Watch product manager and renowned route developer Tyrone Brett break down the key elements of a bouldering shoe. We stock shoes for traditional climbing, sport climbing and specifically for both indoor and outdoor bouldering.
If you are looking for the latest bouldering shoes from La Sportiva, Scarpa, Tenaya, Boreal, Evolv or Unparallell, drop by the store or shop our online Climbing Shoe collection.
While it is possible to boulder in any rock shoe, bouldering shoes have been specifically tailored to the needs of modern boulders.
Design elements specifically for bouldering
Hook and Loop vs Velcro Closure Systems
Often boulderers will take their shoes off between attempts or while moving to a new boulder problem, this can add up to dozens of shoe swaps throughout the day. Having an easy on-and-off system makes this process easier.
Heel Fit - Heel Cup
The perfect heel hook would be rubber painted directly onto your skin, after that, minimizing the space between your heel and the inside of the shoe, aka the dead space, is the best way to ensure a snug fit
Toe Caps
Toe caps greatly improve your toe-hooking ability. These carefully placed thin slices of rubber above the toes are often used to smear on the underside of holds or around aretes, sometimes even unlocking the key sequence. Make sure your bouldering shoes have this subtle but vital feature.
Regular vs. Low Volume
Make sure you match the shoe's volume to the volume of your foot. Lower-volume shoes are for smaller feet, lower arches and narrow heels. The assigned gender of the shoe isn't important, if the shoe fits it right for you.
Fitting Rock Shoes
Want to know more about how to fit your rock shoes? Read our Climbing Shoe Fit Guide
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