Great shoe for very overhanging climbing. I tend to only wear my pair on really steep stuff. Almost felt like I was cheating the first time I climbed in them. My feet were sticking to crystals where I had popped a foot repeatedly before. I have climbed some trad in these shoes and they were ok but I definitely prefer my miuras when climbing trad or something less than vertical. I have two main complaints about this shoe: 1. The big and thick heel is not very sensitive at all for heel hooking. 2. The velcro strap can wear out and snap. Good thing these shoes climb almost the same strapped shut and not. I am 10.5/11 street shoe and wear the solution in a 40.5. While I could barely get them on when they were new, I think that I would size down to a 40 for a redpoint only type of shoe and up to 41 for all day comfort. For some reason this shoe is still comfortable when fit tight.

granted, i did not own the Solutions for very long, they're are a super aggressive asymmetrical down turned shoe for the most technical of climbs. i tried them out for a week and besides the fit (i have a medium width food and narrow heel), i thought they were an amazing shoe. never cut my feet, solid heel hooks thanks to the thin rubber. great toe hooks too. the fit was snug even without the straps locked down.

what killed them for me was how tight and uncomfortable the area was around the Achilles tendon. the exposed seams for the pull straps bit into my heel so badly it left it raw and red every time i climbed. the pain wasn't worth the pros.

pros: - sticky rubber
- amazing toe shape great for overhangs
- flexible sole
cons: - expensive
- uncomfortable break-in time, the nearly covered toe box doesn't stretch to accommodate foot shape.
- extreme down turn can create air pockets in the heel
- bad Achilles area
- strap closure system frayed easily, if i kept them longer they most likely would've broken.

Thin soles and mostly a smoke-and-mirrors design. Overall good fit, they tend to run big. Heel cup is nice, but the yellow rubber around the foot is a bit much and makes them heavier than they should be. Good down turned toe design, but it wears out pretty quick and after a re-sole it loses it's point. The rubber on the top of the toe felt like plastic. One of the most expensive shoes on the market - I.M.H.O. not worth the price, but overall a good shoe none-the-less.

...my title is pretty much all you need to know

This shoe is just incredible. First, the fit its great. When sized right, the heel section grabs your heel and sucks it in to infinity. I wear a size 13 street shoe, and got a 45 Solution, but next time will go 44.5 or 44 for a tighter fit (I love them tight, reaaallly tight, and these loosened up a little bit, fit tight/perfect at first but got a bit to lose). These shoes need maximum tightness to take advantage of the radical downturn (you want zero dead space). Use these for steep bouldering with tiny footchips, intense heel hooks, and the occasional toe hook. These will work for sport routes too, but are particularly good for bouldering.

I wear US 11 (EUR 44.5) or US 11.5 (EUR 45.1) street shoes size and bought the Solution EUR 43.5 (US ±10.25). The solution is as tight as possible on the toes, but its a bit loose on the heel, if I walk it would create air between my feet and the shoes and when I step the air would scape. In the beggining I had to take it off every 5min but now I've been wearing it for a month twice a week and it stretched and the became good, I can handle 20min now. If you plan on can keeping them on for an hour or two I wouldn't recommend. As far as performance goes, edging is excellent and the rubber is very sticky. I also wear a Snake Anhangava II from Brazil size EUR 46, which is good for all day climbing but I would go down 0.5.

These are my first dive into very aggressive bouldering/sport shoes. I was not disappointed. They are much more sticky than my scarpa technos and are great for smearing. The tip of the toe is pointed and is easy to hook on the smallest holds (great for over hangs) while the toe box is comfortably wide for my medium wide feet. Probably my favorite part of these shoes is their tight form fit and aggressive bottom turn. I primarily use them for bouldering and high difficulty sport routes. I would not want to trad in these (owwwwww).
I am concerned about the laces breaking and although leaving them undone or loose is fine when your toeing or smearing if you are going to be doing heal hooks the laces need to be tight. When I sized these I felt comfortably tight in a size 41 but sized down to a 40.5 and I am glad I did. When they were new my feet would literally cramp as I put them on but once they were in it was worth the discomfort. Now that they have stretched some they are comfortable while climbing (not on the ground!).

For sport climbs and boulder problems, this is it. This shoe fits like a glove and gives aggressive performance without a toe-cramping fit. Pricey, but worth it IMO.

These shoes have have done it all, from dolomite in WY, to limestone pockets in MT to the sandstone crags at Horshoe Canyon Ranch. The title says it all. Toe hooks, heel hooks, edging, if you are working a steep problem then this is your shoe. Soft and powerful.

Great out of the box. New XSV Grip rubber is super sticky. Shoes are very precise but run a little large. Usually a 39 in a Testarossa but went down to a 38 in the Solutions. A 38.5 probably would have given me the same sizing as the 39 Testarossa. At first, I had serious trouble getting the shoes on through the small opening but the fabric stretched out comfortably quickly over the first few wears. Don't know if I had this problem because I have wide feet, but they're fine now.
Hands down, the Solutions are the best Sportiva shoe.

