Climbing shoe rubber comparison. See our full list of Vibram climbing shoes now. . Pushing hard into small feet is what this compound is for, whether on a slab or in an overhang. Understanding climbing shoe rubber and its impact on performance is essential for choosing the right shoe. We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. Dec 7, 2023 · Vibram climbing shoes have earnt a reputation over the last few decades as being some of the most reliable and high-performance shoes available. Mar 23, 2024 · Most products use a generic, mass-produced rubber. Mar 10, 2025 · The best climbing shoes just keep getting better. Different climbing shoe brands utilize various rubber compounds with distinct characteristics, such as stickiness, durability, and sensitivity, catering to different climbing styles and preferences. Climbers often choose shoes based on the type of Apr 11, 2017 · At a minimum, climbing-shoe soles contain fillers, like carbon and clay, and the rubber itself is not vulcanized as much as other rubbers. One key to a good rubber is controlling—and being able to repeat—the chemical reactions between ingredients when the soles are made. 4mm rubber. Either way, the shoes will feel stiffer when you first use them because 4mm is still a lot of rubber. Read on for our 2025 picks from La Sportiva, Scarpa, and more! Veryst Engineering performed friction and compression testing of two climbing shoe rubbers to quantify and compare their performance. As such, this rubber might be best for the heavier climber. Vibram XS GRIP was the first compound that represented the new generation of Vibram high performance climbing rubbers. Nov 10, 2023 · One of the most debated topics in the world of climbing shoes is the type of rubber your shoes are packing. 3-3,5 for me is the sweet spot for good sensitivity. May 18, 2024 · The quality of rubber used in climbing shoes greatly influences a climber’s ability to feel and trust the contact between their foot and the rock. Jul 7, 2025 · See our guide to the best rock climbing shoes of 2025, with reviews of the year’s top climbing shoes from La Sportiva, Scarpa, Evolv, Butora, and more. This keeps them soft and sticky. I would put Edge on which ever of those shoes you use outside on grit and limestone, and grip 2 on the one you use inside. The type of rubber will directly affect the grip, durability, and edging ability of your shoes. See the La Sportiva Authorised Resoler page, FAQ's page for more information and see the Mountain Equipment article link. Offers a good compromise between grip, edging, and durability on large typology of surfaces. As an Official La Sportiva resoler, we carry and supply La Sportiva Original Spare Parts (rubber soles) for most of La Sportiva climbing shoe models. Building the first version of this list was simple: we simply asked ourselves which shoes we wanted included, then pulled from the reviews we’ve written over the years. It’ll take a bit of climbing to get rid of some of that extra material. Put this compound on your big wall shoe or on your limestone bouldering shoe. Oct 4, 2019 · Today it is also used on the Scarpa Instinct VS, the only bouldering shoe to feature this rubber. This study investigates the mechanical and wear characteristics of climbing shoe rubbers by employing a high-precision modular mechanical testing environment (Bruker UMT TriboLab) and representative granite counter Oct 6, 2023 · Looking to up your climbing game? In this article, we’ll be exploring the impact of high-quality shoe rubber on climbing performance. Whether you're smearing on a friction slab, edging on steep terrain, or placing gear on a trad route, the right rubber enhances grip, durability, and control. We’ll look at the difference between soft and stiff soles. Climbing shoe manufacturers want to create rubber that takes the shape of any tiny bumps or rock textures they are placed on. Jul 13, 2020 · Clearing up some misconceptions about climbing shoe rubber and talk about why it’s important to pay attention in choosing hard rubber or soft rubber climbing shoes. We’ll also take a look at the common brands as well as clear up some misconceptions. Features, last type, and intended use all need consideration during this important decision. Apr 16, 2025 · We tested 27 climbing shoes for men from La Sportiva, Scarpa, Black Diamond, evolv, Five Ten, and more to find the best shoes for you, no matter how you Sep 13, 2024 · This study examines the tribological properties of climbing shoe rubbers, challenging the common belief in the climbing community that softer rubbers are inherently grippier. Apr 16, 2025 · So we thought we’d compile a list of our favorite sport climbing shoes—the shoes that our editors and testers choose to climb in when we’re not testing new shoes. Once you If you’re shopping around for a new pair of climbing shoes, you probably already know there’s a lot more to shoe choice than rubber compound. The rubber for a pair of climbing shoes is a little different: most companies use special formulas that are specifically designed to perform well on rock and plastic holds. Mar 17, 2023 · Are you confused about which type of climbing shoe to get? Would your style of climbing benefit more from stiff or soft rubber? It gets very confusing, doesn’t it? In this article, we’ll compare soft vs stiff rubber in climbing shoes. dafpjh cjghg iszdq emipb zjmny jqlla oczdqll bubm ouymlx tqcvk