Specialist performance in an extreme, modern package, the La Sportiva Mantra is a uniquely exceptional shoe which reimagines the limits of a soft climbing boot. Sure, this isn’t going to be your go to mountain trad shoe or the best option for small edges on a slab but for modern bouldering, indoor competitions and sedimentary rock types, you won’t find anything better. A modern classic, the Mantra is a truly special climbing shoe that I’m savouring for my next project effort.go to full review
A milestone for comfort and sustainability, the Ventic Air Lace is the nicest on-the-foot experience I've ever had from a climbing shoe and has become a valued asset to my climbing shoe collection. Sure, the Ventic Air Lace won't be your number one choice for hard bouldering or sport climbing red points but it has found a place as my super comfy go-to for easy training sessions and adventurous routes outside. A surprising delight, I can't get enough of the Ventic Air Lace, you might even see..." go to full review
Overall I was very impressed, and I’d not hesitate to recommend the Fixe Siurana to anyone. The fact that it costs a lot less than most of its peers is a bonus, but the bottom line is it’s just a really good quality rope that stands tall against offerings from the likes of more well known manufacturers.go to full review
A few years back I reviewed the ultra light Loopo Lite harness from Edelrid – a specialist harness aimed at ski mountaineering and high altitude mountaineering. Great though the Loopo Lite was, its range of applications was pretty narrow, you certainly wouldn’t use it at your local crag or a multi-pitch rock route in the Lakes. The Prisma Guide has that similar high tech Dyneema® look (Dyneema® makes up the edge binding) and a very low weight. Here though the similarities end. For alpine ..." go to full review
Overall I’ve been very impressed with the BD Method; fit, comfort, construction and performance including the rubber are excellent. It is up against some serious competition such as the well established Scarpa Vapour V (a slightly more edging orientated shoe) but it is a worthy competitor and if you tend toward a wider fit probably a better bet.go to full review
In Italian, Mago means Magician! To sum this shoe up, the new Mago is improved, feels leaner (it feels light but is it lighter than V2?), more precise, has better feel and a better fit. It edges brilliantly and excels where the footholds are small. You can really power into the footholds. It’s still more of a specialist tool for the rock but if you’re looking for shoe with the attributes I’ve described, then check it out. It’s certainly a magical “go-to” in my quiver. go to full review
Three things happened during that session. First, I realized that my toe was going to hurt regardless of which shoe I wore (three months later the toenail remains entirely black). Second, I realized (correctly) that I had very much underestimated the Quantix and that I might soon love them. Third, I remembered why I’d spent the first 13 years of my climbing career preferring stiff shoes.go to full review
The new Katana Lace is an edging and micro-edging beast that is notably stiffer and pointier than its predecessor (it will especially suit climbers with long, narrow feet), and that is killer for pockets, pods, and thin cracks. Its construction feels beefed up, pointing to the shoe holding its precision and withstanding resoles longer than the old version. This is a high-end, niche shoe for thin face climbing, technical slabs with micro holds (not smeary slabs), cracks up to hands or fists,..." go to full review
The Tenaya Indalo is a justifiably expensive shoe that will perform admirably across various rock types and angles. As an all-arounder, the Indalo isn’t the best edging shoe we’ve ever tried, nor does it glom onto smears like some super-soft slippers. It will, however, tackle pockets, edges, slopers, and hooks with A-grade precision, and for long, varied sport pitches you’d be hard pressed to find a more capable shoe.go to full review