The Best Indoor Gym Climbing Shoes
Climb all day and any day with these performance indoor climbing shoes
A shoe’s magic lies in its rubber, construction, shape, closure system, and midsole.
Shoes with stiffer midsoles are good for edging and climbing all day, but are insensitive and hard to get to conform to holds with your toes and feet. A softer midsole allows the shoe to mold to the surface, maximizing friction and surface contact. A stiffer midsole is built for precision and better for edging. Whether you opt for a lace-up or hook and loop system is largely down to personal preference. Many shoes are assymetrical in shape and create a more powerful geometry for your feet to hook around volumes and your toes to grip small holds.
Choosing climbing shoes is more art than science. It’s about the balance between comfort and performance. Aggressive bouldering shoes, for instance, favour a tight, downturned fit that maximizes power and precision. Likely, if you need these shoes, you already know what you want. A flatter shoe that can be worn longer without discomfort is better for beginners, so you can concentrate on learning the basics. When you go to upgrade your shoes, you can choose from a range of progressively more assymetrical and aggressively down-turned models.
Fit is crucial, no matter what kind of shoe you choose. Rock climbing shoes are meant to be snug, with no air pockets in the heel, instep or toe-box, so that they give you a solid platform. Your first pair don’t need to be super-tight, but consider a fit that is tight enough so that you’ll want to take them off, or at least pop off the heels between every climb or two.
Scarpa Vapor V Climbing Shoes
Small edges and nasty smears are nothing these shoes can’t handle. The updated Vapor V has a slightly stiffer midsole than the previous Vapor iteration, providing a supportive platform for hard face and crack climbs. Scarpa’s Bi-Tension system pulls power back from your toes rather than cramming your foot painfully forward, so you get more power with less tension on your foot.
- Uppers are made of microsuede for comfort and long-lasting fit
- Padded mesh tongue cushions feet on long multi-pitches and in cracks
- Slightly asymmetric, curved shape for precise foot placement
- 1.5mm Talyn midsole provides a supportive platform for edging and jamming
- Sole is 3.5mm Vibram® XS Grip2 rubber grips small edges and is well suited for lighter climbers
- Members typically downsize 1-1.5 sizes (performance fit) or 0.5-1 sizes (comfort fit) from their street shoe size
Scarpa Origin Climbing Shoe
For those who want to learn to climb, without learning to endure painful shoes. The flat profile and relatively relaxed rand are easy on a new climber’s foot. Plush leather uppers are padded for comfort, but the Vision rubber doesn’t compromise on grip or stickiness. Supportive midsole helps you edge and balance while you develop both strength and technique.
- 1.8mm suede upper
- Flat-lasted shaping offers up comfort and performance
- Dual strap closure adjusts for secure, custom fit
- PAF heel system puts less pressure on the Achilles for extra comfort
- Midsole is 1.9mm Flexan for support
- Sole is Scarpa Vision 5mm rubber
- Members typically downsize 1-1.5 sizes (performance fit) or 0.5-1 sizes (comfort fit) from their street shoe size
La Sportiva Mandala Climbing Shoe
No-Edge precision in a supportive shoe that gives you precise control when loading and unloading. La Sportiva’s No-Edge line has the natural connection of climbing barefoot, with all the benefits of grippy and supportive rock shoe. Slipper construction gets the added retention of a foot strap, so you don’t have to wear the Mandala as tight as other shoes, while still being able to focus your foot power where you need it most.
- Leather and microfibre upper balances comfort and performance
- Hook-and-loop strap locks your foot in, reducing slipping and shifting
- Stretchy elastic tongue with heel pull tabs for easy on and off
- No-Edge® construction brings your foot closer to the rock for better performance and sensitivity
- High coverage super-grippy rubber helps you execute the most extreme toe hooks you’re willing to try
- Slingshot heel design helps you lock in those tricky heel hooks
- 3mm tapered Vibram® XS Grip2™ rubber outsole provides exceptional friction and feel
- La Sportiva suggests downsizing 1-1.5 sizes (performance fit) or 0.5-1 sizes (comfort fit) from your street shoe size
Black Diamond Momentum Climbing
A gym-centric shoe that balances fit with breathability. The knit upper has a variable weave that provides both airflow and support. The inner liner uses hemp to absorb moisture – nice when the air in the gym feels tropical. It uses proprietary BD rubber that’s designed to last through long gym seasons while you hone your strength and technique.
- Engineered Knit tech in the upper provides exceptional fit, breathability and comfort
- Hemp liner in the toe box helps manage moisture and reduce the chance of blisters
- Neutral, flat last offers comfort and support for developing climbers
- 4.3mm NeoFriction rubber is designed for durability, consistency and lightness
- Soft flex midsole adds sensitivity for the perfect foot placement
- 2 Velcro straps tune the fit
- Members typically size the same as their street shoe size
Evolv Geshido Climbing Shoes
Tackle routes in varied terrain thanks to a balance of downturn and stiffness. The cambered profile allows you to pull powerfully with your feet in the steeps, and the full-length midsole provides support when balancing up vertical terrain.
- Vegan-friendly synthetic Synthratek VX is perforated and slightly elasticity for a close, secure fit
- Dark Spine heel provides support when heel hooking
- VTR rand puts durability and sensitivity where you want it
- Supportive full-length MX-P midsole
- Sticky 4.2mm Trax SAS rubber grips small foot holds and smears
- Evolv suggests sizing the same as your street shoe size
Products reviewed in this article:
Scarpa Vapor V Climbing Shoes
Scarpa Origin Climbing Shoe
La Sportiva Mandala Climbing Shoe
Black Diamond Momentum Climbing
Evolv Geshido Climbing Shoes
