Product Overview
Product Name & Brand: UP Beat by Unparallel
Price: $214.95 CDN
Designed for: Sport and Trad
Best for: Edging, smearing, and hand-sized jamming.
Sizing Notes: This was the first pair of climbing shoes where I had to size up from my regular street shoe size.
Key Technologies & Build
Upper Materials: Synthetic
Closure System: Laces
Rubber Compound: RH rubber
Stiffness/Flexibility/Support: Quite stiff with moderate flexibility and support
About Reviewer - Tyr Carrier/Climb On Staff Member
My name is Tyr and I have been climbing on and off my whole life. I was raised by a classic trad Dad, and so most of my climbing experience has been trad and run-out slab climbing. My favourite style of climbing is finger cracks.
Foot shape: I have wide feet and typically use TC pros as my multi-pitch and edging shoes, and the Katana Laces for hard finger and slab climbs.
Testing Time Frame & Terrain
I’ve had the UP Beat for five months, and during that time, I have tried to use them for a variety of climbing styles. From multi-pitching up the Chief, to cragging at the Smoke Bluffs, and sport climbing at Murrin Park.
First Impressions
I sized these shoes so that my toes were curled for power and precision, but I still found the shoes to be relatively comfortable straight out of the box. I did not need much, if any, break-in period. In the past few months, the shoes have not stretched much, so I think that the in-store size will be pretty true to the size for the lifespan of the shoes.
Build quality
The synthetic upper has been durable to foot jamming. The RH rubber feels stickier than XS edge rubber but is much more durable than the XS grip rubber, especially in the heat.
Expectations vs. Initial Experience
When I first saw this shoe, I was a bit skeptical about its edging capabilities due to the rounded toe box. But I was pleasantly surprised to find that the shape doesn’t compromise precision—if anything, the shoe edges remarkably well on small features and crystals.
Performance Breakdown
This shoe is ideal for climbers seeking a stiff, moderately aggressive option that excels in technical terrain yet remains comfortable enough for long multi-pitch days. It’s also a great choice for anyone looking for a versatile, all-around performance shoe that can handle a bit of everything. In many ways, it parallels the TC Pro, but with a different fit and feel.
The full-length sole offers solid support for edging, while the slight downturn and subtle asymmetry in the toe enhance precision on small holds.
What We Love
What I loved most about this shoe was the rubber—it’s impressively sticky yet surprisingly durable. Whether I was balancing on small edges, trusting a tiny crystal with all my weight, or smearing on a glacier-polished slab, the rubber gave me the confidence to commit to every foot placement. The high-volume toe box is also a great fit for climbers with wider feet.
What Could Be Improved
The UP Beat has a lot of space in the heel—more than I personally need—but since I'm not particularly sensitive about heel fit in my trad shoes, it didn’t bother me much. That said, the heel is roomy enough that I struggle to imagine who it would fit perfectly.
My biggest concern with the shoe is the height of the toe box. I believe UnParallel designed it to allow toes to curl comfortably, but in practice, the extra height makes toe jamming in narrower cracks noticeably more difficult.
Final Summary
Overall, I think this shoe offers a bit of everything, but the standout feature is definitely the rubber. That didn’t come as a surprise—I’ve heard for years that UnParallel’s rubber is excellent, and it absolutely lives up to the hype. The shape of the shoe seems well-suited to climbers with wide feet who are looking for a moderately aggressive option. In the shop, I’d recommend this to someone who wants the stiffness, all-day comfort and enjoys a wider fit.
Because I love climbing thin cracks and rely on secure toe jams, I prefer a lower-profile shoe for both hard sends and long multi-pitch routes. That said, I’ll keep using the UP Lift for slab climbing on the Chief, where its sticky rubber and roomy toe box make it a capable and comfortable smearing shoe.
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