To master the art of rock climbing, it requires precision in footwork, as you balance your body weight on the tip of your shoes all the way up. Regardless of whether you are doing indoor rock climbing or outdoor bouldering, the fit and quality of your shoes are so important for comfort, performance and durability. However, it seems that not every climbing shoe brand out there is able to cater to the varied range of feet types around the world. Some people may have bigger toes or a bigger sole arch, while others have a narrow, wider or flat foot. For today’s piece, we are here to compare some of the best brands out there from La Sportiva to Scarpa to others help introduce to you the best range of rock climbing and bouldering shoes for wide feet.
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What are the Best Climbing Shoes for Wide Feet?
To find the list of absolute Best Climbing Shoes for Wide Feet, we have researched many wide climbing shoes and what people with wider feet who bought and used them say about these products. Based on their experiences, we compiled for you the top 6 climbing shoes for wide feet.
Also, to make it easier for you to making the right choice, we also wrote a mini wide climbing shoes Buying Guide and frequently asked questions (FAQs). You will find it at the end of this article.
1. Butora Acro
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| Price: 💲💲💲 (fewer 💲 = cheaper) Sole Material: Rubber Closure Type: Velcro Strap on Shoe Material: Synthetic Leather |
The Butora Acros are a wide design and good for both stop rope climbing and bouldering. The downward toe angle is designed for climbers venturing into overhang territory. This is where the shoe excels, as its performance fit allows you to maximise the power transfer from your feet to the wall. With a velcro strap, and elastic tongue system, they are a breeze to take off between climbs and give your toes a breather.
Pros
- Stretchy tongue makes for great fit
- Extremely sticky rubber
- Great for overhangs
- Wide and narrow options available
Cons
- They are a performance shoe (AKA they fit tight)
2. La Sportiva Tarantulace
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| Price: 💲💲 (fewer 💲 = cheaper) Sole Material: 5mm FriXion RS Closure Type: Lace-up |
The La Sportiva Tarantula shoes, whether they are the laced or velcro versions, are some of the most popular shoes available on the market for beginners, and are one of the most affordable La Sportiva climbing shoes you will find. While not specialized in any climbing discipline, the flat profile and comfortable design are perfect for easier climbs, versatile enough to use on almost any gradient, and a great way to break your feet into the more extreme climbing shoes that you will want to use as you improve your skills. The shoes are great for beginners, but more advanced climbers will feel limited by the flat profile. Furthermore, many users complain that they leave the climbing gym with “smurf feet” as the dye washes out as their feet become a little sweaty.
Pros
- Budget-friendly,
- Great for beginners,
- Comfortable
Cons
- Tedious to remove/ put on due to the laces,The colour may run when the shoe gets too wet
3. Five Ten Anasazi VCS
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| Price: 💲 (fewer 💲 = cheaper) Sole Material: Stealth Rubber, Synthetic Closure Type: Velcro Strap on Shoe Material: Cowdura leather |
The Five Ten Anasazi shoes are a great all round indoor rock climbing shoe. The velcro straps, and durable rubber sole make it a great workhorse shoe for the gym.
They have a relatively neutral sole which will suit beginner to intermediate climbers. We also love that despite being made by a top quality brand, they come with an affordable price tag.
Pros
- Velcro straps
- Affordable
- Great for heel hooks
Cons
- Wide toe box may suit some climbers
4. La Sportiva Katana Lace Climbing Shoe
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| Price: 💲💲💲💲 (fewer 💲 = cheaper) Sole Material: Vibram XS Edge Closure Type: Lace-up |
La Sportiva has made a name for themselves as some of the best bouldering shoes on the market. They’re known for their aggressive PD75 shape, which makes them great for boosting power on tiny footholds. The Katana is a brilliant shoe for intermediate climbers who are starting to experiment with overhanging routes but still want to wear comfortable climbing shoes. The shoes are well padded on the inside which makes them feel good, and yet they still feature a sharp downturn to help you powerfully push up on steeper routes. The shoes are still flexible enough to provide ample footing on slopers, and they perform in almost all modern climbing situations.
To help you edge on tiny footholds, the shoe uses a Vibram XS Edge compound throughout the whole sole. The lace feature amkes the shoe snugness more adjustable as compared to velcro.One of the best features of the La Sportiva climbing shoe is its verstaile mix of edging to smearing qualities. Because of this, it makes them excellent for any style of climbing.
The shoes are not specialized in any particular discipline, and so the more serious climbers might feel restricted if they only have these shoes and nothing else. Furthermore, the La Sportiva shoes are lacking a little protective rubber on the top, and so toe-hooking is harder and you are more likely to agitate your toes when trying ambitious and dynamic moves.
