LA SPORTIVA

La Sportiva has been at the forefront of climbing shoe innovation for over 40 years. Climbing shoe technology like downturned profiles and slipper closures have their origins in La Sportiva’s workshop.

Location: Ziano di Fiemme, Italy
Athlete Ambassadors: Adam Ondra, Alex Honnold, Tommy Caldwell

SEE THE SHOES

Our Reviews

Here are the La Sportiva climbing shoes we have put through their paces.

La Sportiva Skwama

La Sportiva Futura

La Sportiva Miura VS

La Sportiva Katana VCS

La Sportiva Miura

La Sportiva Katana

LA SPORTIVA SHOE TECHNOLOGY

It’s not a coincidence that La Sportiva makes some of the best climbing shoes in the world. Their clever R&D team has come across some clever shit over the years, which has not only kept them at the forefront of the game but has helped push the development of climbing shoes.

Ever seen a pair of slip-on climbing shoes? That was a little something La Sportiva introduced in 1984. They were also some of the first people to start making lined shoes and competition-specific models.

P3 Technology

An active rand system that creates tension that allows for a secure fit, increased precision, and longer-lasting shoes.

No Edge Shoes

A new approach to precision using a rounded toe box instead of sharp rubber edges, allowing for closer contact.

Dynamic Technology

Maximizing contact surface on a diverse range of footholds, the side-wrapped soled allows for unrivaled spreadability.

La Sportiva SIZE GUIDE

As with any shoe brand, you should put some thought into how to size La Sportiva climbing shoes. Historically, La Sportiva sizing has had a reputation for creating narrow shoes, although this is certainly no longer the case. As you can see from the graph, they have something to fit every foot shape.

Generally, LS recommends downsizing climbing shoes to get that glove-like fit, although knowing how much to downsize by is the trick. Their shoes are made using European shoe sizes, as this allows for more size variations compared to the US or UK shoe size guidelines.

If you are trad climbing, or spending extended periods of time on a wall, you will want a little bit more comfort out of your shoes, compared to boulders who won’t spend more than a couple minutes at a time climbing. A softer shoe might also need to be sized slightly smaller than a harder rubber compound, as these styles of shoes rely on that snug, ‘elasticated’ fit.

Most people will find that the right La Sportiva climbing shoe size for them will be within one or two (European) sizes of their street shoe.

The Extra Bits

Everything you ever need to know about La Sportiva climbing shoes.

What is the history of La Sportiva climbing?

In 1928 a small shoe company was founded by Narciso Delladio to provide footwear for the local lumberjacks and farmers of the Fassa and Fiemme valleys in northern Italy. With a focus on hand-crafted wooden leather boots, it didn’t take long for Narciso to make quite a name for himself. After World War II, the demand for his reliable boots grew exponentially. It didn’t take long before the good name of “Calzoleria Sportiva” flew through the hills and valleys.

It wasn’t until 1981 and the release of the Mariacher that the first La Sportiva climbing shoe was born. The shoe followed a similar style to the hugely popular Boreal Fire, a revolutionary shoe that had hit the market less than two years prior, with the addition of softer rubber and a more precise edge.

The Mariacher marked the start of a long line of revolutionary La Sportiva climbing shoes. Over the next two decades, a flurry of exciting designs was released, some of which are still in production to this day. The Ballerina, the first slip-on climbing shoe, was released in 1984, and the Mirage, the first aggressive shoe hit the market in 1994. Of all their creations, the Mythos (1991) and the Miura (1997) were important pre-turn-of-the-century milestones for the Italian company. Both these shoes marked a huge step forward in shoe design and technology.

Which climbers are sponsored by La Sportiva?

There’s no doubt that La Sportiva’s climbing shoes are world-class. This company’s dedication to creating high-quality climbing shoes is shown by the number of athletes that choose to use their shoes on a regular basis.

As of 2021, there were 62 La Sportiva ambassadors that specialize in rock climbing. Their ambassador program includes everyone from rock legends like Tommy Caldwell and Alex Honnold as well as Margo Hayes and Adam Ondra, and even social influencers such as Kimmie Tu and Jeff Yoo. These athletes have an endless list of impressive ascents and awesome adventures under their belt, but here are a few of our favorite moments of La Sportiva athletes crushing:

– Check out this video of Alex Honnold rocking the Solutions on “Atonement” in south-central Utah. Beautiful location and a very challenging wall.
– If the Theory’s stood out to you at all and you’re looking for some inspiration, here is Adam Ondra absolutely destroying “The Edge Problem” in Brno, Czechia. This problem is rated at 8b+ (V14).
– Do I need to mention Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson’s ascent of the Dawn Wall in the TC Pros? I didn’t think so.

Where can you buy La Sportiva shoes?

There are plenty of online and offline retailers that stock La Sportiva climbing shoes, including REI and Backcountry.

La Sportiva also has a small selection of its own retail stores. In 2019 the company opened three new retail stores: one in Spain in the Siuriana climbing mecca, two in Italy in Pozza di Fassa, and in Trento, the regional capital, bringing their total number of European stores to 10 locations.

How do I choose La Sportiva climbing shoes?

Choosing La Sportiva climbing shoes will ultimately come down to your foot shape and what type of climbing you will be doing. If you have narrow feet and can’t get enough of technical vert climbing, then the Katana could be the right shoe for you. If you have wide feet and plan on predominantly gym climbing, then the Skwama might be the right choice for you.

Are La Sportiva climbing shoes vegan?

La Sportiva has a pretty limited range of vegan climbing. Currently, there are only three shoes that are classed as vegan; the Geckogym, Oxygym, and Skwama vegan. Keep an eye out for their ‘Eco’ alternatives to the classic designs of Mythos and Cobra. Not only do they not use leather, but they also use a recycled rubber compound to help reduce waste.