Dry-Best®
A patented multi-zone lining system that transports moisture away from the skin via an exclusive underlayer of 100% Hydrofil nylon from Honeywell, Inc. The fabric layer closest to the skin is always dry, cool and comfortable.
Testarossa
Description
A high performance shoe designed for steep sport routes and hard bouldering, the Testarossa is constructed using both natural and synthetic materials to optimize fit and performance. This edging machine helps keep you glued to super steep pitches while the to-the-toe lacing ensures a precise fit. From vertical to steep and on every type of rock, these will have you slaying on any modern project.
• Updated heel cup for higher performance heel hooking
• Patented P3® retains downturned shape of the shoe
• Innovative Bi-Lateral stretch technology uses Lorica (doesn’t stretch) and Leather (does stretch) in a specific pattern to optimize fit and performance
• Patented figure 8 slingshot focuses power to your toes
• 3D Hytrel anatomical insert increases power and comfort in the toe box.
Retail price
US$ 219.00
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| Weight | 450 g Single : 225 g / 8.9 oz |
| Closure Type | Lace Lace - to the toe |
| Gender | Unisex |
| Volume | Wide |
| Sizing Information |
European sizes 34-45, including half sizes. La Sportiva Shoes are built on European half sizes which are smaller increments than US half sizes.  la_sportiva_shoe_comparison_chart.jpg la_sportiva_shoe_comparison_graph.jpg
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| Best Use (Highest Performance) |
Sport / Face Bouldering Over-hanging Indoor |
| Asymmetry | Aggressive |
| Tongue Details | not provided by the brand |
| Last Details | Shape: Downturned (performance) Construction: Slip Lasted Last : PD 85 This means the last has a pointed toe, it is downturned and has high asymmetry. |
| Upper Material | not provided by the brand Leather / Lorica® |
| Midsole Material | not provided by the brand 3D Hytrel Anatomical Insert (under toes) with P3® |
| Sole Material | 3.5 mm
Vibram® XS Grip2
Rand: Slingshot |
| Footbed Lining | Pacific (toe and heel) / Dry-Best® (tongue) Unlined in the middle |
Hytrel
A space-age nylon product from Dupont used in our midsoles and insoles.
Lorica®
A synthetic leather that is constructed from extremely small micro-fibers for a water-repellant, breathable and highly durable material.
P3®
Permanent Power Platform used in climbing shoes to maintain the downturned shape of the shoe for the life of the shoe.
Pacific
Synthetic fiber lining material with characteristics of dynamic adaptibilty (it stretches).
VIBRAM® XS Grip2
Represents the natural evolution of VIBRAM® XS Grip, the new XS Grip2 delivers highly improved grip, while maintaining consistent performance in all temperatures. XS Grip 2 is the best solution in pure friction situations while remaining durable and even-wearing.
No reviews yet.
Known for its sleek looks and premium performance, the La Sportiva Testarossa is essentially the Maserati of climbing kicks. Don’t be fooled by the laces: this is a wildly aggressive sport climbing shoe, designed for precision edging on vertical to overhanging terrain. It wraps wide and narrow feet alike in a very snug fit, and the leather and synthetic upper quickly molds to your foot without stretching out prematurely. Tack on a supple build, soft Vibram XS Grip 2 rubber that bites into holds, and a powerful downturn (it uses Sportiva’s PD 85 last), and the Testarossa is one heckuva a shoe for fancy footwork on technical edges and pockets.
A good car won’t fix a bad driver, but it’ll certainly make it harder for the bad driver to mess up. Likewise, the La Sportiva Testarossas will arguably improve your footwork. Their Goldilock construction makes them top-notch at edging, while still managing a soft, responsive feel. They’re branded as best on steep routes and hard bouldering, but I’d argue they’ll be your go-to pair for hard sport climbing on any route that requires precision, with a few exceptions.
The new iteration of this classic is a worthy successor to the original Testarossa, and a useful 'all round' rock shoe, particularly on routes. The fit is superb, especially considering the last is slightly too wide for my foot. This excellent fit owes a great deal to the attention that La Sportiva have given to distributing pressure evenly around the shoe, helped by the new, studier heel design. Whilst I would have enjoyed a more sensitive heel to really feel what I'm pulling on, I appreciated that it is not necessarily the shoe's modus operandi. With an RRP of £150.00, the price is at the upper end of the scale and there are definitely cheaper alternatives, however, the build quality is superb and the shoes are still going strong after extensive use. The Testarossa MkII will please devotees of the original and route climbers alike and is a worthwhile addition to the excellent La Sportiva range.
The Testarossas are among the more expensive shoes on the market, but you get what you pay for. They were an excellent fit immediately out of the box. The shoes were broken in within just two or three pitches of climbing. All the other shoes I've used have required at least a few days to break in.
After months of use the only damage to these is normal wear on the rubber. The uppers and lace holes are bomber. At nearly $200 it’s nice to have a shoe that lasts well beyond burning through the rand, with plenty of life left for a resole, if you’re into that kinda thing. Overall, I’m pleased with the new Testarossa, it’s a welcome and much-improved update to the classic. More power to the toe, more function in the heel, and a longer shelf life thanks to better materials. Yes, more of everything.
The Testarossas have long had a cult following, so it was no surprise that our testers greeted the 2019 update with both excitement and trepidation—“Hey, don’t mess with perfection!” They need not have feared, because the new version makes a good thing even better, namely in the form of the more built-up heelcup with perforated, bright-red rubber. One tester compared both versions on an aggressive heel-hooking crux on his overhanging project: “On Big Poppa, the new heel made the crux much easier,” he raved. “Way more responsive, sensitive, and reliable.” They also toed down on the climb’s micro-divots and drop-knee nubbins like a bawse. To consider is that the retooled heel slightly changes fit, giving the shoes a narrower-feeling last but also driving greater power into the stiffened toebox to help the shoe “laser in” on small holds. In fact, the “ninja-ballerina shoe dipped in rubber” precision can be frightening, and you may feel unworthy of the Testarossas. Time to up your footwork game!
Details of Testarossa 2019
Testarossa Shoe
All the details of Testarossa Shoe.