Cypher Code

Designed as an entry-level shoe, the Code found a home on long routes and crack climbs (hand-sized or wider). Our seasoned testers were skeptical of this new, unfamiliar brand and its proprietary Enigma rubber, but on the Durrance Route (5.7+) on Devils Tower, Wyoming, the Code pleasantly surprised one climber. “I’ve never worn a climbing shoe—even my ultra-comfy, flat-lasted favorites—for an entire day without pain, but the Code kept me going even after seven hours of climbing, walking on fourth-class terrain, and then scrambling some more,” she said. “My feet were tired, but I didn’t need to take these off.” The Code performed solidly at all types of movement: smearing, jamming, edging, and even heel-hooking. They’re not very precise, so for finger cracks, dime edges, and small pockets, look elsewhere. Five millimeters of rubber and a stiff sole created a fortress for the foot, which prevented fatigue and added to the life of the shoe. “I dragged these through chimneys, offwidths, scrambles, and countless cracks, and they still look new,” one tester said. Bonus: They’re only 80 clams.