[Gear Scout]

Hey fellow climbers! So, I’ve been on quite the journey trying to find the perfect climbing shoes that not only grip the rock like a gecko but also don’t feel like medieval torture devices. Let’s be real, nothing can ruin a climbing day faster than sore feet!

In this post, I’m excited to share my top three favorites that have got my back on the wall (and my feet feeling fabulous). I’ll be giving you a peek into why I love each one, along with a buyer’s guide to help you find your own perfect fit—because we all deserve to feel like rock stars when we’re scaling those cliffs! So, without further ado, let’s dive into my top picks:

• 👟 La Sportiva Miura VS
• 🏔️ Scarpa Instinct VS
• 🧗 Five Ten Anasazi VCS

[Gear Scout]

La Sportiva Miura VS

You know you’re taking climbing seriously when you start talking to your shoes. Meet my new climbing partner, the La Sportiva Miura VS. (Yes, it’s normal to name your climbing shoes, right? Or have I spent too much time hanging around rocks?) But I digress. Let me share my thoughts on this outstanding beast of a shoe.

Fit and Comfort:

• Let me just start by saying that if you believe in love at first sight, great! But when it comes to these shoes, it’s more like love at first squeeze.
• These bad boys have a snug fit. Imagine wrapping your feet in a cozy tortilla – except it’s a bit less delicious and a lot more aggressive.
• The Velcro closure system helps dial in the pressure just right. It’s like strapping your feet into their own private, rock-scaling airplane.

Performance:

• If these shoes could play an instrument, they’d be shredding on a rock guitar. They have some fierce edging capabilities!
• Smearing? More like a smear campaign against the rock itself. The rubber is like the closest friend that never lets go.
• The downturn is more aggressive than a cat with a laser pointer, helping me stick onto overhangs like a gecko on a glass window.

Durability:

• These shoes can take a beating! I’ve taken them up sandstone, limestone, and everything in between.
• After months of abuse, they still look (and smell) surprisingly decent – although that might be thanks to some divine intervention or fresh scented foot powder.

The La Sportiva Miura VS isn’t just a shoe; it’s an experience. If you want to up your game, these shoes are more like a wingman (or wing-shoe?) in your climbing adventures. Highly recommended!

[Gear Scout]

Scarpa Instinct VS

So, here I am, writing a review for the Scarpa Instinct VS, aka my trusty foot-huggers on the wall! You know how they say your climbing shoe is the best partner who won’t spoil your ascent on trad, boulders, and everything in between? Well, these babies fit that description perfectly.

First off, let’s talk about the fit. Picture slipping your foot into a buttery slice of pizza—warm, snug, and with just the right amount of cheese pull (minus the calories and carbs, sadly). The Instinct VS offers a solid fit because of its slightly downturned shape and well-padded heel cup, meaning it hugs your foot like it’s never letting go. Speaking of which, if you have the kind of feet with a Cinderella complex like mine, toss a shoutout to the Vibram XS Edge rubber—it feels like magic holding you through those precarious edges and micro-footholds!

Let’s not gloss over the closure system. One word: addictive. Velcro is so delightful here that I found myself fastening and unfastening them way too much—alas, when you find something satisfying, you tend to overuse it. But, who’s complaining?

In practice, I tackled a range of climbs from overhangs to delicate slabs with these puppies. Pro tip: Feel free to channel your inner Spiderman as you trust these shoes with your life’s goal of reaching that distant dyno without feeling like you’re clinging to dear life.

Now, on that note, I did have an incident where I accidentally moonwalked down a slab since the rubber was that sticky. Instead of taking it as a mishap, let’s categorize it as an unintentional happy dance of sending projects successfully!

Would I recommend these to a friend? Oh, you bet your favorite chalk bag I would! But fair warning: once you try them, you might catch yourself daydreaming of holding onto granite pillows while at the office. After all, life’s too short to climb with sore feet, isn’t it?

[Gear Scout]

Five Ten Anasazi VCS

Ah, the Five Ten Anasazi VCS, my trusty partners in crime on the vertical playground! If shoes could tell tales, these bad boys would have a few chapters dedicated to my less-than-graceful “spiderman” attempts. Don’t be misled by their humble appearance; these babies pack a punch that even Spider-Man would envy.

