Hands down the best shoe!

Familiarity:

I've put it through the wringer

These are hands down the best climbing shoes for steep sport climbs and nasty boulder problems. I'm on a youth team, so I do a lot of lead and bouldering. A few of the boulder problems at my gym require you to wedge your heel in a jug and stand up on it, and these shoes do the job perfectly. A few of the other boulder problems have credit-card crimps, and the toe on the Sharks are perfect for them. The beta for a lead route at my gym has you jam your toe into an overhanging handlebar hold and push off of it. These have no midsole, so they are perfect for the beta. One downside to the shoe is that the heel is super tall and aggressive, making them a bit hard to get on and off. But overall, these are my go-to shoes whether I'm climbing with friends, leading, or at a regional competition with my team.

Jarod Skoke

My go to shoe!

Familiarity:

I've put it through the wringer

When I bought these shoes for the first time I was honestly pretty skeptical. How good can a $120 (sub 100 on sale) shoe be? Apparently very good! Sizing: I wear a 10 in vans and a 9.5 in the sharks. I might be able to jam my feet into a 9, but 9.5 fits like a sock already. Overall fit: This shoe is perfect for people with wide feet and small, narrow heels. The toebox is quite tapered and "sharp" but there is plenty of room for the ball of your foot. I'm not sure this shoe would work well for a narrow foot. The arch of this shoe is amazing. I have very high arches and this is the first shoe I've had that fully sucks up into my arches. The "archflex" technology isn't just a gimmick. Most of the time I leave the straps undone for more of a slipper like fit. Rubber: The rubber on these shoes is surprisingly good. It's supple enough to smear extremely well but not mushy. It's not the best edging shoe in the world, but the sensitivity and stickiness make up for that. I found the rubber on the sharks a bit stickier than the rubber on my evolv agros to give a comparison. Don't listen to the people saying it blows out too fast. They just have bad footwork. ; ) Heel cup: If your heel is shaped like mine, you will LOVE this heel. It's the first heel I've ever felt with ZERO deadspace. The heelshape is so good that I don't even bother with the velcro most of the time. The "sharkfin" thing is not as big of a deal as some people seem to make it out to be. It's just kind of there. There have been a couple of times I felt like it gave a slight advantage, but it's definitely not a downside in my opinion. Toehooking: The rubber on the top of this shoe is perfect. It's thin enough to be able to really feel the rock and gives you a really confident feel. It's also pretty damn sticky and goes up far enough. One of my favorite toehooking patches on any shoe to date. Sensitivity/Stiffness: This is a soft, very sensitive shoe. They aren't ideal for tiny creditcard edges on vert, but they manage. If your toes are strong enough you can stand on surprisingly small edges. This shoe really shines on "smedgy" and smeary feet.

Nehemiah Dewitt

My Favorite Shoes

Familiarity:

I've put it through the wringer

Before owning the sharks I have used primarily La Sportiva shoes. La Sportiva shoes are wonderful on a technical level and are second to none in terms of fit and finish. (Un)fortunately, their shoes don't fit me nearly as well as the sharks. This is fine by me. In the three months I have been using the sharks, I have yet to have any gripes about them, and cannot express just how well they fit my feet. They heel hook better than any other shoe I have used, and being covered in rand rubber makes them perfect for toe hooking. While the fit and finish aren't as top notch as some more expensive brands, with some errant adhesive marks, nothing really matters to me other than performance, and the sharks have that in spades. Something I wasn't expecting is just how good the rubber is. In terms of stiffness, it's definitely on the stiffer side, but it's still quite sticky, and the way the rubber is shaped to be concave is genuinely helpful when climbing overhanging routes and boulders. The cherry on top is the price. I got them on sale a few months ago, but would gladly pay full price on them in the future as they have become my go to shoes, displacing shoes costing almost twice as much.

Robert L.

