The one shoe every climber should own

Climbing shoes have a huge turnover rate within the gear market; every year there are at least a dozen new sticky-rubber kicks to choose from. So for a rock shoe to stick around for more than 20 years—with no major updates or changes or dropping out of the line entirely—that’s a strong testament to its tried and true performance. While we don’t have any solid statistics on this, we feel comfortable saying that the majority of climbers we know have owned at least one pair of La Sportiva Mythos in their lives. Designed by the genius Italian cobblers of La Sportiva, the Mythos offers versatility, comfort, and performance in a package that fits almost every foot. “The only thing I don’t use the shoes for is climbing overhanging sport routes, but I’ve still seen people crush 5.12 roofs with the Mythos!” said one tester. By keeping your foot in a flat position and wrapping it in cozy, unlined leather, the Mythos are ridiculously easy to wear all day while keeping your feet happy.