Editors' Choice 2019: La Sportiva Cobra Eco Review

I have a big soft spot for the Cobra, so it was nice to see these serpentine senders get a reissue as the Cobra Eco, made from 85 percent recycled material, including on the uppers and webbing—and also via the FriXion ECO sole fashioned from repurposed rubber. I’ve found the new Cobra to, like its predecessor, be an amazing all-arounder, one I’ve used confidently on thin granite multi-pitch, overhanging limestone sport, gym bouldering, and mixed trad. The shoes have a high-volume feel, great for the swollen-feet climbing of summer, and just enough bite via the toebox-only 0.8mm LaspoFlex midsole to keep you steady down to dime-sized edges. The sole is thin—only 3mm—so you get solid smearing out of the box, with great sensitivity.