Our range of rock shoes has been chosen from the myriad of designs available from manufacturers worldwide. We have attempted to select a wide choice from the comfortable beginner's all-day shoe to the most foot-contorting technical choice for working near-impossible sport routes.  The whole range has been extensively and enthusiastically tested by staff both outside and on our little shop wall.

First pair of rockshoes: Many of our entry level and improver rock shoes are lace-up so that you can achieve a more tailored fit. They should be comfortable enough that you don't have to take them off between routes. The fit is by far the most important factor: the best rock shoes in the world are useless to you if they don't fit right, and what's best for you may not be your mate's favourite shoe. Buying rock shoes is definitely a hands-on experience- and there is a lot to consider with each shoe, for instance, some boots stretch more than others. We know our range intimately so drop us a line for fitting advice if you need it. So if you’re looking for your first pair then the following options would make good contenders;

• Red Chili Sausalito – Probably the stiffest shoe in our range thanks to it’s full length mid sole.  Ideal for those new to climbing.
• La Sportiva Cliff - a timeless classic, very comfortable for long multipitch day.  It’s well padded and fairly adaptable in fit.
• Boreal Joker or Boreal Luna - excellent all-rounders.  The Luna is effectively the women’s version of the Joker.  Both use a fast lacing system making them quick to put on.
• Evolv Royale - uses a lacing system that goes right to the ends of the toes so often fits many different foot shapes.
• All of these rock shoes are built with hardwearing rubber so that they last as long as possible whilst you’re still getting to grips with your footwork.

Mid Level/Training shoes: We have plenty of shoes for those who don’t want anything too aggressive but will perform well at regular wall/crag visits. Options include;

• Boreal Silex – a stiff and supportive shoe that gives great comfort for long days.
• Red Chili Spirit Velcro – it is easy to get on/off and has a discreet anti-shock pad in the bottom of the heel if to look after you feet and ankles if you are jumping/falling off a lot of boulder problems.
• Five Ten Siren – specifically designed for women.  The siren has a slightly narrow last and great rubber.
• Red Chili Habanero – available in Lace and Velcro.  These shoes have quite a stiff sole so offer a lot of support if you are on small holds, they are great for visits to sandstone quarries too where you often have to stand on minuscule edges.
• Five Ten Anasazi Verde – the slightly less aggressive version of the Blanco’s.  The Verde, softens up to give great feel and comfort.  One of the few shoes in it’s category to go up to a UK size 14.
• Scarpa Force’s have hardwearing rubber so perform well indoors and outdoors even after regular use.
• La Sportiva Tarantula – one of the funkiest looking shoes out there and have been very popular for regular wall users as they are both super comfy but also very supportive.
• Tenya Masai – this shoe has been around for a long time.  Those familiar with the old Five Ten Pinks might want to consider this shoe.

Top-end Technical shoes: Rock shoes for advanced climbers are built with some very specific ideas in mind. They generally have a fit that is very precise - so precise that some climbers might take their shoes off after every route or problem. There are three main ways that a shoe can become very technical.

1. Shoes can be very downturned (point towards the floor) in order to put lots of power and sensitivity through the toes, for instance the Five Ten Arrowhead and the Edelrid Raven. These are great on overhanging routes as the downturned shape allows grip on tiny holds even on steep terrain.

2. Being asymmetric allows the toes to get maximum power and sensitivity without being too uncomfortable, like the Red Chili Coronas and Boreal Stingmas.

3. Having a slingshot heel pushes the foot forward to allow great feeling and power through the toes again, like the Five Ten Anasazi range.

Slingshot heels: Five Ten are one of the most famous shoe manufacturers, known well for their superb rubber and brilliantly performing shoes. The Anasazi family boasts some famous shoes that have been worn all over the world on hard sends in many disciplines of climbing. The ‘Whites’ and ‘Greens’ get their technical edge from their slingshot heels, which push the foot forward to allow you to get more power through the toes. The ‘Browns’ also work in this way, but have a wider fit and a Velcro fastening system so there is less time spent on those pesky laces. The Anasazi LV is Five Ten’s low-volume top end shoe – perfect choice for ladies after a high performance shoe.

Assymetric shoes: Fit in the toe box is important for solid footwork. Many shoes towards the performance end have a 'slingshot' heel that pulls in hard on the Achilles to push the foot forward in the shoe. Some people may experience discomfort and even blisters as a result of this but you can still get a precise technical shoe without an aggressive heel by choosing an asymmetric fitted shoe. The Red Chili Coronas, the Boreal Silexs and the Stingmas have an asymmetric shape (bend your foot around towards each other) so feel great on your foot whilst still being an awesome technical shoe.

Downturned shoes: We stock a good range of downturned shoes from the insane, like the Edelrid Raven, to some more tame, like the La Sportiva Katana. The Arrowhead is Five Tens downturned offering which allows perfect precision on overhangs and hard boulder problems. La Sportiva also have a brilliant range of downturned shoes including the Miura VS, Solution and Futura. The Solution has taken the climbing community by storm and has built a reputation for itself as the performance shoe to have. Many cutting edge ascents have been seen by climbers wearing Solutions.

The future: The very nature of climbing is to see how hard we can push ourselves and in order to facilitate this we need more innovative and futuristic designs.  La Sportiva’s most recent offering is the Futura which has been successfully used to climb the hardest grade to date (9b+).  The new design of having a rounded edge to increase sensitivity and the climber’s ability to use tiny holds.  Evolv are also pushing the boat out here, the Shaman designed by none other than Chris Sharma himself.  The concept of the “Love Bump” creates amazing levels of comfort in an ultra high performance shoe.

Approach: We have a few offerings with a trainer-like fit: the Five Ten Guide Tennie’s and the Five Ten Warhawk. These are ideal for long easy days on the rock, walk-ins to the crag and on descents too. They're both popular with instructors in particular, and lovers of massive multipitch mountain days.

Big and Small feet: For those with very wide or long feet a great option is the Red Chili Sausalito, which comes in sizes up to 14 in a very tough rubber. The Evolv Royale might also be a good choice for those who want a relaxed fitting shoe. Narrow footed men and women might find the Five Ten Siren or the Tenaya Masai a better fit as the lacing system on them ensures you can get a close fit.

Ladies: The Five Ten Sirens are very popular for female feet as they generally have a narrower fit to suit lower volume feet. We know that ladies can crush just as hard as the boys if not harder though so come and try our La Sportiva Miura VS and Five Ten LVs which are our technical shoes for women.

Kids Shoes: We have a few options available for Kids. The Red Chili Durango and the Boreal Ninja Junior all have Velcro fastening systems to make it easy for the kids to get them on and off. They also have nice tough rubber so that your little monkeys can’t wear them too quickly. All of our kid’s shoes allow for growth and are easy on young feet.

Please give us a call if you have any questions or pop in to try some shoes out on our shop demo wall.