How to Choose Rock Climbing Shoes
La Sportiva Katana Lace Climbing Shoes - Men's
$239.00
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Despite a downturned shape, the men's La Sportiva Katana Lace climbing shoes are comfortable, genuine edging machines that perform well on slabs, twist easily into cracks and excel on steep routes.
Key Details
Climbing Shoe Type
Aggressive
Last
Slip-lasted
Can Be Resoled
Yes
Upper
Leather/microfiber
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- Slightly downturned toes and subtle asymmetry ensure you can hook into pockets or exploit the tiniest edges while providing unrivaled comfort for their performance level
- Tubular construction with P3® technology provides excellent comfort and performance
- Highly breathable tongues work in conjunction with the linings for moisture management
- Narrow heel design increases heel hooking precision while maintaining the same known fit and feel
- Full-length outsole design supports climbers of all weights and sizes
- 4 mm thick Vibram® XS Edge rubber outsoles provide friction and stability
- Updated heel pattern with increased rubber coverage improves grip for heel hooking
- Shoes can be resoled; La Sportiva authorized resolers can be found across North America
- Constructed without intentionally added PFAS
- Manufacturer recommends sizing down 1–3 sizes from your typical street shoe size
Imported.
View all La Sportiva Men's Climbing Shoes| Best Use | Rock Climbing |
|---|---|
| Climbing Shoe Type | Aggressive |
| Last | Slip-lasted |
| Upper | Leather/microfiber |
| Lining | Pacific (front and back) |
| Outsole | 4 mm Vibram XS Edge rubber |
| Footwear Closure | Lace-up |
| Can Be Resoled | Yes |
| Gender | Men's |
| Weight (Pair) | 1 lb. 1.6 oz. |
| Sustainability | From a Climate Neutral Certified brand |
La Sportiva Footwear - Men's
| 34 EU | 35.5 EU | 36.5 EU | 37 EU | 37.5 EU | 38 EU | 38.5 EU | 39 EU | 39.5 EU | 40 EU | 40.5 EU | 41 EU | 41.5 EU | 42 EU | 42.5 EU | 43 EU | 43.5 EU | 44 EU | 44.5 EU | 45 EU | 45.5 EU | 46 EU | 46.5 EU | 47 EU | 47.5 EU | 48 EU | 48.5 EU | 49 EU | 49.5 EU | 50 EU | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Men's | 2.5+ | 4 | 4.5+ | 5 | 5.5 | 6 | 6.5 | 6.5+ | 7 | 7.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 8.5+ | 9 | 9.5 | 10 | 10.5 | 10.5+ | 11 | 11.5 | 12 | 12.5 | 12.5+ | 13 | 13.5 | 14 | 14.5 | 15 | 15.5 | 16 |
| U.S. Women's | 3.5 | 5 | 5.5+ | 6 | 6.5 | 7 | 7.5 | 7.5+ | 8 | 8.5 | 9 | 9.5 | 9.5+ | 10 | 10.5 | 11 | 11.5 | 11.5+ | 12 | 12.5 | 13 | 13.5 | 13.5+ | 14 | 14.5 | 15 | 15.5 | 16 | 16.5 | |
| EU | 34 | 35.5 | 36.5 | 37 | 37.5 | 38 | 38.5 | 39 | 39.5 | 40 | 40.5 | 41 | 41.5 | 42 | 42.5 | 43 | 43.5 | 44 | 44.5 | 45 | 45.5 | 46 | 46.5 | 47 | 47.5 | 48 | 48.5 | 49 | 49.5 | 50 |
| Mondo | 24 | 24.5 | 25 | 25.5 | 26 | 26.5 | 27 | 27.5 | 28 | 28.5 | 29 | 29.5 | 30 | 30.5 | 31 |
Sizing Notes
For boots: Add one half size to your street shoe size. You should be able to slip one finger behind your heel when you are standing up with the boot unlaced and your toes touching the front. If the boot is too short, your toes will get smashed walking downhill. Too long and your heel will slide up and down and give you blisters.
