You may be asking, with all of its drawbacks, why it even gets an award, to begin with, but the fact is, this shoe is a perfect design for so many kids out there. This innovative new shoe may not have the best performance in cracks or pockets, for instance, but it was given an award because it has rewritten the rules for what makes a good young kid's climbing shoe. Ask any new climber to try this on next to any of the other intermediate climbing shoes; there is no doubt, most of them will..." go to full review

The Stickit is a good option for most kid climbers. Its performance is comparable to the other intermediate kid's shoes but has a slightly better price on average. Its comfort and user-friendly design make it a good choice for new climbers and casual intermediate climbers alike.go to full review

The Five Ten Mini Mocc is a good all-around intermediate rock climbing shoe for kids. The soft leather and thin sole ensure comfort, while the Stealth S1 rubber has good grip on all types of rock and holds up well. However, the use of less (thinner) rubber means that they will wear down over time and may not last for more than one kid.go to full review

As far as all around kids climbing shoes go, the Evolv Venga takes the cake. It's a comfortable, flat, slightly asymmetric shoe that has great sensitivity, edging, and crack climbing performance. At $50 we have no complaints at all. This shoe was a contender for best buy because of the value, but because it performed so well well and is so durable, we gave it the Editors' Choice award. In this case, Editors' Choice doesn't necessarily represent the highest performance in our test group,..." go to full review

The new Evolv Ashima is a shoe for the specialist - a kid who is pushing his or her limits in the gym, crag, or boulder field. Those who are just out to climb casually might find them overkill and expensive, but to the climber who needs high performance, this shoe should fit the bill. The downturned La Sportiva Maverink slipper, with its no edge technology, is another great choice worth looking into if high performance is an important characteristic.go to full review

When it comes to climbing style, these technical beasts are a one trick pony. High performance in the steeps means the Furias do not exactly shine on lower angle terrain where edging and smearing are required. Their hefty price tag also makes them a bit of a commitment, so we would only recommend these to experienced sport climbers who know what they are getting into.go to full review

The La Sportiva Otaki excels at overhanging climbing where heel hooking and precision footwork come into play. The Otaki breaks in to be fairly comfortable, but are designed with performance in mind rather than all-day comfort. If you can take them off in between burns, the Otaki may be the ticket to rock climbing glory.go to full review

Overall, the Scarpa Vapor V is a quality choice for a Velcro, slightly downturned climbing shoe. For gym climbing, steep climbing, or finger cracks, it might be your new best friend. On slabs and technical faces, you may want to look elsewhere for a more sensitive shoe.go to full review

If this is your first shoe purchase, consider something with a bit more of an edge and perhaps a less aggressive shape. The Futura is a very particular shoe and may not be for everyone. That said, we loved how these shoes performed on steep terrain, especially on small, smeary footholds, like those often found on steep limestone. For aggressive edging, they were not our first choice, but for more nebulous footholds, they seemed to stick to anything. We will definitely be bringing these shoes..." go to full review

If you want a versatile harness to do basic tasks such as top roping at the gym or high ropes courses at camp, the Simba is a tested, tried and true harness that won't disappoint. This is one of the most popular children's harnesses and for a good reason. Petzl has a history producing some of the best climbing gear available; this is no exception.go to full review