La Sportiva Kumo Climbing Shoe - 2007 BCS

I missed the memo that said rubber and leather performed at various levels. Beginner I think not, good climbing technique can make these shoes work just as well as shoes twice the price. Great shoe for a smoking price. Oh yeah, if you think your shoes are too tight, your probably wrong, get the next size smaller, wear them somewhere that you can sweat them up and stretch them out. Not just on the couch, actually climbing works best. Remember, pain don't hurt! I wear a size 11.5 running shoe, 7.5 La Sportiva. They might be uncomfortable at first, but once they stretch its all worth it. People that believe a shoe like this can't perform very well for anything are wrong.

great shoe for a beginner or bouldering shoe. Hook and loop closure straps make it quick and easy to put them on and off while bouldering.

Sizing: My street shoe is a 10-10.5, and a size 42(9 american) fit me the best.

I have been climbing for a few years now (avid boulderer, but sport climb here and there) and i bought these shoes for the in-between and warm up climbs when i would not be working on anything aggresive. These shoes have worked great for that, and i have started useing them more, and more for smearing. my only gripe is that after a while, the toe box becomes very tight and uncomfortable (normally would not be an issue, but these were bought to be my "comfy" shoes.)

While you won't wear these out with bad footwork and thus they are a decent beginner shoe, I think they might actually be not-sticky enough to reconsider, even for a nOOb. My wife went up a grade immediately when moving from this shoe to another mid-level shoe due to stickier rubber. Watching her climb in the Kumo was painful for everyone involved - smearing just doesn't happen on cold days. Positive: these will last forever (hard rubber) and we keep them for same-sized friedns who are new and need a loaner pair.

Excellente fit and superb grip. A great shoe for beginners like me. The velcro straps attach very good and are obviously much easier to handle than regular shoe strings. Great looks and modern styling.

I bought these after reading the reviews, saying that these were a good beginner's shoe, but I have not been that impressed. Maybe I bought them too small (I bought them a size smaller than my normal running shoe), but I found they cramp my toes more than I would like - to the point of pain. For all day climbing, I'll go with the Mythos from now on, but will keep these for shorter, more agressive climbs.