Gear Review: Scarpa Chimera Climbing Shoe

Overall, the Scarpa Chimera climbing shoe is a welcome addition to an already stellar line of high performance climbing shoes designed by Heinz Mariacher. Sensitive and lightweight, the Scarpa Chimera is a specialized shoe designed for difficult bouldering and overhanging climbing. Featuring one of the best heels on the market, the Chimera is a must have for the bouldering enthusiasts who need a tool in their toolbox to tackle technical heel hooks and require sensitive footwork on overhanging rock. We did find that the Chimera lacked power on vertical terrain and because of this we would consider it a supplementary shoe rather than a primary all-around shoe. The lace-up system of the Chimera worked well to ensure a snug fit and the quality of its build is what you would expect from a high performance shoe.