I wore them on a variety of climbs to test their limits, from easy, low-angled climbs to routes that were very overhanging, on both limestone and granite. The Katakis were definitely not the shoe for low-angled granite where maximum friction was required, as the downturn shape prevented the shoe from smearing well. On the severely overhung routes—where you're not standing on your feet so much as using them like a second set of hands to grab, hook and pull—the shoes didn't have the..." go to full review

Before testing, I thought the rubber sole might not function as well as other sticky rubbers. But climbing on these shoes quickly put that concern out of my mind. The recycled rubber sticks admirably on polished and sharp stone alike.go to full review

Over the last four months, I’ve been lucky enough to test out two of Black Diamond’s recent offerings, the 9.2mm and 9.6mm in standard (non-dry) treatment. Non-dry ropes have always been my choice for summer climbing although I know quite a few people who pay the extra bucks for dry treatment hoping it will increase durability.go to full review