ABOUT
Our Story
Our team of shoe geeks started this website in 2018, but our love for climbing shoes began long before that.
My name’s Sam, and for as long as I can recall, I have been fascinated with climbing shoes. I recall getting my first pair as young child like it was yesterday. They were a pair of first generation Scarpa Helix that had served a long shift as a pair of gym rentals. Those shoe quickly became my prized possession and ignited my passion for climbing shoes.
Throughout my childhood, I went on a shoe crusade, desperately attempting to get my hands on every brand and model I could. Scarpa, La Sportiva, Boreal, Mad Rock, Red Chilli, Evolv – you name it, I wanted it. Over the last decade and a half, I have seen climbing shoe change drastically, and have been fortune enough to try many of them along the way.
But this website isn’t about me. Climbing Shoe Review has grown because of the collective energy and love from an amazing network of climbers. From AMGA certified instructors in the States, alpine adventurers in Patagonia, and pebble wrestlers in the UK, this website is a community where experienced climbers share their passion – and knowledge – for climbing shoes.
I hope the information on this website helps you on your climbing journey. If you have any comments or questions, feel free to shoot us an email at geeks@climbingshoereview.com.
Sam Laird
Sam@climbingshoereview.com
Favorite Climbing Shoe: La Sportiva Solution
Climbing Heroe: Dave MacLeod
Sam is the founder of Climbing Shoe Review and has been climbing for as long as he can remember, although his memory is awful, so that’s probably not a ringing endorsement.
Over the last 20 years, he has climbed for both leisure and competition and has been fortunate enough to travel to some of the best climbing spots around the world. His love for climbing shoes has given him the opportunity to speak with climbing legends like Lynn Hill, Alex Megos and Sean McColl. You can find his work in outdoor publications like Climbing Magazine, UK Climbing and Gear Junkie.
Adeline Ee
Adeline@climbingshoereview.com
Favorite Climbing Shoe: Ocun Ozone
Climbing Hero: Lynn Hill
Adeline has been climbing in gyms for about 10 years. About 6 years ago, she quit her marketing job and started living in a van and climbing all over Western Canada and the US.
Her favorite places in the world to climb include; Chiang Mai, Tuolumne Meadows, Squamish, and Red Rocks
When she isn’t traveling the world in search of her next favorite climbing destination, she lives on an Indonesian island, where you can find her teaching scuba diving.
Our Testing Team
Geeks@climbingshoereview.com
Favorite Climbing Shoe: Scarpa Drago
Climbing Hero: Dean Potter
Our testing team have been cramming their grubby feet into climbing shoes and writing shoe reviews since this site was created in 2018.
While our awesome team has evolved over the years, one thing has remained the same – they are all amazing climbers!
We only trust the most experienced climbers to review shoes. Most of our review team have a background as certified climbing instructors and program leaders.