7 Best Climbing Shoes For Women, 100+ Shoes Tested in 2023

Do everything in your power to snag the Scarpa Instinct VS, because you’re not going to find something as ferocious, whether on plastic or rock!

When it comes to surface traction, the Instinct VS is the one to beat. Heel-hooking in it felt very secure, and side-smearing was quite reassuring. We tested its toe-hooking grip on a variety of surfaces, and we came away super-impressed!

If your preferred route features a lot of edges, the Instinct VS should also be your go-to climbing shoe. In it, mounting on micro-edges was mind-blowing. It also performed beyond our expectations outdoors on ripples and sags. So, yeah, this Scarpa kick is such an edge-master!

Now, the Instinct VS was glove-like for us right from the start. We noted no air pockets within its synthetic confines, making us feel in control all the time. And its heel zone? Magnetically fitting!

As a moderate or semi-downturned climbing shoe, the Scarpa Instinct VS needed minimal break-in. After climbing in the gym a few short routes, the shoe already felt mighty comfortable. While not as breathable as we would’ve preferred, this remarkable climbing shoe for women has plushness few among its kind can match.

After climbing in over 50 pairs of beginner climbing shoes for women, we are pleased to crown the Mythos as our top performer for entry-level climbers!

The moment we laid our eyes on this La Sportiva gem, we knew that comfort would be its biggest draw. When we slipped into it, our preview was quickly realized. It’s true—the Mythos has plushness everywhere; we even thought we were wearing a worn-in tennis shoe once or twice during our sends!

Performance-wise, the Mythos aced edge-filled routes for us like an absolute queen. Its moderately stiff sole unit made every mountable feel safe. We also commend the Mythos’ crack-climbing skills. Slipping it into medium-size fissures felt natural, and dealing with them wasn’t painful at all.

Its randing made our hearts skip a beat or two. We’re talking about its superb stickiness, particularly where smearing was required. The shoe’s adhesive power made a cakewalk out of edges, as well. Incredible!

And believe us when we say that the La Sportiva Mythos will last you months, even years. Its upper might look flimsy at first glance, but in practice, it is fully capable of weathering through hard beatings and scratches.

A serious female climber like you needs an equally exceptional trad climbing shoe. We’re, of course, referring to and recommending the TC Pro from La Sportiva!

This Tommy-Caldwell-designed climbing shoe wears its edging superpowers on its sleeve. Yes, tiptoeing on nubbins and tiny edges was such a thrilling experience in this kick. The shoe also made us feel like we were stepping on ledges when it was ripples we were negotiating!

Equally impressive was how the La Sportiva TC Pro worked its magic in cracks. Outdoors, where we encountered crooked fissures, the shoe moved with our feet without feeling too stiff. Its moderate rigidity and carefully placed randing made dealing with cracks more of a “let me do it again” experience than an “I’m outta here” one!

Now, if you haven’t noticed it yet, the TC Pro is a mid-top climbing shoe. Its over-the-ankle collar provides convincing ankle support. It also delivers that much-needed abrasion protection on outdoor climbs.

Last but not least, the La Sportiva TC Pro has through-the-roof comfiness. Its supple leather upper is lined, giving your tootsies a plush-yet-responsive cradle. Its semi-stiff midsole is also commendable on this front (it helped us climb without getting tired easily)!

The Voltage 2 is one of the brand’s most comfortable rock shoes. That said, outside plushness, the gear in question is also an enticing product when it comes to support and dealing with tricky edges. This toe-hooking wonder, however, is far from being a budget-friendly climbing shoe. Overall, despite its priciness, the Voltage 2 is a magnificent piece, thanks to its impressive collection of send-worthy traits and capabilities.

Ascending face walls or vertical rock is no easy feat. But, if you feel like you’re up to the task, there’s no better climbing shoe than the La Sportiva Solution!

Toe-ins and heel-hooks in the Solution were quite a walk in the park for us. Indeed, we ascended this one steep route as if we had two extra pairs of hands for feet, creatively zig-zagging our way to the top!

With its superior edging prowess, the La Sportiva Solution transformed micro-edges into sturdy ledges. The shoe also granted us surefootedness on crooked pockets and nubbins.

But does it perform well on smears? We answer that with a confident yes! The rock we chose for our testing was moderately dusty, yet the Solution got us smearing on its feature-less sections like supercharged lizards!

This go-to kick for steep climbs has the comfort level to match its send-worthy capabilities. While it requires a few sessions to loosen up fully, past that, the Solution will spoil your piggies with personalized plushness all over!

As for fit, all we want to say is that the Solution didn’t feel loose at all. In fact, its heel felt like a suction cup. Yes, once you’re in it, your feet won’t be going anywhere!

Are you looking for a downturn-less Scarpa climbing shoe that you can snag for roughly $95 a pair? If so, check out the super-cheap Origin!

Immense comfort is what awaits you in the Scarpa Origin. It’s true—we felt right home within the shoe’s snazzy confines. We felt neither pinching nor hotspots in the shoe, tricking us into believing that we were wearing a pair of sneakers!

Now, the Scarpa Origin’s main game is edging. Its flat and sufficiently stiff forefoot afforded us surefootedness on ledges and beveled fixtures alike. Tiny nubbins were also a no match against its finely tipped front end.

As a neutral climbing shoe, it was only natural for the Origin to perform amazingly on smears. The flexibility of its arch zone and the Origin’s hyper-magnetic rubber outsole made smearing on extra-smooth boulders enchantingly easy!

Fit-wise, this beginner-friendly Scarpa climbing shoe felt custom-made, as well. Everything just snapped into place the moment we put it on—no air pockets, no slippage anywhere.

And let’s not forget the Scarpa Origin’s tank-like construction. From its scratch-proof upper to its enduring rubber outsole, this affordable piece will stick with you for many months. Get one now!

If you have never felt like you were on top of things in your climbs before, then let the Zenist turn the tables for you. Designed for competition-style ascents, this magnetizing piece will energize every maneuver you need to pull off to surmount that tricky route. Yes, the Zenist is another great addition to Evolv’s climbing portfolio, and it can be yours too if you can stomach its high asking price.