Pros
- Comfortable all-around high performer,
- Aggressive downturn for overhangs and soft enough for slab,
- Well padded on the inside
- Vibram XS Edge
- P3 patented technology
- Two heel hoops
Cons
- Laces while comfortable, take a long time to put on and take off,
- Not much rubber for toe-hooks
5. Mad Rock Drifter
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| Price: 💲 (fewer 💲 = cheaper) Sole Material: Rubber Closure Type: Velcro Strap on Shoe Material: Leather |
The Mad Rock Drifter is a great all-rounder shoe that gains praise from beginners to advanced alike. It has a neutral shoe shape, with a leather upper that creates a comfortable climbing shoe. It is slightly asymmetric in shape, yet not too aggressive for a beginner climbing shoe.
Pros
- Affordable price
- Velcro straps makes for easy removal between climbs
- Stiff soles supports new climbers
Cons
- Sizing runs small. If buying online, check return shipping options
6. La Sportiva Solution Women’s Comp
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| Price: 💲💲💲 (fewer 💲 = cheaper) Sole Material: Vibram Rubber Closure Type: Quick-Pull Lacing Velcro |
The La Sportiva Solutions are some of the most iconic and popular La Sportiva climbing shoes available on the market, drastically boosted by the likes of professional climber Adam Ondra. They are a fantastic and relatively comfortable shoe for most climbing situations; whether you are taking them for a day of multi-pitching or a bouldering session in the gym, they are going to perform. For such a downturned shoe, the Solutions are pretty comfortable due to a thick padding on the interior and a quick lace-like strap design that allows the shoe to stretch to the contours of your feet, making it great if your feet are a little wider than most. The edges are not as sharp as the Skwamas and you may struggle to stand on tiny ledges, however, the softer profile makes them brilliant for slab climbing and standing on sloping volumes. The strap design is particularly comfortable but is not the strongest piece of material and many users have found it breaks quite easily. With that being said, most of these users continue to use the shoe after the straps have broken and found that it still performs, almost as well as before.
Pros
- Great all-around shoe,
- Soft and malleable for slabs,
- Fairly aggressive downturn for overhangs,
- Comfortable padding,
- Great after a resole
Cons
- Straps easily break
Verdict
After all of our long research about the Best Climbing Shoes for Wide Feet, we found that Butora Acro is the best climbing shoe for wide feet available today.
There’s also a Premium Option with all the best features and high-quality materials if you have more money to spend, namely La Sportiva Katana Lace Climbing Shoe.
However, if you are on a slightly tighter budget, you can also consider the Mad Rock Drifter as an affordable alternative.
Our other reviews you may find useful in your research:
- Best Bouldering Shoes for Intermediate Climbers
- Best Indoor Rock Climbing Shoes
- Best Scarpa Climbing Shoes
What You Should Know Before Buying climbing shoes for wide feet
Overview
With many stores insisting on a no-returns policy on climbing shoes, purchasing them can be an intimidating process and mistakes can be expensive. This is particularly applicable when buying online as it is much harder to try before you buy, especially given that you have specific requirements. It is well worth considering each of the following points when beginning your search for climbing shoes to reduce the risk of ending up with shoes that don’t work so well for you.
Difference between moderate climbing shoes and beginner shoes
A beginner climbing shoe will have a stiff and flat sole. This provides support to your feet as you develop your muscles. A moderate or intermediate climbing shoe will have a slightly down turned toe, with a bit more added sensitivity than a beginner shoe. This improves your ability to feel the small jibs you place your feet on.
This video provides a good run down on the basic models of climbing shoes.
Material and Pricing
All climbing shoes have a rubber sole. The more advanced you are, the more pliable and sensitive the rubber is. A word of caution: only go for sensitive rubber soles when you are ready for it, otherwise your feet will encounter a world of pain. In terms of your shoe’s uppers, they are made from either leather, synthetic, of hemp materials. Leather is the traditional go to for climbing shoe uppers, but as the technology has developed, synthetic and hemp materials provide great alternatives. Which is great for the vegan climbers amongst us. Remember, spending more doesn’t make it a better shoe for you. It still needs to fit, and be suited to your level of climbing. In general beginner climbing shoes are cheaper. To learn more check out our article on budget climbing shoes.
Questions and Answers About climbing shoes for wide feet
Why should you have a different pair of shoes for indoor and outdoor climbing?
Indoor climbing is about building your strength. For this you want a relatively rigid and tight fitting performance fit shoe. For outdoors, you want a shoe with a sensitive, yet durable sole as this assists your foot to stick to natural rock, while also ensuring the longevity of your shoe.
What’s the difference between rock climbing and bouldering?
Bouldering stops at the four to metre metre mark. Beyond that height you need ropes and a harness to climb safely. Bouldering is characterized by short explosive moves. Whereas rock climbing focuses on sustained endurance.
Should I get aggressive bouldering shoes if I am a beginner?
While the focus on bouldering shoes is for an aggressive shape, beginners should go for a neutral shoe with a stiff sole. This will provide you with the support you need as your muscles develop.
How should beginner climbing shoes fit?
We recommend getting climbing shoes that are comfortably snug, not painfully tight. Your toes should be slightly curled and be able to touch the end of the toe box. The heel of the shoe should comfortably cradle your foot. This will ensure an ideal fit with minimum movement.
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