First off, the fit. It’s like shaking hands with an old friend, except this friend gives your feet a bear hug! The Anasazi VCS are snug, yes, but once they break in, it’s like sliding into a pair of really aggressive slippers. I’ve personally taken these for a spin on everything from outdoor crags to the less glamorous indoor gyms, and they handle beautifully.

• Rubber grip: Stealth Onyxx rubber = stickiness overload! Imagine standing on a dime…on a wall. Yeah, that grippy! It’s saved my butt on more than one occasion, trust me.
• Heel hooking: Let’s talk about the heel—cup-like a scoop of gelato, keeping my foot snug without the “ouch” factor. The first time I trusted a heel hook on overhanging boulder problems in these, I felt like Neo in the Matrix. Reality bending stuff!
• Durability: If you’re a chronic toe dragger like I may have been known to be—fear not! These shoes can take a bruising and keep on cruising, hanging tough like that last song you can’t get out of your head.

Just a quick public service announcement: The aggressive downturn isn’t insane, so they’re pretty forgiving for those of us whose footwork could use a bit more, uh, “refinement.”

Oh, and did I mention the velcro? Life’s too short for laces! The VCS stands for “Velcro Closure System,” which is fancy talk for “getting down to climbing business faster.” I love cranking down on the velcro like a lumberjack wrestling a wayward beaver—satisfying and secure.

In wrapping up my love letter to the Anasazi VCS, if you’re on the hunt for a shoe that feels like a secret weapon attached to your foot, these might just be your Excalibur. Give them a whirl, and if you see a guy on the wall grinning from ear to ear, struggling but loving it—that’s probably me. Happy climbing!

[Gear Scout]

Best Climbing Shoes Buyer’s Guide

So, you’ve donned your harness, dusted off your chalk bag, and are currently staring down a formidable wall of vertigo-inducing rock-face or a pristine indoor climbing route—all while pondering the existential question: which climbing shoes should be my trusty companions? Fear not, my intrepid vertical voyager, for I’m here to help you scale new heights in style and comfort!

First of all, let’s dig into the categories of climbing shoes. Picture them like a rock band trio: Neutral, Moderate, and Aggressive. Neutral shoes are your laid-back, all-day rock jammers. Perfect for beginners or long climbs where comfort reigns supreme. Moderate shoes are like the mullet of climbing shoes—business in the front, party in the back. Versatile and suited to trad, crack, and even technical face climbing, they mesh performance with a manageable toe curl. Lastly, we have Aggressive shoes—the rock stars with a penchant for steep, overhanging routes. They curl and squeeze your feet into a power position, like cramming your toes into a tiny sports car. Say goodbye to comfort, but hello to tiny hold domination.

As someone who has spent quite a bit of time dangling off cliffs (sometimes intentionally), let me tell you: fit is everything! You want a Goldilocks fit—snug but not too snug, tight but not tearing-your-hair-out tight. Your toes should be kissing the end of the shoe, ready to channel your inner Spiderman—not crumpled up like they’re being subjected to medieval torture.

Let’s break down a few features, which I scientifically call “stuff to think about”:

• Material: Leather will stretch over time, so factor this in if you’re going for natural fibers. Synthetic materials won’t stretch much but offer excellent consistency, albeit sometimes with the aroma of a gym shoe convention.
• Closure system: Velcro? Laces? Slippers? Take your pick! Velcro is speedy but less adjustable for that custom feel. Laces let you fine-tune the fit, while slippers are a slip-on affair—great for the shoe minimalist.
• Rubber type: Stickier rubber helps when you’re juking it out on tiny footholds, but keep in mind they wear out faster than your favorite socks.

Don’t be afraid to try on several pairs and dance around the store like it’s a chalk-covered catwalk. Each brand has its unique fit and flair, so consult the store staff, who’ve probably spent more time climbing than I’ve spent falling off my kitchen chairs.

In conclusion, finding the best climbing shoe can feel like a quest for the holy grail. But with a touch of patience and a pinch of humor, you’ll find the perfect pair to support you on your epic climbing adventures. And a great excuse to fill your closet with more shoes. If anyone asks, they’re all essential—that’s my story, and I’m sticking to it!

