11 Best Climbing Shoes of 2023

Climbing is an exhilarating sport that requires specialized gear, and climbing shoes are one of the most important pieces of equipment.

Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced climber, having the right climbing shoes can make all the difference in your climbing experience.

That’s why we’ve put together this list of the best climbing shoes available in 2023. We looked at a variety of factors such as fit, performance, comfort, materials used, durability, and price to narrow down our selection to just 11 top-rated models.

No matter what type of climbing you do—bouldering, trad climbing, or sport climbing—there’s sure to be something here for everyone! So read on for our picks for the 11 best climbing shoes available this year.

Our Best Rock Climbing Shoes Recommendations

SCARPA Instinct VS Rock Climbing Shoes

Overview

The SCARPA Instinct VS climbing shoes are one of the best climbing shoes available in 2023. These climbing shoes feature a Vibram XS Grip2 sole that provides superior grip and traction on all types of terrain, making them ideal for bouldering, trad climbing, or sport climbing. The upper is made from breathable synthetic materials to keep your feet cool and comfortable during long climbs.

Bottomline

They also have an asymmetrical shape that allows for more precise foot placement when climbing, giving you better control over your movements. With their excellent performance and comfort features, the SCARPA Instinct VS rock climbing shoes are sure to be a great choice for any climber.

Climb X Rave Strap Climbing Shoe

Overview

If you’re looking for a shoe that offers both comfort and precision, then this is the one. Featuring double stitching, padding on the collar and heel, polypropylene midsole, and one-piece binding – it’s perfect for your next gym session.

For optimal performance fit when climbing go down in size – but keep in mind that these types of shoes are designed to be tight around your feet.

Bottomline

If you’re searching for shoes that are both comfortable and affordable, these might be the right pair for you. Our customers have generally been very pleased with them, finding that they improve with wear and last for several months. They’ve got a good grip and a snug fit, plus they look great too!

Black Diamond Momentum

Overview

Our flattest rock climbing shoe reviewed yet, offering a flexible toe box ideal for beginner climbers. Enjoy the feeling of running shoes with its engineered knit uppers that bring together flexibility, breathability, and maximum performance like never before. With increased comfort coupled with superior support in all areas – this is the perfect selection for you!

Bottomline

Whether you’re a beginner or an intermediate climber searching for something more comfortable, these incredibly affordable rock shoes are a perfect choice. Secure your feet with two hook-and-loop tabs that tighten when pulled in opposite directions – and take off at rest or during belaying. These flat shoes does not fall short of confidence during climbs.

La Sportiva Testarossa

Overview

Now, this pair of shoes is the perfect aggressive shoes we’ve encountered. Its mix of soft and stiff shoes makes it a perfect pair for crack climbing endeavors. Its very sensitive soft shoes characteristic makes you feel the roughness of the rock you’re going to climb.

Bottomline

We like the fact that you can feel the terrain on this aggressive shoe but we find that soft construction makes for a fatigued feeling on lengthy, steep slopes. Ultimately, designs like the La Sportiva Solution or Boostic are preferable if you plan to spend your time standing up and skiing down mountains.

Evolv Rave Climbing Shoe

Overview

Boasting a stylish design and no need for lacing, the Evolv Rave is one of today’s most superior bouldering shoes. With its full-length midsole and outsole that provides excellent support and protection, this cost-efficient pair has something to offer climbers of all levels. Invest now in quality performance – choose the Evolv Rave!

Bottomline

This bouldering shoe has an incredibly snug fit for its sleek look. It’s lined with leather enough to make it a comfortable shoe. It lacks toe-hooking capabilities and the lack of velcro just makes some rock climbers worry if it fits in the category of beginner shoes.

Special Mentions

La Sportiva Tarantulace

Overview

If you’re a climber seeking one pair of shoes to conquer it all, then look no further! This jack-of-all-trades climbing shoe is comfortable enough for your outdoor day trips or indoor climbing gym sessions. It has a snug fit that matches your street shoe size to make you comfortable and confident on your climbs.

Bottomline

If you’re a beginner and just want to try out climbing and bouldering. This might just be the best shoe you can have right now. This shoe is quite stiff for its lineage but it’ll do the job enough for beginner and intermediate climbers.