Love my sharks

Familiarity:

I've put it through the wringer

I won my first pair of sharks at a climbing competition and have since climbed in 3 pairs over about a 4 year period. I wear a 10.5-11 us mens street shoe and stuck with a 10.5 in this shoe for all 3 pairs. They are comfortable enough to wear for an entire indoor session of 1-2 hours without taking them off (probably could downsize 1/2 size if you want a really tight fit). They don't really stretch much since they're mostly rubber, and my most recent pair fits pretty much the same almost 2 years and one resole later. Much of the outdoor climbing I've done in these has been on slabby granite. They do well on small edges and smearing, but the soft rubber that smears and grips edges so well also flexes and doesn't offer much support when most of your weight is on your feet. In other words, the arch flexes very easily and leave your calves very tired by the end of a day climbing on slab. Also not very comfy for jamming in cracks. The sharks really excel on limestone, clinging to polished edges of any size. The strip on the heel is incredible, and I occasionally find myself heel hooking crimps that would be impossible in other shoes. Overall, the versatility and comfort of the sharks kept me coming back for more.

Carson Eisenbeisz

Decent and Good Value

Familiarity:

I've put it through the wringer

This is an excellent shoe for hard sport routes and boulders, however the stiff rubber does not make this the most compatible shoe for gym climbing or slabs. If you are just entering the world of high performance shoes, then you will love the sharks. They have just enough downturn to make you feel like you are in a high performance shoe, however they won't make you feel to uncomfortable if you are just getting used to being in more aggressive climbing shoes. Plus, these things literally last forever, i've bought two pairs and have not been able to tear a hole in a single one. As far as affordable high performance shoes go, the sharks are some of the best around. My only real complaint is that the heal is not the best. For size reference, I wear a size 9 street shoe and bought a size 9 in the sharks, I don't think I could go any smaller.

James S.

F**king great shoe.

Great for everything except stuff that requires hard edging. It's super soft rubber, but its comfy as hell. Like, basically no break in time. I feel that the fit is spot on for size. I'd give it a 9.8/10 just because nothing is perfect, but damn do I feel guilty doing it.

Colby D.

Great performance

Familiarity:

I've used it once or twice and have initial impressions

I’ve only climbed in these once so far, but you can tell pretty quickly if a shoe is right for you or not. I have nothing but great things to say about these. They suction to your foot perfectly, my foot doesn’t move at all in the shoe while climbing, and love how they heel hook - that’s stood out to me the most so far. I wear a 10.5 street shoe and went down to a 10 in these & they were surprisingly tight but still comfortable. I personally wouldn’t go down more than a half size (I do 1.5 - 2 sizes down in Sportivas). Overall a great shoe, very comfortable but also have a performance fit. Seem to be built very well and look forward to see how they last over the next 6 months. Might be my new favorite shoe.

Shane G.

Jan Hojer "The Other Side" pt. 2

Mad Rock Pro Sponsored Athlete Jan Hojer wearing the Mad Rock Sharks

ramesh E.

Great value shoe. Lasts long

I got it 1/2 shoe size down from my street size and they perform swimmingly. After they're worn in a bit (using worn in loosely, they're covered in rubber maybe widen towards the ankle a liiiiiiittle bit) the rubber on the toes round out pretty evenly and mimic the "now edge technology" that La Sportiva offers. So you get a cheaper functional shoe that, after a little wear, turns into pricey technology that performs through its life. Caution with natural elements, heat causes fissures in the rubber more than a couple other shoes I've mistreated 👍🏽

Joe

Fifth Pair

Familiarity:

I've put it through the wringer

Fit:

Runs small

Size Bought

9.5 US

Height

6` 0"

Weight

150 lbs

I started climbing about 5 years ago. I tried 4 different shoes from Evolv and La Sportiva, . I really did like the La Sportiva Solutions but they are just too expensive, especially since the shoes only last 6 months (3 climbing days/week). I then tried the Sharks when they first came out and I am hooked. This will be my 5th pair and I won't switch anytime soon. Fits like a glove similar to Solution but always on sale somewhere for around $100. They last me about 6-9 months depending on how heavy I climb, which is usually 3-4 times per week, sport and bouldering, inside and outside. I went from size 10 in Vans to 9.5 in Sharks but now I'm down to 9. Heel hooks like a dream with that rubber strip. They are tough to get on at first but that just means your foot won't move around. I hand and machine wash them to keep them smelling good or I try to take my shoes off between climbs. I can't tell you how much I love these guys.