After returning two pairs of dragons, I went for the solutions. I did not originally want these shoes because they look strange. However, their performance speaks more than looks. I wear a size 10.5 street shoe and ordered these in 40.5 (M's8) and ended up downsizing to a 40 (7.5). I wear 41's for testarossas, which I consider a bit too large. I hear a lot of reviews about how comfortable these shoes are. True, they are comfortable for how tight they run, but I think that one person could easily size into 3 different sizes of solutions and claim they feel snug and therefore fit for climbing. When I received my first pair (40.5), I struggled to get them on because of the lining. It is so tight at first but not in the toe, just the width. In my opinion this pair was far too small to get the delicate touch needed to snag tiny holds bouldering hard stuff. I am very happy with the size smaller (40). I will say, I could barely get into these shoes, it took a solid five minutes to get my feet into them, but each time after that it has become easier to get into them. They aren't as comfortable as they were before, but I am glad I downsized. Note that this is is nearly 3 full sizes down from my street shoe, and I can stay in them for a good 15- 20 minutes comfortably.
Conclusion: The reason you see people using solutions for everything from trad to bouldering is because you can size them differently for different purposes. If you want to die hard aggro toe that will put that XS grip to work on tiny stuff, stuff your feet in them. If you want something more comfortable for gym climbing or longer stuff, get the comfy ones.

I wear a 12 (45.5) in street shoe size, but I had to size down to a 9.5 (42.5) in the Solutions (I have a narrow foot). I personally wanted them tight so could I pop them on right before a climb and pop off when I'm done. However, if you plan on can keeping them on for an hour or two I wouldn't recommend going down two sizes. As far as performance goes, heel hooking is incredible, edging is excellent, and the rubber is very sticky. If steep walls, overhangs and roof problems are your thing these shoes will suit you well. They also don't smell bad after a climbing session…..

These are by far the best climbing shoes I have ever worn. I used to only use evolves but after these shoes I might never go back. They have a really simple closure system which is makes taking your shoes on and off really easy in between problems. I wear a 10.5 in street shoes, but I wear the solutions in 9.5 (they will stretch out a little bit) These shoes are fantastic and are well worth the price.

I've been wearing Evolv climbing shoes for a long time but the La Sportiva Solutions are BY FAR the best shoes I have ever used... I wear a size 10 1/2 in street shoes, but got these in a 9 1/2 (42 1/2) and they feel really good. They are really snug, but aren't uncomfortable. They are a little bit difficult to get on, but once they are on they are the best-feeling shoes I have ever had.

These are great shoes. Very sticky rubber. You would think that the heel without relief doesn't stay in place when you hell-hook, but you'll be wrong, it's like a third hand!
One thing that you have to be aware with the solution is that the sole is quite soft and flexible, so if you are looking for a strong support for your toes, don't buy it. But if you want to work with your toes but still stick on tiny holds, this is the shoes for you. The strong curvature put your foot in a great position and even if they are tight they still feel somewhat comfortable.
The only down side if these shoes is that I might need to buy new ones in six months as I use them so much.
Great product.

couldn't have been better. exactly what i wanted. fits like a glove to my foot.
worry free shoes once i place my foot i know it's going to stay. best i've ever used.

Have had these shoes over a week put three really long climbing sessions and they work amazing the toe on this shoe is unreal the suction cup in the front really drives your toe downward Which makes smearing amazing also The Heel is pretty good as well i like how it comes up and protects your achilles tendon from scrapes and cuts. The Vibram Rubber sticks like glue on anything you will not slip in the shoes. Also i went from my normal 11 1/2 in street shoes to a 43.5 in Euro and thats between a 10 and 10 1/2 they are very comfortable to wear even a size and a half down so when looking at this shoes defiantly size down a lot. i have been extremely happy with the shoes this far. Only thing i didnt like at first was the strap system but really the shoes fit so good even if you dont strap them in. only time will tell how durable they are because i boulder three times a week but the shoe feels very well built.Deffinatley well worth the $$ if your into bouldering

This shoe is Sickter McRikter. Seriously downturned toe makes this shoe pretty specialized for steeper terrain. La Sportiva has always made the most comfortable, precision lasts on the market, and this shoe is no different. The neoprene-like inner booty / cuff keeps my foot totally comfy and secure without creating any additional bulk in the shoe. The unique closure snugs up around my entire foot. There are no funky dead spots or hot spots in this shoe for me. The only caution I would throw to buyers is to check the sizing. In other La Sportiva shoes, like the Miura, and Five.10 shoes, like the Anasazi, - I wear a 39.5 (I think that's a US Men's 7). My street shoe is a US Men's 9. In this shoe, I downsized to a 38.5 and honestly if I bought another pair I'd probably go at least down to a 38. I'm not a masochistic climbing nerd either. Despite what this sounds like, I don't like painfully tight shoes, but something about the downcurve and the wide-ish toe box on the Solution creates a lot more space, so I need to downsize more than normal to get a snug fit.