Buying Advice
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Most Helpful Favorable Review
Significant toe box change from previous version
Karl2 years ago
For anyone that owned the previous version, you should be aware that the toe box is narrower / pointier than the previous version. I enjoyed the relatively broad toe box design of the previous version, but this new toe box is a non-starter for me.
Karl
18 people found this review helpful
Most Helpful Critical Review
Significant toe box change from previous version
Karl2 years ago
For anyone that owned the previous version, you should be aware that the toe box is narrower / pointier than the previous version. I enjoyed the relatively broad toe box design of the previous version, but this new toe box is a non-starter for me.
Karl
18 people found this review helpful
Customer Images
Robert
Received free product
San Diego
Well rounded lace up
3 years ago
I’ve been climbing in these for the past couple weeks and am happy with them. They have a snug fit with minimal dead space in the toe box and heel, and are pretty comfortable for being a more aggressive shoe. The underfoot is pretty stiff which makes them great at holding on a thin edge but also a little less sensitive compared to my otakis or blue scarpa instincts. They feel most at home on vertical or overhanging routes/problems due to their more downturned toe, but smearing on slab was very doable. The build and rubber are excellent quality as expected. Sizing in these was similar to my other la sportivas, I wear a 10.5 street shoe and got these in a 43.
Age:25–34
Yes , I recommend this product
mountainlyon
Received free product
Colorado
Precision toe point
3 years ago
After clinbing and bouldering in the Sportiva Katana lace a few times, I am generally impressed. The rubber was great, and the toe design was great for edging. The lacing system was great as well. That said I would have given the shoe I higher rating, but I found the toe box and arched camber pretty uncomfortable. Everyone's foot is different, so comfort and fit are personal. I have a longer second toe and so I felt a lot of pressure there from the shoe design, but if I had sized them bigger, the heal would slip. I would use these as a go to shoe for bouldering or short, steep, hard routes, but I can't see them on longer routes, especially with a lot of smearing like many trad routes.
Age:45–54
Yes , I recommend this product
James
So Cal
They live up to the hype!
1 year ago
Precise; great rubber; reasonably comfortable, especially for being an aggressive style shoe. Unlike most people, I tend to size up with climbing shoes (but I'm climbing outdoors usually 10b or below, so not too hard). I wear street shoes in size 10.5 or 11, and I got these in size 45, and they worked great (I just did a 5-pitch trad route with them today). As comfortable as my TC Pros.
Age:35–44
Yes , I recommend this product
Undermonkey
Received free product
Seattle, WA
What A Difference
3 years ago
I am a solid intermediate climber and I've been in a pair of Evolv Defy shoes for a few years. I had been pretty convinced that if anything, my gear wasn't the thing holding me back. Turns out, I should've switched shoes a long time ago. This was a pretty dramatic upgrade for a bunch of reasons, but particularly in the shape; this is a much more aggressive shoe than I am used to, but i haven't had any trouble adapting. The toebox is a little tight for my wider-than-average forefoot, but feel like as they continue to break-in and this will improve a bit. This is also overshadowed by my newfound ability to edge, hook, grab and pull with my toe. I am WAY more confident, mostly because I can actually rely on the fact that the shoe is going to hold. I feel the same way about the heel. The heel fit is solid. No slipping whatsoever, the heel cup is really well built and feels like it is glued to my foot It's still pretty soggy around here, so I've only used these in the gym, but my indoor game is greatly improved and I can't wait to get them outside.
Age:45–54
Yes , I recommend this product
Rescue Ninja
Tulsa, OK
My favorite climbing shoes.
1 year ago
Definitely my all time favorite shoe. I always prefer a laced shoe but the downside has always been how long it takes to put on and take off. The lacing system on these are so easy to come on and off. I use them both outside and in the gym. They’re pretty comfortable for having the aggressive downturn. I love them so much I ordered a second pair to have as a backup when it’s time to get them resoled. I wear an 11.5 street shoe and got a size 42.5 in these. This gives me a perfect fit that is still fairly comfortable.
