Vibram Climbing Shoes.
Every Vibram climbing shoe available in 2023.
Last updated on April 6th, 2023 at 02:49 am
Vibram rubber can be found absolutely everywhere. From the feet of US soldiers to the alpine frontiers of the Himalayas – if there are extreme environments waiting to be explored – there’s a good chance a pair of Vibram boots won’t be far away. While the rubber-making masters at Vibram have plenty of magical compounds up their sleeves, it’s the ‘Climbing Performance’ rubber range that we get excited about.
This Italian company has been the undisputed king of rubber since climbers first started cramming their grubby feet into shoes. After six of his friends died in a mountaineering accident Vitale Bramani, the company’s founder, was inspired to create the world’s first ‘tank tread’ rubber sole in 1937. But it wasn’t until 1988 that they introduced the Vibram Grip, a revolutionary new rubber formula designed to specifically tackle the vertical world of free climbing.
Today, the Vibram climbing performance range has grown to three rubber compounds; the XS Grip, XS Grip 2, and XS Grip Edge. Each rubber formula is brilliant in its own right, all designed to perform optimally in different types of terrain. If you’re interested in learning a bit more about each of these compounds, then I recommend you take a look at this page, where you can see our comparison of each Vibram rubber, as well as plenty of other popular climbing compounds.
However, if you’re just looking for a list of Vibram rock climbing shoes, then you have landed in the right place. Here, I want to talk you through every climbing shoe brand that uses Vibram, and which rubber formula they use.
Every Vibram Climbing Shoe
I am sure you already know that Vibram does not make its own climbing shoes. Its sole purpose (pun intended) is to discover, test, and refine rubber compounds. Instead, there are a select few climbing shoe brands that have the right to use the super sticky Vibram compounds.
Here’s the complete list of every manufacturer that currently uses Vibram rubber for their shoes in 2023.
La Sportiva
La Sportiva does have its own rubber compound (FriXion) but this is only used for a handful of budget shoes like the Cobra and Tarantulace. For its performance shoes, it turns to its friends at Vibram.
Vibram’s XS Grip 2 compound is exclusive to La Sportiva and Scarpa climbing shoes. This is, by far, Vibram’s most advanced and versatile climbing rubber. In fact, Vibram claims that Grip 2 is 30% more adhesive than the original XS Grip. La Sportiva uses this for most of its shoe lines, especially for its high-performance bouldering and sport climbing shoes, as well as for its range of No-Edge climbing shoes.
For those shoes that need a little extra support, La Sportiva put the Vibram XS Edge to good use.
XS Edge
Finale
Kataki (male)
Katana Lace (Male)
Katana VS
Kubo (male)
Miura Lace (female)
Miura Lace (male)
Miura VS (male)
Mythos
Otaki (male)
TC Pro
XS Grip 2
Cobra
Cobra 4.99
Futura
Genius
Kataki (female)
Katana Lace (female)
Kubo (female)
Otaki (female)
Python
Skwama
Solution
Solution Comp
Testarossa
Theory
XS Grip
Miura VS (female)
Zenit
Scarpa
Besides La Sportiva, Scarpa is the other main creator of Vibram climbing shoes. While they too have their own rubber compounds (the super soft S-72, most recently found on the Veloce and Vision rubber, found on their budget beginner shoes) Scarpa opts for Vibram rubber for its top-of-the-range climbing shoes.
Unsurprisingly Scarpa uses XS Edge and XS Grip 2 for the vast majority of their shoes.
XS Edge
Boostic
Force V
Helix
Instinct (male)
Instinct VS (male)
Maestro
Maestro Mid
Quantic
Vapor Lace
Vapor V (male)
XS Grip 2
Arpia
Booster
Chimera
Drago
Drago LV
Furia Air
Furia S
Instinct S
Instinct VS Women
Instinct VSR
Instinct Women
Mago
Quantix SF
Vapor V (female)
Tenaya
After La Sportiva and SCARPA, Tenaya is the place where you will find the next biggest selection of Vibram climbing shoes.
Tenaya has been concocting climbing shoes in their factory in Spain since 1997. But it wasn’t until they were spotted on the feet of climbing superstars like Chris Sharma and Alex Megos that they really started to turn some heads.
