Best Budget/Beginner Climbing Shoe

Whether you’re a new climber or looking for an inexpensive shoe to thrash in the gym, it doesn’t get any better than the La Sportiva Tarantulace. We won’t beat around the bush—our favorite thing about this shoe is price: In an era when climbing shoes have risen to over $200 a pop, the Tarantulace has kept costs low with its $89 MSRP. But it still checks all the boxes for most casual climbers, with an unlined leather upper that will conform to your feet over time, a flat last and roomy toe box for excellent comfort, and a sticky yet durable FriXion RS rubber sole. In short, it’s for good reason that we see the Tarantulace at the gym and the crag more than almost any other shoe.