Age:35–44
Karl
Significant toe box change from previous version
2 years ago
For anyone that owned the previous version, you should be aware that the toe box is narrower / pointier than the previous version. I enjoyed the relatively broad toe box design of the previous version, but this new toe box is a non-starter for me.
georgeb
Gainesville, FL
Awesome - With One Caveat
2 years ago
Like the previous version, this is a terrific shoe. When I am outside, this is my "go to" shoe, period/full stop. However, in the new version, the toe has been re-designed to get your big toe right over the front edge of the shoe. That makes the toe section a little more roomy that the previous version. So I STRONGLY advise you to drop down 1/2 size from whatever size you wore in the previous model of this shoe. FWIW: I wear 45.5 in several models of LaSportiva, like the Solution, Solution Comp and Miura VS; and in this new version of the Katana Laces, I wear a 45 even.
Age:65–74
Yes , I recommend this product
Gordo
Gainesville, FL
Powerful, But Run WAY Large!
4 months ago
I dinged them two stars to get your attention. This new iteration of the Katana Lace runs WAY larger than it's predecessor! I usually wear 46 in La Sportiva. I got these in 45 and still felt I could have & should have gone down another 1/2 size. Once you find your correct size, these badboys will provide you with a powerful climbing and edging tool for outdoor sport and trad routes. I am aesthetically OCD and - frankly - do not think these shoes are as attractive as their Father was. Devoted instead to the Miura VS, I gave these to a friend. But don't let my finicky-ness interfere with your vertical and overhanging achievements using these powerful climbers.
Age:75 or over
Used for::Sport Climbing
Yes , I recommend this product
artie
Perfect Intermediate Climbing Shoe
2 years ago
Having gotten obsessively into gym climbing in June 2022, I started looking for a step up from my tarantulaces as I started comfortably being a v4 send / v5 project climber. I fully understand that people are crushing v10s in tarantulas but once mine blew out I decided I'd like to try a more technical, performance oriented shoe. If I didn't like it, I figured I could always get my tarantulas re-soled. So I scoured every corner of the internet to aggregate opinions on the best aggressive shoe for a still-relatively new climber. To make a long story short, after trying and returning both the Miura VS and Skwama's I thought I'd try one last time to find my cinderella slipper and get the Katana Laces. The Miura and Skwama's seems significantly more popular and talked about online, especially with regards to a good intermediate shoe, but in terms of what this means for someone like me the Katana's ended up being my saviors. There is still some serious aggression to these shoes, and the toe box is such an upgrade from the Tarantulaces that it's hard to describe. I've gone from nominally trusting my toes out of necessity to LOVING the puzzle of proper footwork. Especially on more aggressively overhung routes or slabbier problems with tortuous foot chips. I can't explain it- but if you're a newer climber like me you will be ecstatic the first time you feel the new sensitivity and control you have over the way your toe can pull a pocket now. These shoes were still uncomfortable for the first 2 weeks, but SIGNIFICANTLY less so compared to the Miuras and Skwamas. And now, after almost a month of climbing 3 times a week, they fit perfectly. SIZING: I'm a street shoe 42.5 and I got these in a 40.5. People suggest sizing down even more because of stretch, but I found even after the significant stretch-in period I still have no air pockets or extra room in the front. I suppose this could still change but for now I would say 2 sizes down from street shoe is perfect.
Age:25–34
Yes , I recommend this product
IBartman
Chicago, IL
next level shoes!
2 years ago
my girlfriend got me these for Christmas and transitioning to these from my Black Diamond Momentums was like night and day. They feel like pure quality and fit like a glove, the rubber is nice grippy but not too soft, and the toe is pleasantly comfortable but surgically precise. I'd like to help a few people with sizing because It's a bit tough to get right the first time - I am a 10.5 street shoe size, at first my gf got me size 43, they felt nice and comfy but we're a bit too roomy as they stretched out. Took them in for an exchange to 42.5 and they fit a bit more snug and felt closer to that ideal performance fit. These shoes stretch A LOT. While 42.5 feels good I feel a bit more flex in the toe than I'd like. I think for my next pair I will opt for a size 42 and see if I can tolerate it. Having a toe with minimal flex is so important when it comes to taking on the harder more edgy routes. All in all, this is a wonderful upgrade and the lacing system is quite impressive as well. Give them a try and you won't be disappointed!
Age:25–34
Yes , I recommend this product
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