While they might not have access to that elusive XS Grip 2, that hasn’t stopped them from creating their fan-favorite shoes including the Iati, Mundaka, and more recently, the Mastia.
XS Grip
Aqua+
Iati
Inti
Masai
Mastia
Mundaka
Oasi
RA
Tarifa
Tatanka
Indalo
Ocun
Ocun might be one of the smaller manufacturers to get their hands on Vibram rubber, but that doesn’t mean you should expect a second-rate shoe.
Like Tenaya, this Czech company is restricted to only having the XS Grip at its disposal. Nevertheless, models like the Ocun Ozone have helped propel this brand’s reputation across Europe.
They don’t quite have the range and performance as other climbing shoe brands, but they are they know how to make a respectable shoe that’s budget-friendly. Ocun also manufactures plenty of other climbing hardware, apparel, and accessories.
XS Grip
Diamond
Ozone
Ozone HV
Red Chili
For those that aren’t familiar with Red Chili, this company is the brainchild of German climber Stefan Glowacz. The company has specialized in making climbing shoes since 1996, but they have diversified into other accessories over the years too.
When it comes to their shoes, you will find that their shoe line consists of a blend of shoes, some that use Vibram XS Grip, and others that use their own rubber, RX.
XS Grip
Voltage
Lace
Fusion
Fusion Lady
Fusion VCR
Mystix Sensor
Voltage 2
Voltage LV
Lowa
LOWA might be a brand that sounds familiar, especially if mountaineering and hiking is your thing. This company has almost 100 years of experience making hiking and ski boots.
More recently, the company has moved into a range of their own range of rock climbing shoes. While LOWA does have their own rubber compounds, this is usally found on their hiking boots. While their climbing shoes do use XS Grip, you’ll be hard-pressed to find retailers outside of Europe.
XS Grip
Rocket
X-Boulder
Falco Lacing
Falco VCR
Parrot Lace
Parrot
Simond
The next batch of Vibram climbing shoes comes from another mountaineering hardware company – one that most gym rats have never probably heard of – by the name of Simond.
Simond is a lesser know name in the climbing world and seem to exclusively supply its shoes to the retail giant Decathlon. While its shoes position themselves on the budget end of the spectrum, its high performance shoe, the ‘Edge’, consistently receives high praise.
XS Grip
Edge
Edge Lace-up
Vertika
Vertika Strap
Rock+
Saltic
Saltic is a Czech company that has been creating gear for climbers across Eastern Europe since 1986. While they seem to predominantly sell their shoes in the Czech Republic, this company seems to be growing in popularity, especially across Europe.
XS Grip
Avax
Avax Nop
Bongo
Enigma
Enigma Black
Enigma Nop
Falco
Fenix
Garnet
Givet
Cypher
Cypher is the only USA shoe manufacturer (as far as we know) that uses Vibram rubber.
Similar to Ocun, and others on this list, Cypher manufactures a wide range of climbing equipment. While their shoe lines seem to be targeted towards budget and beginner climbers, their highest performance mode the ‘Codex’ seems to be more suited to advanced climbers
XS Grip
Rubix
Phelix
Modulo
Codex
Sentinal
Garra
Garra is the new(ish) kid on the block. They came to fruition in 2002 at the hands of master craftsman Benjamín Rastoll.
Garra hand-crafts their shoes in a small factory outside of Madrid, Spain, and while their range isn’t as extensive as the other European shoe giants, this small team takes pride in every shoe they make.
XS Grip
Sensei
Kokoro
Kime
Lavan
Lavan is the main climbing shoe manufacturer in Iran. You will be hard-pressed to find these shoes outside of the Middle East.
XS Grip
Avina
Spider
Arian
Roland
Roof
Red Point
Lizard
Revolution
Vibram FAQ
Sam Laird
A lifelong climber and shoe geek. His first shoe was the OG Scarpa Helix, although his shoe collection has grown to unhealthy levels in the last 20 years. When he’s not getting shut down on V2 gym slabs, Sam is backpacking around the world in pursuit of his next big adventure.