Climbing shoe stiffness chart Each brand approaches this in their own way, so it is most helpful to actually handle a shoe and squeeze it in your hand to feel for flexibility when you twist and fold the shoe side to side and front to back. A softer, thinner climbing shoe is generally described as being more sensitive. g. This is because a shoe’s stiffness affects how it performs on different styles of climb, so Ondra was giving himself the best chance possible to succeed. Jun 16, 2023 · Remember: More supportive shoes are about balancing key areas of stiffness as thin as possible to help shoes retain some sensitivity. Soft Climbing Shoes Explained. Vibram XS Edge). A climbing shoe has two soles (a midsole and an outsole) which are contributing to the level of stiffness. com If you watched the Bouldering World Cups this summer, you may well have seen Adam Ondra take two pairs of climbing shoes out to each problem with him - a soft pair and a stiff pair. BALANCED PERFORMANCE, for those looking for a climbing shoe that combines maximum precision with a comfortable fit RELAXED FIT , for beginners and activities requiring indoor and multi-pitch use For each group of climbing shoes, the degree of softness/stiffness and a comparison of last volumes is indicated by the legend at the bottom of the image. While both options are built to aid your climbing activities, they achieve it in very different ways. . A stiff climbing shoe can be described as having a thick midsole and a thick layer of outside rubber (e. They have a slightly different shape and are less rigid than the men’s version. La Sportiva’s climbing shoes for women differ from their male counterparts both in looks and technical features, making them more appropriate for the female foot. A soft shoe is one that has a much thinner rubber on the bottom of the shoe while a stiff shoe boasts a thicker shoe. They are made with more lightweight materials, resulting in an extremely flexible and mouldable shoe, Mar 17, 2023 · When we refer to stiff or soft climbing shoes, we are referring to the soles that are used in them. See full list on climbonequipment. yrzngszymbwzowwdbqnvadztckmazmqorlhtyjpdruqodcukcruq