La Sportiva Katana Lace Climbing Shoe- Discontinued Rubber - 2010 BCS

I have always loved the katana (velcro). So I had to try these. After climbing in lace version I was psyched to find that, much like the original katana, they are an all-around climbing weapon. This shoe really does do it all. The slightly downturned toe helps on the steep stuff but is slight enough that this shoe still smears very well. Also as this shoe breaks it it flattens out a bit, especially if you do not fit them ridiculously tight. I respectfully disagree with the review below that says this shoe is only for places like maple and not for "trad/granite" climbing. I have used this shoe for a ton of granite and trad climbing and have absolutely loved them. They smear, edge, fit in tiny cracks... The laces offer an upgrade from the velcro version as well. The laces never get in the way while jamming your foot in a crack and also allow for a more precise and complete fit.

I just recently purchased the Katanas after trying the Solutions for a week of climbing and i must say i am impressed at how dynamic the shoe feels for how simple it looks. Amazing edging power, super sticky rubber and an easy going fit add up to fantastic shoe.

They fit my feet very well (i am medium to large width, low volume narrow heeled foot shape), perfectly snug when sized a full size down from my street size. They are in fact a fairly aggressively shaped shoe so don't be fooled by the images provided. I thought i was going to hate laces but they really do offer more options in fit. the internal lining and unique tubular tongue design is snug enough to allow my foot to breath and still offer enough support for easier routes without having to fully lace up.

the toe shape is similar to the Solution and Miura's but without the rounded aspect to them so the Katanas smear much better than those shoes yet offer enough down turn and point to keep you from cutting your feet in caves and overhangs. Surprisingly thin soled, they have great sensitivity while offering good mid sole stiffness.

It's the perfect shoe for anyone looking to upgrade from a beginner shoe. I haven't seen too many people wearing the lace up versions which makes me think this shoe is going unnoticed as a high performance shoe when compared to other brands and other La Sportiva models.

I am a huge fan of the Velcro Katana, and like so many others, I absolutely loved the Barracuda. So when I heard about these, I was psyched to try them out.Frankly, these shoes really don't have anything to do with the Velcro Katana and I think that calling them a "lace up Katana" is a bit misleading. They are aggressively downturned. The photo above makes them look like they have a relatively flat last - but they don't...at all.

I am mainly a trad/granite climber - not the shoe for that kind of climbing.

So why did I give them 4 stars? To be fair, the shoe is extremely well made and fit my narrow feet like a dream. If you are looking for a shoe for steeps (Red River, Maple, New River), this thing would be great - sort of like a Five Ten Dragon for low volume feet. Awesome steep face shoe.

However, if you are a trad climber that was hoping this would be a replacement for the Barracuda, it is most certainly not.