La Sportiva Katana Rock Vibram XS Grip2 Climbing Shoe - Women's

After wearing through my first pair of climbing shoes (La Sportiva Nagos Womens), I wanted a shoe that was more aggressive and better able to suit my level of climbing. After trying on the Muira and finding that the toe-box was completely the wrong shape for my incredibly narrow foot, I tried the Katana and I'm not sure I ever want to buy another pair of climbing shoes. The edging is fantastic, and I find that I can smear on virtually anything. I wore a 37 in the Nago (a little too tight, even when stretched out, probably should have worn a 37.5 or 38), and find that a 38.5 in the Katana fits like a glove. Can't say enough how much I looove this shoe.

If you have narrow feet, I would not suggest getting these. I would highly suggest, for a more aggressive climber with narrow feet to get the women's Miura lace instead. I really wanted to like these shoes, I gave them a very fair shot. But the pain goes beyond just breaking in the shoes because if you have extremely narrow feet like me, you have to pull the velcro straps so tight that it makes the material gap in some places and bunch in others, resulting in some very painful pressure points.

I'm sure for people with regular to wide feet this shoe works out great, and I think they look cute too! But if you have very narrow feet, it is much more worth it to suck it up and get shoes with laces despite the appeal of having convenient velcro shoes.

I disagree with the narrow feet comment. My feet are scary narrow and bony, and these shoes molded to my feet beautifully. I am a street shoe size 9 and ended up getting a 38.5 (or roughly size 7.5). These were 10 steps up from my flat Evolvs, much more aggressive and very grippy. I mostly climb 5.10 - 5.11 sport, and toeing in this shoe is near perfect. I prefer the velcro for the quick escape, and because the velcro has a wide area to strap onto you can adjust according to your feet.

Great for anyone who wants to take a step up from their beginner shoes, and those who don't want to kill themselves by jamming into the super aggressive Miuras.

I disagree with the narrow feet comment. My feet are scary narrow and bony, and these shoes molded to my feet beautifully. I am a street shoe size 9 and ended up getting a 38.5 (or roughly size 7.5). These were 10 steps up from my flat Evolvs, much more aggressive and very grippy. I mostly climb 5.10 - 5.11 sport, and toeing in this shoe is near perfect. I prefer the velcro for the quick escape, and because the velcro has a wide area to strap onto you can adjust according to your feet.

Great for anyone who wants to take a step up from their beginner shoes, and those who don't want to kill themselves by jamming into the super aggressive Miuras.

After blowing quite a hole in my Scarpa Thunders, I purchased the La Sportiva Katana. I went down a size and a half in these and they are so tight they almost make me cry. The velcro is wonderful for quick escapes. These are fantastic climbing shoes and I have so much more confidence in my foot placement now. They are fairly stiff to me and when toeing in I feel very solid. The Katana is darn near perfect.