Jordan N.

The perfect shoe.

Familiarity:

I've put it through the wringer

Fit:

Runs large

Size Bought

7.5

Height

5` 10"

Weight

160 lbs

I've been climbing for a long time and have never found a shoe that I like more than this. I've climbed in La Sportiva, 5.10, and Scarpa, but keep coming back for more with the Shark 2.0. The aggressive downturn allows you to toe in on even the smallest of crimps with confidence, while the heel allows you to get purchase for days. I've been able to heel-hook slopers, crimps, features, top-outs, whatever it is you name it and the Science Friction rubber will stick with ease. I am a huge fan of the single strap as it allows a lot of the surface of the Sharks to be made of rubber, which means toe-hooking is a breeze. Whether you're looking to upgrade to your first aggressive shoe, or you've blown through your Solutions and can't justify $180 for a pair of shoes, try these bad boys on for size and go crush your project! Just one note, I find that I only need to downsize half a size from my street shoe before my feet are beyond squished, for this reason, I've marked that they run a little large since most companies suggest that you downsize about 1.5 sizes, I wouldn't do that here, start with half a size and see what happens.

Alex Le Blanc

Can't beat these shoes for the price

Familiarity:

I've put it through the wringer

Fit:

True to size

Size Bought

US 8

I got these shoes for an even cheaper price at my local gym here in Japan and have been extremely pleased with them. In the world of $150+ climbing shoes becoming the norm, the Mad Rock Sharks truly are a breath of fresh air. These shoes offer excellent performance without leaving you broke. People talk smack on these shoes all over the internet and in gyms, but they really have no clue what they are talking about. These shoes fit me true to size. I wear an 8-8.5 street shoe and bought these in a size 8 and they are great. The toe box is comfortable, form fitting, and the rubber is a sweet middle ground of softness between the Vibram XSGrip 2 and Edge. Perhaps the highlight of these shoes for me is the heel. The heels of these shoes have little shark fins on them and they really do give me more confidence while heel hooking. The shape of the heel as well is nice. These heels fit my heel far better than my Scarpa Instince S shoes and give me more pulling power. I have been using these shoes 3-4 times a week in the gym and about once a month outside now for 5 months and have yet to shoe signs of wear in the toes or heels. The Mad Rock Sharks are a high performance, affordable shoe that any climber should have in their arsenal.

Jimbo

Brother's Favorite Bouldering shoe

Familiarity:

I gave it as a gift but have feedback to share

Fit:

True to size

Size Bought

9

Height

5` 9"

Weight

175 lbs

My brother's toe was sticking out of his five ten shoes after climbing this season so as a graduation present I decided to get him these as he has been doing a lot of bouldering indoors and out. He wanted to go for a more moderately aggressive shoe as he was progressing so I went with this, sizing down a half size. So far so good, they did seem very small at first and hard to get into, but after a week or so at the indoor gym he says they are now much better and only moderate toe pain after climbing for several hours. He likes the aggressive curvature and says they are more comfortable than he thought they would be. He would recommend it for any one that wants a dedicated boudering shoe.

