

  • May wear quickly

  • D-ring may push on points of foot

Buy now at Amazon

Meet the tester

Ceara Perez-Murphy

Ceara Perez-Murphy

Staff Writer

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Ceara Perez-Murphy is a staff writer at Reviewed. In her free time she likes trying out new recipes in the kitchen, exploring new restaurants and spending time outdoors with her dogs.

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