4 Best Rock Climbing Shoes 2019

Heading out to crush some peaks? In this post, we’re pointing out the 4 best rock climbing shoes that can be found on online in 2019.

Whether you’re a first-time climber or a seasoned pro, check through these hugely popular favorites to see if any sound like the perfect pair for you.

Here we go:

Best All-Around Climbing Shoe

1. La Sportiva Men’s TarantuLace Performance Rock Climbing Shoe

La Sportiva is one of the most trusted brands for climbing shoes on Amazon. Their TarantuLace performance rock climbing shoes have had 244 customer reviews and earned a killer 4.4 out of 5 stars average. For around $120, you get one of the highest selling climbing shoes on the market that clearly comes highly recommended by more buyers than any other shoe on this list.

Best features:

• Made from genuine leather. The classic unlined leather upper is soft for great comfort. The tongue is designed to control moisture and allow breathability.
• Features a fast lacing system with a Quick-pull lacing harness that wraps the shoe around the foot with a snug and comfortable fit.
• The body has a rubber heel rand, sticky FriXion RS rubber soles, and low-asymmetry RN45 build to help climbers find grip on edges with superior sensitivity.

Men’s and women’s versions:

Best Budget Climbing Shoe for Beginners

2. Climb X Rave Climbing Shoe

With great customer reviews and an average score of 4.5 out of 5 stars, the Climb X Raves are another popular choice. At a price range of between $40 – $60, this shoe offers great value making it ideal for beginners. It’s available in a range of colors and will serve as a handy pair of climbing shoes for medium or low-level climbs as well as visits to the gym.  

Best features:

• Made from the high-grade center cut leather
• Features a rubber sole for great grip on all surfaces
• Organic Hemp footbeds which are installed to keep the shoes smelling fresh for longer.
• The shoes have breathable mesh tongue and cushioned ankle cuff to add comfort.

3. Mad Rock Men’s Drifter Climbing Shoe

The Mad Rock Drifter climbing shoe makes it to 3rd on our list because of its high rating from so many buyers. 161 reviews have been placed so far giving this item a 4 average rating out of 5. They make 3rd on our list because they’re far more pricey than the Climb X raves above at over $100 a pair, but they’re not as highly rated as the #1 spot, La Sportiva TarantuLace shoes. Should you try the TarantuLace shoes and dislike them for any reason, these Mad Rocks would be the next one’s worth taking a look at.

Best features:

• Made from real leather
• Feature a rubber sole for great comfort
• Designed to be versatile and reliable for all conditions
• Provide a 2-strap closure and medium stiffness lever
• They weigh just 223g (size 9), which is lighter than most quality climbing shoes.

Men’s and women’s versions:

Best Bouldering Shoe

4. La Sportiva Oxygym Climbing Shoe

The La Sportiva Oxygen climbing shoe is last but certainly not least. It has a 3.9 out of 5 stars on Amazon from 54 customer reviews. It’s not sold as much as the Tarantu Laces or as highly rated but it is more affordable at a price range falling just below $100 a pair. This pair is ideal for experienced climbers looking to take a step up from introductory shoes.

Best qualities:

• These shoes have a 3 layer WashTex external fabric which keeps the shoe clean and hygienic.
• Breathable fabric fills the interior allowing maximum moisture wicking.
• They have a patented hook and loop closure system that allows a personalized fit. This makes them ideal for climbers seeking maximum comfort and efficiency.

Men’s and women’s versions:

If you’re a beginner or use the indoors, you can get away with a quite flat, comfortable, and reasonably priced shoe for indoor climbing. If gym climbing is your goal, you’ll definitely want to purchase an aggressive, bouldering-specific climbing shoe. Finally, check out the “Best Features” paragraphs of our article above to see which shoes we recommend for your specific needs.