[RV Campers]

Oh man, isn’t the quest for the perfect climbing shoe just as epic as any great climb? I mean, if Cinderella were a climber, her shoe would probably be built by La Sportiva or Scarpa, let’s be honest. 😂 Now that we’re all well-versed in climbing shoes, here’s a little footnote of wisdom from the trail:

• Shoe Romance: Fall in love with your gear! Find a shoe that wraps around your foot like a clingy octopus, but in the softest, most supportive way possible. It’s like finding your climbing sole-mate. 🌟
• Velcro Therapy: Get attached to the velcro ‘snap,’ a sound that’s like instant therapy for climbers who embrace efficiency and style over wrestling with laces. 🌈
• Unexpected Dance Moves: Those sticky rubber moments where you glide like Michael Jackson down the slab? Totally legit. Embrace the spontaneous moonwalks! 🕺
• Stay Humble: Remember, while these shoes can perform miracles, it’s ultimately your skills, spider senses, and maybe a bit of mountain goat wisdom that seals the deal on every climb. 🐐

So good luck on your shoe journey, and may your days on the rock be filled with epic sends and minimal foot cramping. Keep climbing and smiling—I’ll meet you at the top with a high five (or maybe a foot five!). 🖐️👣

[Rugged Roamer]

Hey there, fellow rock wrangler! 🤗 I totally sympathize with the seemingly endless search for those elusive perfect climbing shoes—it’s almost like hunting for a needle in a particularly craggy haystack. If only they made a dating app for climbing shoes, right? Swipe right for sticky soles and comfy fits! 😄

• Trial by Rock: Remember, a shoe that’s perfect for someone else might not be the right fit for you. It’s all about finding the one that makes your feet sing, not scream. 🎶🥿
• The Right Bites: When you find a shoe that’s both snug and supportive, it’s like finding a unicorn—except this unicorn helps you scale walls rather than prance around the forest. 🦄🔝
• Upgrade Routines: Maybe switch it up a bit with a few dance moves once you’ve got those ultra-sticky soles—who says you can’t be stylish on the wall? 💃🕺
• Sole Searching: Make sure your next pair gives you that “I’ve found the one” feeling, but rest assured, the journey is half the fun. Happy climbing till you find your perfect partner in (non)crime! 🏔️👟

Here’s to fewer blisters and more bliss on your climbing endeavors! Cheers to crushing those sends and kicking soreness to the curb. 🚀👣

[The RV Way]

Hey everyone! 🌟 Isn’t it amazing how choosing the right climbing shoe can feel like unlocking a new superhero ability? I mean, seriously, who knew the right shoe could turn you into Spider-Man on the wall? 🕷️

• Rockstars in Disguise: The right shoes can make you feel like a rockstar—even if your only audience is a bunch of rocks and an occasional curious squirrel. 🎸🐿️
• Shoe-tuning Sense: Much like a finely tuned guitar, your shoes should reverberate with a symphony of comfort and performance. 🎶 Even though the first tune might be a squeak rather than a note, it’s music to a climber’s ears. 🎵
• Stealth Mode: When you’ve got your perfect pair, you’ll be as stealthy as a ninja on limestone. Except, instead of throwing stars, you’ve got a killer heel hook! 🥷🥾
• Inside Jokes: You might even start having inside jokes with your shoes. “Remember that time you saved me from an embarrassing slip? Never telling anyone… except maybe my blog. 😉”

Bottom line, the right pair of shoes isn’t just gear—they’re your accomplices in adventure. So lace ’em, Velcro ’em, or slip ’em on; just get ready to conquer. Happy climbing, everyone! 🧗‍♂️🚀

[Wild Frontier]

Hey amazing climbers! 😄 Isn’t it funny how the perfect pair of climbing shoes can turn those daunting routes into your favorite playgrounds? Finding that magical pair is like meeting your arch-nemesis and realizing, “Hey, we’re not so different after all.” Here are some extra thoughts to chew on:

• Lace Logic: Laces might seem like a puzzle, but getting them tied just right is like creating poetry for your feet. Slack where you need it, hugged where you don’t—because, hey, we all love a good sonnet! 🥳
• The Great Unwind: After a killin’ session, releasing those velcro straps or untying those laces feels like hitting the jackpot at the end of a long day. It’s the small victories! 🎉
• Chalk & Talk: Share your epic finds and mishaps with your climbing crew—because who else will appreciate the intricacies of your footwork obsession? Plus, it’s more fun than discussing the weather. ⛅️👟
• These Boots Are Made for Climbing: And that’s just what they’ll do. One of these days, these boots will help you send something new! 🎶

Remember, your journey with the rock is as unique as your choice in climbing shoes. Keep reaching for the top and may your shoes always feel just right! 🧗‍♂️✨

[Author]

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