Ari

The Go To Boulder Shoe

Familiarity:

I've put it through the wringer

Fit:

True to size

Size Bought

8/40.0

Height

5` 8"

Weight

130 lbs

The shoe fits perfect. i wear a size 8 in Vans so i got a 40 in the Sharks and they fit perfectly. For being a down turned, slightly aggressive shoe they are some of the most comfortable i have ever put on my feet. Very little break in will occur as they are mostly rubber and you will get some stink. (nothing the washer can't cure) The toe box allows for precision toe placement and the stickiest toe hooks in the game. The "mohawk" design in the heel will lock on top anything when heel hooking. The soft inner and hard outer rubber on the forefoot is great for schmearing and also maximum toe pressure. The colors also are great for me, being i am a fan of the SF Giants. [Mad Rock clearly knows black and orange is the color of Champions!]

Anthony Manina

Nice Sport Shoe

Familiarity:

I've put it through the wringer

Fit:

True to size

Size Bought

10.5

Height

6` 0"

Weight

180 lbs

I demo'd a pair of 10.5's climbing on Quartzite, Granite and then on a trip through out Colorado in early June. I really enjoyed them but they began to stretch and became a tad big on me. Size: My normal shoe size is a 10 but we only had 10.5's of this in the office to test out. I really enjoyed these shoes especially for their price-point. I ended up buying a pair of 10's knowing they'd stretch out but I returned them because of the pain just sitting in them. Curvature: These are not as aggressive as some other shoes out there like the Evolv Nexxo but for someone that routinely climbs trad and doesn't really own an aggressive shoe, these are a great intro to aggressive shoes. Heel Cup: I find that La Sportiva shoes and some other brands don't hold my heel in place as much as I'd like (my heels might be slightly smaller proportionally to the rest of my feet). But the Shark's do a nice job of keeping my heels snug. Velcro Closure: Easy on, easy off for bouldering or gym sessions. Middle Section (Arch Flex): This makes the shoe far more comfortable. Normally I get pain in this section of my foot from the pressure but the flexibility here is great Shark Fin: It looks pretty funny but for heel hooking it can make a slight difference. Not a game changer but has some slight benefits. Shoot me an email anytime you have questions! Jared D. Expert Gearhead 801.736.4336 jdowns@backcountry.com

Jared Downs

Great sport shoe for the money.

Familiarity:

I've put it through the wringer

Fit:

True to size

Size Bought

8

Height

5` 8"

Weight

145 lbs

These shoes are excellent on sport and boulder routes. I wear 8 in street and in these. Size up if you can't handle the pain of sport shoes. The rubber lasted longer than my $150 la sportiva's. They can begin to smell with use. Definitely a huge deal on a great shoe.

Mike Smith

Great Shoes

Gettin Wild in Big Cottonwood Shoot me an email anytime you have questions about these shoes or other gear! Jared D. Expert Gearhead 801.736.4336 jdowns@backcountry.com

Jared Downs

Gettin Wild in Big Cottonwood

Shoot me an email anytime you have questions about these shoes or other gear! Jared D. Expert Gearhead 801.736.4336 jdowns@backcountry.com

Jared Downs

Incredible

Familiarity:

I've put it through the wringer

Fit:

True to size

The shark is an amazing shoe, especially with the price of them. The possibilities of what this shoe can do are literally limitless. The rib on the heel allows you to heel hook like a god on basically anything and the rubber on top of the toe makes toe hooking a breeze. I wear an 11 street shoe and got a 10.5 and they fit phenomenally after a short break-in period. I would absolutely recommend this shoe to everyone I meet.

Brian

couldn't even get my foot in.

Familiarity:

I returned this product before using it

Fit:

Runs small

I wear an 8.5 street shoe and 8.5 Evolve Pontas and I couldn't even get my foot in this shoe.

howard ross

How durable are they? If I am climbing 3 times a week in a gym how long are they likely to last?

Grigor S.

I wear a 38.5 in La Sportiva Solutions, what size do you think I should get?

Ankoni Lowman

What size should I get if I wear a 10.5...

What size should I get if I wear a 10.5 in tennis shoes? Should I get a 9 or a 9.5?

Elijah