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The Dragon is an aggressive shoe specifically designed to excel on high-level boulder problems that also delivers performance across the board for bouldering to sport climbing (but not across the board from boulder to trad climbing).

Any intermediate or advanced boulder looking for a powerful and aggressive shoe would do well to consider the Dragon.go to full review

Overall, the Tenaya Tatanka is an incredible all-around shoe that performs at an elite level without the typical pain of aggressive shoes.

And if you love vertical, overhanging, delicate, or technical climbs that require precise footwork, this could be your shoe of choice.go to full review

The SCARPA Instinct VS is a specialist’s weapon that excels at precision climbing on vertical and steep terrain. If you’re looking to advance your bouldering or technical face climbing, I think you’d be hard pressed to find a shoe better fit for the job than the Instinct VS.go to full review

If you’re looking for a shoe to take up Super Crack in Indian Creek or any of the wide cracks in Vedauwoo, then you’re much better off going with an equally soft but flatter, more comfortable shoe—the Moccasym for example. And while the Vapor V is about as comfortable as a downturned shoe gets, it is still aggressively shaped. Though it could no doubt be done, taking these up the Diamond is probably more than I’d want to bite off with these shoes. If you are looking at pitches that involve..." go to full review

The TC Pro is the best shoe I have ever used for hard, multi-pitch free climbing, and it excels on micro edging and granite cracks. It is the only shoe to date that I can climb 5.14 in and not be in agony by the end of a long day.

If you’re looking for your next desert shoe, this likely won’t be the best fit for you. The price tag is pretty steep ($180), so if you want a comfy shoe for moderate multi-pitching, I’d suggest going with a less expensive option. But if you’re looking for a..." go to full review

I climbed in the Sportiva Katana Lace on all sorts of rock, from granite to limestone to sandstone, and came away with a glowing opinion of the shoe.

It is an excellent all-around shoe, but it is not ideal for everything, and I would not recommend it if you’re looking for a shoe for bouldering and sport climbing, first and foremost.

I found the Katana Lace to be a good sport / bouldering shoe, but a phenomenal trad / crack-climbing shoe.

For super long routes, free..." go to full review

If your shoe quiver is in need of a technical face-climbing workhorse, I don’t know that you can do better than the Miura VS. The stiffness of the Velcro version, relative to the lace-up Miura, accentuates the Miura’s already well-known ability to edge and grab small features. People in the sport climbing camp (like me) won’t bat an eye at the loss of crack climbing prowess (since I never used them for cracks in the first place), and will applaud the edging improvements of the Miura VS. For..." go to full review

When I first got the shoe, I went straight to my local climbing gym to try them. The first thing I noticed was how comfortable they were. The inside of the tongue is a very soft micro fleece that stretches around your foot. The toe box is shaped to let the knuckle of your big toe be bent as it should be with an aggressive shoe.go to full review

After over a year of use, I am completely pleased with the Testarossa. It’s a very durable, well-rounded shoe that excels on steep, powerful routes and climbs that require precise edging and footwork. If you’re a boulderer first and foremost, or you do most of your climbing in the gym, I would still consider the Testarossa’s laces, heel, and toe box before making a purchase, but don’t count it out. And if you’re intermediate or advanced climber looking for an aggressive sport climbing shoe,..." go to full review

The Python is a moderately aggressive slipper that is designed to perform well as a bouldering, sport climbing, and gym shoe, yet it still remains comfortable. Climbers looking for a shoe with a supremely comfortable fit that does not sacrifice much on the performance front should give the Python a look.go to full review