Five Ten Hiangle

Overview

Whether you’re a professional boulderer or an experienced sport climber, the Five Ten Hiangle is one of your go-to shoes. Boasting a thick layer of sticky rubber for optimal toe grip, along with its aggressive sloping shape which provides remarkable sensitivity and a Velcro strap to keep it secure while heel hooking during steep climbs – this shoe won’t let you down.

Bottomline

The Five Ten Hiangle lacks leather but is rich with synthetic. So if you want that snug fit and confidence with the shoes this might not be for you. It performs best on indoor climbing gyms, but works just good in outdoor natural terrains.

Scarpa Vapor V

Overview

The wide-toe box maintains optimal comfort, and you can easily adjust the size according to your needs: a relatively loose fit is ideal for all-day multi-pitch climbs, while we recommend going tight for redpoint attempts at sport crags.

Bottomline

This shoe may not be the best choice if you want something comfortable and supportive. It is a climbing shoe designed to be lightweight and minimalistic, providing exceptional climbing performance without compromising comfort.

La Sportiva Skwama

Overview

The La Sportiva Skwama is unlike any other rock climbing shoe on the market due to its incredibly soft construction. This feature allows you to connect with the rock and move up or around it with complete accuracy and precision.

If you’re looking for shoes to hold your footing when heel-hooking or toe-hooking on a sloped surface, the Skwama should be your first choice.

Additionally, its unique design allows you to pull holds towards yourself more effectively than other shoes in its category making it one of the most sought-after options for professional climbers.

Bottomline

Skwama is truly a soft shoe. With its flexible sole and slipper-like snugness, this shoe is perfect for bouldering; the soft undercarriage provides just enough grip to move confidently between holds and the slight foot movement allowed by the higher flexibility makes standing in uncomfortable positions much more bearable.

However, that same flexibility won’t do you any good on longer traditional routes – it’s not ideal for long days of climbing or single pitches at a crag!

Seasoned climbers may find their feet less than supported on vertical routes due to the soft sole and even after short-term use and may want to look elsewhere if they’re looking for a rigidly supportive shoe.

Butora Acro Comp

Overview

There are plenty of climbing shoes on the market for all levels of intensity, but none can compare to the Butora Acro Comp.

Made with an ultra-comfortable fit, outstanding construction, and a surprisingly robust grip that is soft yet reliable between runs, this shoe has quickly established itself as a top contender in the multi-pitch arena.

If you’re looking for a reliable piece of gear that won’t have you sacrificing comfort or performance while you get up your favorite route, the Butora Acro Comp has got you covered – its combination of fit, build quality, and edging success has made it stand out among an ever-growing list of contenders.

Bottomline

If you’re searching for the ideal shoe for your competitive climbing journey, look no further than the Acro Comp.

This particular climber’s shoes boast competition-level performance at an unbeatable price point – perfect for climbers of all levels!

With a range of different styles and types available to suit your specific needs, any aspiring or experienced competitive climber will benefit from this reliable choice in terms of quality and value; it truly is unrivaled.

Unparallel Sirius Lace

Overview

As competition climbing shoes go, the Boostic takes the top honors. Rock climbers of all levels have praised it for its premium performance on a variety of terrains, from dramatic overhanging walls to vertical rock faces with technical edges and pockets.

Its precision and power will give you the confidence to conquer any route. The most recent version continues to up the ante, offering an even higher degree of responsiveness in competition climbing.

If you’re looking for competition-level comfort and performance, then the Boostic is simply the best choice for elite climbers.

Bottomline

The Scarpa Boostic competition climbing shoes were recently updated to provide extra comfort and elongated durability.

The materials used are thinner, resulting in a roomier fit, but they suggest dropping half a size from the normal size; this means less break-in period than expected. The thin material is perfect for those who prefer bouldering, as the rubber patches serve as excellent toe and heel hooking features.

However, competition climbers may want something a bit softer, or with more support, rather than these all-rounder shoes.

Conclusion

With climbing shoes, you want something that can deliver the performance and comfort that you need for your climbing style.

Whether it’s bouldering or multi-pitch climbing, there is a shoe out there for everyone; from the Butora Acro Comp to the Unparallel Sirius Lace, these eleven climbing shoes will provide an unrivaled experience on any rock face.

From fit to construction and grip, these picks are sure to meet all your climbing needs – so don’t hesitate to get a pair of one (or more!) of these top contenders! Happy climbing!