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Description

All-day, feel-good climbing.

La Sportiva designed the Tarantula FriXion RS Climbing Shoe for climbers looking to get on some vertical without abusing their feet. The comfort-centric Tarantula features an unlined upper for moisture management and all-day climbing, and a high-volume design means you won't have to powder your bones just to get into the shoe.
  • Unlined upper will stretch about a half size
  • Hook-and-loop closures for easy on and off
  • 5mm FriXion rubber for impressive friction
  • 1.8mm LaspoFlex midsole uses a super-lightweight, super-thin synthetic laminate for stiffness and edge-hold
  • Round, high-volume shape for comfort

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La Sportiva Tarantula FriXion RS Climbing Shoe

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Here's what others have to say...

3 5

Ryan Hamilton

Member since 

I've been climbing in these for 3 years now and they are still my favorite shoes. I wear a 11.5 street shoe and got a 9.5 in these shoes. It was a bit too tight in the beginning, but the unlined leather has really stretched and now fit my feet really well. They also don't have the stink that any of my other shoes, that I seldom wear, have. One thing to mention, and this is a big deal for climbing shoes. The rubber soles on these just plain suck. I gave up on them after a couple of months use. They sat around for a year, then I decided that they fit so well that I'd shell out $35 to have them resoled with five ten rubber. Huge difference, now I have really comfortable high performance shoes with great rubber for a total of about $110. Go ahead and buy them, but know that you're going to have to get them resoled if you want good friction.

5 5

Thomas Ogasawara

Member since 

These are maybe the best bang for your buck when it comes to beginner shoes (aside form the lace up version). They're durable, comfy, and surprisingly not incredibly insensitive. Even through the 5mm of FriXion RS you can still feel a little, which is really important when trying to improve your footwork.

5 5

sjmp327401

Member since 
  • Gender: Female
  • Familiarity: I've used it several times

I'm new to climbing (this is my first pair of climbing shoes) but I absolutely love them. They fit super comfortably and they give me the ability to climb the harder things, (routes I couldn't climb with the shoes that you could rent at the gym). And they're pretty sexy looking!

5 5

Kenley Unruh

Member since 
  • Gender: Male
  • Familiarity: I've used it several times

I bought these as my first pair of climbing shoes and I am very happy with my purchase. They have a roomy toe box that fit my wide feet and still hug my feet well. Keep in mind, I had to go with 1.5 sizes smaller than my street shoes to find the best fit. They have pretty good edging and smearing but are not super aggressive. Overall, a great first shoe!

Hi everyone,
I wear the La Sportiva Miura...

ricobiner

Member since 
Posted on

Hi everyone,
I wear the La Sportiva Miura VS and Miuras in 38, and they both fit well (tight!), but I wore out those Miura VS way too quickly to justify dropping another $170 for shoes I use 85% in the gym.

long story short, I am considering these shoes, but am wondering whether 38 tarantula = 38 miura? does anybody else have experience sizing tarantulas/miuras?

thanks!

Tom

Member since 
Responded on

It has been awhile so I don't know if you are still looking but I wear a 41 in these and a 41 in Miura VS

5 5

sch4902850

Member since 

I hadn't done a lot of climbing before I got these shoes, and I had just tried climbing shoes a couple of times. These shoes were perfect for me. My foot is pretty wide, but these offer a lot of toe room. (buy a size smaller than normal, climbing shoes tend to expand) I have had a lot of fun with these shoes, and if you're looking for a good shoe that's reasonable prized, you've found it! Reccomendable

3 5

sch4750888

Member since 

These shoes first off are great for beginner VB & V0 but will not do the job for anything for V1 and up. I purchase these and tried them for a month and they will not do the job of giving you that extra grip u need on the "really small foot holds", but will make you slip instead. Traction on these aren't as great as the Evolv Defy i had started with as my very first set of shoes, so i'm sad to say these are not up to par with the Defy's in traction and balance. Hope this helps anyone deciding for shoes.

bjo5786344

Member since 
Responded on

You described perfectly what happened to me when I was wearing these shoes trying to climb a 5-11 with them. Once you do advance in your climbing you will need a different pair.

Ryan Hamilton

Member since 
Responded on

The rubber is definitely not good. They fit my feet so well though that I had them resoled with 5.10 rubber and now I climb in them more than anything else.

4 5

jonathan

Member since 

I have had thees for a few months now, They were easy to break in and I i could wear them all day. The only thing was i didn't quite compensate for the stretch, and my crappy footwork destroyed the edges, I'm looking to upgrade to something more aggressive. I would defiantly suggest this shoe to new climbers, I would just suggest that any one looking at this shoe to size down about 1/2-1 size.