Killer shoe. This thing is the evolution of high-performance climbing shoes.

i sized mine to fit the same as my street shoe and they were ok for a week or so.. they streched out and got floppy for me, and the heel was pretty bad for heel hooks, im sure it would have been different if i had gotten a smaller size

i sized mine to fit the same as my street shoe and they were ok for a week or so.. they streched out and got floppy for me, and the heel was pretty bad for heel hooks, im sure it would have been different if i had gotten a smaller size

These shoes are without a doubt my favorite shoe of all time. If you are looking for a shoe for steep routes and problems, these are hands down the best ones I have found, even the testarossas are a step down because of the heel. However, if you are looking for something versatile this is not the shoe, and, although you can get away with wearing them on vertical routes, I wouldn't recommend them. If you looking for something versatile try the "dragons."

When the strap breaks you are hosed. I am currently trying to figure out how to fix my first pair after breaking the "lace". If you tend to scum your foot on aretes, or in big holds like huecos, you will abrade the "lace" and it will break. So how much do I love this shoe? I bought another pair the day my first pair broke. This is the best heel hooking shoe you will ever wear. Surprisingly, it smears very well, and is incredible on overhanging terrain.
Buy this shoe, you cannot go wrong.

the best shoes for really hard climbing

I wear a 38.5 in Testarossa (very tide) and have now a 38.5 in solution. Probaly you can wear a 38 in solution to have the same size like testarossa. The solution is the best shoe i ever had for bouldering!!!!I'm Loving it:)

First, these shoes are great. Very sticky, awesome heel, and very aggressive. These shoes would get 5 out of 5 if I was writing from someone who has climbed for years on end.

But I am writing this review as someone who has been climbing for a little over a year. Usually that means your footwork will not be as precise and hence you will rock on jibs more than you should. After a month of use, a hole developed on the right shoe right below my big toe. I had to return them to La Sportiva to get a new pair. Very good customer service BTW. I can already hear everyone saying "well, if you were a better climber it wouldn't have happened." I agree, but we all don't start out like Chris Sharma. If you are a beginner/intermediate climber I would not recommend these shoes. The rubber is very thin due to the downturn and like another reviewer pointed out, if the strap goes, the shoe is pretty much pointless. It is something I actually predict will happen in the near future.

And the price is another factor you have to consider. Sure, if you are Daniel Woods and get these shoes for free whenever you need them, you're not going to consider the price. But as an average Joe, spending 150 bucs for a pair of shoes that I feel will not last a year is not worth it. I don't mind spending a few bucks for something that will last. But right now, at the level I am at, it is not worth it. Maybe, after 5-10 years of climbing, I'll reconsider.

Once again, a great shoe for someone who feels confident about their footwork but for someone who is still a little sloppy and overly aggressive on jibs on bad holds, it is not worth it.

I upgraded to these from a pair of Evolv Defys and the difference is night and day. I tried a few similar shoes by La Sportiva as well as other brands, and these were my fav. Once I got them on (a very difficult process at first) they fit perfectly. I now feel secure toeing into just about anything. Heel hooking and toe hooking/bat hangs are far more secure as well. The real leather uppers are a huge plus; I will never buy a synthetic shoe again.

As others have mentioned, the fast closure system isn't really necessary. Also, they are not very comfortable to walk around in or wear for extended periods of time, but are perfect for bouldering. They were a bit pricey, but so far well worth the $$$ imho.

especially the heel is amazing. sucks you in and won't let go. very sticky and after some time really comfortable! been bouldering, sport and trad climbing in those and found them to be just great in all situations alike. could be a little more precise in the toe (it feels pretty broad), but that's just my taste. love them (and I'm European...)!

well in a hot climite we need
something tight and fits well.
we cant use something that will slip off.

its a wonderful shoe.. but i bought these shoes they fight good wen i bought them .. they strecthed a little bit.. so i cant climb in my solutions anymore way to big.. my heel jus falls rite out of them.. if u want a hardcore bouldering shoe go with the five ten DRAGONS

They are ok but I don't like the thin sole and I wish I had know they run big. Getting a size and a half too small was still too big for climbing.

The closure was easy and convenient though! The design is great as well. I still prefer my old worn out shoes that retailed for half the price though due to fit which is hit or miss depending on the person.

Tried these while in Europe and found them to be gimmicky. Love my La Sportiva approach shoes but thought this shoe was more show than go. I was told by the guy at the shop in Germany that this shoes is a big joke in Europe and they were not selling them any longer. If you like La Sportiva get a different model. Most La Sportivas rock shoes are too narrow for my foot but I find that most of the European shoes. Five tens and Mad Rocks are a better fit for my average width foot and better rubber.