Rock and Run

Without doubt the best Red Chili shoe we've seen in a long time, giving the range a facelift and hinting at a brilliantly bright future under the tutelage of new parent company, Edelrid. A true weapon of the indoor climbing world, the Sensor is absolutely up there with the best comp style shoes out there and I've loved every minute with it. What a shoe! go to full review

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

I found both models to be very comfortable, and break in periods were short (though as noted above, slightly longer for the Technician Leather due to the stiffer upper and narrower, climbing oriented forefoot). The fit of the Mission XP seemed wider in the forefoot than most other shoes, which is good for me as I have relatively wide feet. The lacing system – particularly on the Mission XP, wraps quite wide around the foot meaning that a good fit can be achieved by adjusting the lacing. On..." go to full review

Straight out of the box the TX2 EVO felt comfortable and needed no breaking in. I wore my usual size (EU42) which felt snug enough for a comfortable fit and confidence on technical sections, but with enough room that my toes were not hitting the front of the shoe on steep descents. The lacing system allows you to adjust the tightness all the way from your toes to your ankle, while the knitted upper envelopes your foot comfortably and securely. The knit removed the need for a tongue, meaning..." go to full review

Typically German, the Voltage immediately stands out for its solid build quality and logical set of features, not to mention its efficient re-design of the original. Fixing the issues that blighted the first version (heel, straps, tensioning etc.), the Voltage 2.0 is now a fantastic all-round performer with a downturned profile and stiff front end that defines the shoe’s skill set. More ‘snub-nosed’ than Red Chili’s other high performance shoe, the Mystix, the Voltage is all about raw power..." go to full review

I first wore these in the beautiful Peak District, where I thought they’d be put through their paces pretty well. I started on a slab, where I made a point of finding tiny, pebbley footholds to test the shoes’ sensitivity and precision. Their gentle downturn enabled me to put a surprising amount of power through my toes, and my feet felt secure even on barely-there holds. They also proved themselves brilliant at smearing – the midsoles are flexible enough to be pushed flat against the rock,..." go to full review

With the Alpine Dry, Mammut has struck a brilliant balance between weight, usability and durability to produce a year round set of half ropes that you'll always be happy to lift off the gear shelf, with the key stand out for me being the durability and lasting effect of the dry treatment. 6 months down the line, uncoiled on a (more often than not) soggy Lakeland ledge and they're still shrugging off the moisture! Weight saving advantages are popping up in every corner of the gear market and..." go to full review

Could this be Scarpa’s best shoe in years? A well timed rejuvenation of Scarpa’s incredibly popular Instinct range, the Instinct S redefines what a climbing slipper can do, proving that you don’t need straps or laces to achieve top end performance. In the past it would have been hard to recommend an Instinct slipper over its strapped up siblings but the latest model puts this difficulty to bed, proving itself as the most refined, well-rounded Instinct shoe on sale. The Instinct S comes with..." go to full review