La Sportiva Futura

This downturned slipper-cum-Velcro is La Sportiva’s latest high-performance kick. Testers lauded the comfort and easy on-off (elastic ankle cuff with one Velcro strap), which make the Futuras perfect for bouldering and indoor training. The Futura received high marks for sensitivity, thanks to a 3mm Vibram XS Grip2 outsole. They also hook really well, with a heel that vacuum-fits a variety of foot shapes and sufficient toe-top rubber and forefoot flex. The only feature that multiple testers disliked was the No-Edge toe-box, a unique design (also on La Sportiva’s Speedster) that wraps a strip of rubber over the toe instead of having an actual separation between the rand and outsole. As the name implies, there’s no edge, just a rounded toe that performs well on everything but—you guessed it—edges. But forget edging: The Futura is a soft, aggressive bouldering shoe that crushes the steeps.