7 Best La Sportiva Climbing Shoes in 2023

Teddy Dondanville
Teddy Dondanville on
7 Best La Sportiva Climbing Shoes in 2023
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Being in your best element is always the way to go when sending routes of varying difficulties. For such an objective, you can rely on La Sportiva and their roster of amazing climbing shoes.

We have tested dozens of La Sportiva’s climbing shoes just to come up with this selection of top picks. So, whether you’re after the best all-rounder, a shoe that can surmount multiple routes, or a champion in cracks, this selection is for you.

How we test climbing shoes

The finest kicks making up this lineup were funneled in from over 20 pairs of La Sportiva climbing shoes. How did we do it? Here’s our approach:

  • To make our reviews on La Sportiva kicks as objective as possible, we buy climbing shoes using our own funds.
  • Out testers wear-test these climbing shoes to know each one’s strengths, weaknesses, and areas of expertise.
  • We include in the mix hundreds of reviews from climbing experts and regular senders alike.

As a result, every reviewed La Sportiva climbing shoe receives a 0-100 score, also known as CoreScore. This rating system played a big part in realizing this climb-centric selection.

Best La Sportiva climbing shoes overall

La Sportiva Skwama
93
Superb!

What makes it the best?

The Skwama is an excellent climbing shoe for longer sessions of hard bouldering and rope climbing at the gym or crag. The shoe provides quality support while retaining the flexibility to give you a superior sensitivity in all of your climbs. The Skwama is a rare find with its combination of superb comfort and performance.

Pros

  • True to size
  • Snug fit
  • Excellent heel and toe hooking
  • Comfy for a performance shoe
  • Durable
  • Short break-in period
  • Flexible
  • Suitable for gym and crag

Cons

  • Less breathable
  • Expensive
Full review of La Sportiva Skwama

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Men
Women
Any color
Black Yellow (BY)

Best La Sportiva climbing shoes for intermediate climbers

Pros

  • True to size
  • Secure fit
  • Great for heel and toe hooking
  • Excellent on technical face climbing
  • Suitable for gym and crag
  • Durable
  • Can be resoled

Cons

  • Not for multi-pitch climbing
  • Less support for crack climbing
  • Expensive
Full review of La Sportiva Solution

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Men
Women
Any color
White/Yellow (000100)

Best La Sportiva climbing shoes with neutral downturn

What makes it the best?

The La Sportiva Tarantulace is a beginner-friendly climbing shoe that serves as a solid entry point into the world of climbing. Its rubber compound lining the sole and neutral style is excellent for longer climbs. You can’t go wrong with this pair of shoes to start your climbing journey.

Pros

  • True to size
  • Perfect fit
  • All-day comfort
  • Durable
  • Flat midsole
  • Value for money
  • Leather lining

Cons

  • Poor breathability
  • Thick sole
Full review of La Sportiva Tarantulace

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Unisex
Any color
Black Poppy (999311)
Topaz/Red Plum (624502)
Grey Hibiscus (901402)
Turquoise (TU)
Olive/Tiger (719206)

Best La Sportiva sport climbing shoes

What makes it the best?

Very few climbing shoes are as capable, as comfortable, and durable as the Miura. If you climb outdoors or are serious about getting into climbing outdoors, then you should strongly consider trying on a pair of La Sportiva Miura.

Pros

  • Extremely versatile
  • Great for crack climbing
  • Very Comfortable
  • Durable
  • Stiff but sticky rubber
  • Stands the test of time
  • Good value

Cons

  • Not very breathable
  • Take a while to dry
  • Leather will eventually become uncomfortably stiff
Full review of La Sportiva Miura

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Unisex
Any color
Black (706706)
White/Jade Green (000704)

Best La Sportiva climbing shoes with moderate downturn

La Sportiva Kubo
92
Superb!

What makes it the best?

As far as climbing creativity is concerned, particularly on boulder-type ascents, the Kubo is a scene-stealer of a performer. Whether you need stronger forefoot-to-feature adhesion or a platform that does not give in wherever you place your toes, this climbing shoe seems to do it all and is durable.

Pros

  • Great for mounting on edges and similar features
  • Grippy heel
  • Smearing genius
  • Durable
  • Comfortable for all-day wear

Cons

  • A bit stiff
  • Lower instep sensitivity due to tongue padding
Full review of La Sportiva Kubo

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Men
Women
Any color
Goji/Neon (314720)

Best value La Sportiva climbing shoes

What makes it the best?

The Miura VS from La Sportiva is an aggressive shoe that elevates the climber's performance, especially where ledges are present. A well-liked kick for its satisfying level of comfort, this offering doesn't lose form easily, giving the foot firmness in the trickiest of spots both indoors and outdoors. It's also among those climbing shoes that stave off stinkiness, even if you wear them for hours on end.

Pros

  • Glove-like fit
  • Quite adhesive
  • Gets into pockets with ease
  • Protective rearfoot zone
  • Heel-hooking wonder
  • Odor-preventive
  • Edges like a dream

Cons

  • Hard to put on at first
  • Not a great shoe for toe hooking
Full review of La Sportiva Miura VS

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Men
Women
Any color
Yellow (OW)

Comparison of the 7 best La Sportiva climbing shoes

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Author
Teddy Dondanville
Teddy Dondanville

Teddy is a professionally trained Apprentice Rock Guide with the American Mountain Guides Association and a Wilderness First Responder with the National Outdoor Leadership School. Besides guiding outdoor rock climbing, Teddy also has years of experience in route setting and coaching climbing indoors. Through his guiding, route setting, and coaching, Teddy has experimented with climbing shoes for over a decade.