Great gym shoe!
5 5

Brady Callahan

Member since 

This shoe was great, I've just gotten into rock climbing but am excelling quickly. This shoe can handle a lot. It stretched ALOT, Like 1 1/2 sizes. But if you buy big then there shouldn't be a problem. My shoe did have a problem with it early on, but it was a manufacturing mistake with that shoe individually. am in the process of sending it back now. Don't know how ill have to wait for it to get back to climb.

4 5

jef4630435

Member since 

These are the first pair of shoes I ever had and I would say they are great to start with. They have nice grip and a pretty good toe. I was not able to stand very long on the really small chips, but they aren't super aggressive shoes so that is understandable. The rubber is pretty stiff, so the sensitivity isn't very high. I would say these are good shoes for the gym or possible crack climbing. I had the toe blow out on the left shoe recently, but I think that can be attributed to poor footwork and random chance. La Sportiva rubber is usually really good. Bottom line, these are great all day shoes that can be used for a variety of climbs. They are not superb for any one type of climbing, but they are definitely good.

5 5

ted

Member since 

I tried quite a few brands in the course of shopping for a sport/bouldering shoe. Since I fancy myself an intermediate, trad-focused climber, my new shoes had to be affordable, relatively comfortable, and well suited to grunting up less than vertical to slightly overhanging rock. After trying 5.10, Scarpa, and Evolv, I gave these a go and immediately knew the search was over.

How similar is the sizing for this shoe...

Goose

Member since 
Posted on

How similar is the sizing for this shoe as compared to street shoes?

Ryan Hamilton

Member since 
Responded on

Very different compared to street size. I wear a size 11.5 in a street shoe and a 9.5 in these shoes. I went just a little tight to allow for some stretch, but not too tight. These fit narrow feet well, so if you have wider feet you might not want to size down so much or look at a different brand like Five Ten.

Jackson

Member since 
Responded on

I can't believe you can use this size...I wear 10,5 and the 9,5 is crushing my big toes...

Andrew Rankine

Member since 
Responded on

I wear a 47 and I got the 45...they will stretch a bit because it is unlined leather.

Ryan Hamilton

Member since 
Responded on

Still wearing the same size 9.5 and they are super comfy.

4 5

pet4719002

Member since 

I haven't been climbing long and tried on a couple different shoes before I settled on the Tarantula for my first shoe. Since then, I've climbed several times - top roping, leading, and bouldering - and it hasn't failed me yet. I found the sizes to be a little larger than expected based on those I'd tried on before I ordered, but, all in all, a great purchase for my first climbing shoe. The heel fits snugly without pinching and the point isn't so extreme as to cause my toes to form an uncomfortable "fist".

Write your question here...I'm a basically...

Norman Ludick

Member since 
Posted on

Write your question here...I'm a basically a beginner climber as I haven't climbed for years. I used to lead a 22 and am looking for a comfortable shoe for my super wide and flat feet. Nothing too technical as will more than likely just be using my home made bouldering wall in my garden. Must be comfortable and not break the bank. Did a bit of research and these seem to fit the profile. Also how tru are these to street size. I take a 42.5 in New Balance runners. Also I weigh 190 pounds.

Ryan Hamilton

Member since 
Responded on

I have narrow feet and these fit me great, so I have my doubts that they'd work for you. I sized down quite a bit, but didn't get super tight. I wear a 11.5 in street shoes, got a 9.5 in the Tarantula. They are great shoes if they do fit you. I tried a bunch of Five Ten's and found that they were always too wide on my feet, might be the way to go for you.

4 5

Ryan Hamilton

Member since 

I have low volume feet and these fit my feet better than all of the others I've worn or tried on. I was able to go down to a smaller size than with other shoes and still be more comfortable. Great shoes in the gym and so far they're pretty good outside as well.

Ben Adams

Member since 
Responded on

Low volume feet; So If I have really narrow, but long feet, how well would they fit.

Ryan Hamilton

Member since 
Responded on

These would fit you really well, my feet are long and narrow as well.

3 5

Brock Fisher

Member since 

If you don't want to read the whole review here is a quick synopsis of my review... "good shoe but you wont buy it a second time"

In the gym this shoe excelled way past what i though it would especially for how cheap in price they are! I even finished my 5.11 project i was working on in the gym with these bad boys. And being what is considered a heavy climber (190 pounds) the toe is stiff enough to tackle those small shitty foot holds that come along with hard routs.

That being said.... I feel this shoe should be left in the gym.

We all have a set of shoes that might be in the worst of condition but when outside and getting your ass kicked by a certain route we always go throw them on and all of a sudden the route is no problem at all.. and well... this shoe just is "not that shoe" its good but not great and just doesn't have what it takes to be shoe you will consider re-buying.

5 5

Jac3140746

Member since 

Love these shoes! Amazingly adjustable hook and loop closure, and spectacularly sticky soles! Really comfortable in street size, and the velcro closures allow you to crank them down when you need a tighter fit. These are a great all-day shoe.

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