How to Choose Rock Climbing Shoes

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Soft and compact, the women's Scarpa Force V climbing shoes strike a balance between comfort and performance with snug heel cups, grippy rubber and a flat, less-aggressive last.
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View all Scarpa Women's Climbing ShoesBest Use | Rock Climbing |
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Climbing Shoe Type | Neutral |
Last | Slip-lasted |
Upper | Suede leather |
Outsole | Vibram XS Edge (4mm) |
Footwear Closure | Strap |
Can Be Resoled | Yes |
Gender | Women's |
Weight (Pair) | 1 lb. 1 oz. |
34 | 34.5 | 35 | 35.5 | 36 | 36.5 | 37 | 37.5 | 38 | 38.5 | 39 | 39.5 | 40 | 40.5 | 41 | 41.5 | 42 EU | |
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U.S. Women's | 3.5 | 4 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 5 | 5.5 | 6 | 6.5 | 7 | 7 | 7.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 9 | 9 | 9.5 | 10 |
EU | 34 | 34.5 | 35 | 35.5 | 36 | 36.5 | 37 | 37.5 | 38 | 38.5 | 39 | 39.5 | 40 | 40.5 | 41 | 41.5 | 42 |
Mondo | 20 | 21 | 21.5 | 21.5 | 22 | 22.5 | 23 | 23.5 | 24 | 24 | 24.5 | 25 | 25.5 | 26 | 26 | 26.5 | 27 |
All Scarpa non-plastic footwear uses European sizing.
• 1 Euro whole size = 6.6 mm = 0.26 inches
• 1 US whole size = 8.4 mm = 0.33 inches
• The 30 Euro sizes above cover the same size range as 24 US sizes.
• More Euro sizes provide a better, more precise fit for your intended use.
Rock Shoes: Scarpa recommends you downsize 1/2 to 2 full sizes from street shoe size, though downsizing depends on shoe model, intended use and personal preference.
Mountaineering: Scarpa recommends you upsize 1/2 size or more depending on desired fit. Scarpa plastic mountaineering boots are based on the UK sizing scale.
Ski Boots: All Scarpa ski bootsare measured in Mondo sizing. Highlighted (or not) sizes share the same shell size; the liners are lasted for each 1/2 size. Some skiers may want to downsize up to 1 full Mondo size, depending upon personal preference.
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I LOVE these shoes. They fit amazingly but definitely DO NOT size down! I am a street size 8 (39 in Birkenstocks) and the size that fit my feet perfectly in these shoes was size 41. There is absolutely no dead space in the shoes for me. It fits the heel super snugly and is only very slightly asymmetrical (my 2nd toe is longer than my big toe, so this is a plus) and I genuinely feel like these shoes fit like a glove. Better than the Sportiva Mythos (which I think is best for people with flat feet) and better than all of the other climbing shoes I tried. Plus, the color scheme is very cute. Genuinely a 10/10 pair!
I tried on countless and countless pairs of neutral climbing shoes (mostly La Sportiva) none came close to how cushiony, supportive and comfortable the Scarpa Force V is. It feels like your feet are on a cloud. I love them so much - my only complaint is that the green / orange color combo looks too childish and bright for my liking. It's perfect for those with a wide toe box and difficulties finding shoes that aren't super narrow and cripple your feet with pain. I'm typically a size 7 and a size 7 fit me perfectly. After a couple of sessions of breaking in the shoes, I'm really loving these right now and will definitely buy another pair once these no longer hold up.
I've been an on/off climber for many years, and the same shoes that fit me like a glove finally came apart. I'm more of a novice climber (just getting back to being 'on') so this review is tailored for similar climbers. I was used to my worn-in shoes, and these feel almost as good right out of the box. Tight enough that I still slip them off between climbs, but not so tight that it's painful to keep them on. They are lined, so unlikely to stretch (or so I've been told), and I ended up with a 7.5. (I wear a women's 8.5 in street shoes).
Great first pair of bouldering shoes! I had these for three years and just broke through the toe - so time to upgrade. After the break in period (about 4-6 wears) they were absolutely perfect. I love the velcro and was able to climb up to v5s in a bouldering gym. I cannot recommend this pair of Scarpas enough for eager women's climbing afficionados looking for a great, responsive pair of shoes. The rubber is thin enough in the toe you can really feel the wall and learn to edge / use small toe holds. After three years, the rubber and body of the shoes are just reaching end of their life. Definitely worth the price for the comfort and responsiveness these will give you while you learn to climb!
I've climbed in this shoe for about 3 years (I don't climb on a regular basis) they are very very comfortable and have held up super well. I wear a size 7 in all flat shoes and 6.5 in heels and own a 38.5 (which translates to 7 1/3 in US size) in this climbing shoe. Unfortunately toward evening as feet naturally swell, I end up feeling really cramped in the big toe area so much that it hurts to actually use my toe for climbing. I wish I had gotten a 39. Writing this review for folks who are figuring out sizing for themselves
I've been climbing for about 3 months now and been going to the gym about 3 or 4 times a week. Even after long periods of time (longest has been 2 and a half hours), my feet feel comfortable and secure. The Achilles area is very soft and resembles that of a running shoe so it makes it very comfortable. However, I recommend going a size down because the heel part of the design is pulled back quite a bit. If you get a size that's too big, there will be a gap in that area which will retract your toes from the tip of the shoe when doing heel hooks. I've not yet received any blisters on my toes or any other part of my foot which I'm extremely pleased with. Would highly recommend to any climber trying to get back in or start the sport!
Background: 5'2 intermediate climber. I wear a size 7.5 in Women's Vans, 5.5 in Men's Vans, and 7.5 in Women's Nike's. These shoes are by far the most comfortable shoe I've worn climbing. I'm always gone for a more aggressive type shoe (La Sportiva Muira Velco+Lace), but these are definitely my go to's. These are great for the gym for those who are just working on footwork, gaining upper and lower body strength, and for a casual climb. These shoes are BEST for narrow feet versus wider. I tried on 4 difference sizes at REI from 39-37's, and went with the 37.5. They're tight and they hurt, but not as painful as my La Sportiva Muira VS (those are a size 38.5). These shoes feel like they'll be easy to break in (due to the suede on top).
These are definitely my favorite pair of climbing shoes I have owned. I have been climbing for about five years now, and these work amazingly. As other reviews have mentioned, these do run slightly large, but they suit my needs perfectly. The longest I've climbed in them would be about 3.5-4 hours, and they've worked like a dream. I'm able to throw a heel up easily without having the shoe feel like it's coming off. I have only climb indoors with this pair, so I'm not quite sure how they'll hold up on the real rocks. Overall, this was definitely one of my best pairs I've climbed in!
I am a total beginner. I have been climbing at a few bouldering gyms for just a couple months now. I was lucky enough to get an REI gift card for my birthday and wanted to buy a pair of shoes rather than renting all the time. I did some research online about types of shoes, comfort, climbing level, etc. These shoes have been wonderful. The more I wear them the more comfortable they are. The heel padding stays comfortable but fits around your foot the more your wear them. I normally wear an 8.5 street shoe and had to get a 7.5 in these to avoid heel slipping.
I wanted to love these because the colors are great and the cushioned heel seemed smart but they were so painful to wear for me! I am an 8.5 street shoe with slightly wide width and I tried these in 39.5 and 40 and returned both. I wore the 40s in the gym and outdoor trad climbing but every time my big toe would go numb and the heel kept digging uncomfortably in back. I wore them about 20 times so they should have broken in by then. I tried other wide width shoes and eventually ended up on the Scarpa Helix lace-up in 40.5 and they are peeerfect!