Right now, not for me...

By Jason Y Ranked #86 - Climbing Shoes March 20, 2009

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.

View Details: La Sportiva Solution Climbing Shoe

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes | 2 No