In general, we buy most of our stuff from REI. Not only their service is on point, but it’s also a cooperative, so they treat their employees well and prioritize members over shareholders. The Acro is a climbing shoe that can deliver optimal performance with maximum comfort: whether you’re spending a whole day at the crag or crushing at the gym. Additionally, the Acro offers a great mix of sensitivity and underfoot support, making it a good all-around option for indoor and outdoor climbing.

Due to being mostly rubber, Butora Acros take some time to break in and mold to your foot. One of the great things about Butora shoes is that they tend to follow normal street shoe sizes (crazy, I know). For an aggressive fit, Butora suggests downsizing half a size – which is what I did – and found these to be pretty snug. That said, I tend to downsize pretty aggressively for my shoes and was pleasantly surprised with how tight these were and how little they stretched (took about 2 months for ½ a size stretch). Some shoe manufacturers, like Evolv, produce unisex models. Others make “low volume” models for women or people with narrower feet. Butora, a Korean company that is relatively new in the North American market, offers men’s and women’s shoes in narrow and wide variations. Moderate climbing shoes provide a slight upgrade in terms of performance from a neutral shoe. They feature a slightly downturned toe that provides a good mix of comfort and edging ability. Last year saw a new generation of Solution, but the upgrades were largely cosmetic. The shoe is as good as ever.

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This aggressively shaped but very flexible shoe is a softer version of the Korean manufacturer’s Acro model. Specially created for steep terrain and gym climbing, like other Butora models, the Acro Comp is sold in both narrow and wide versions for a more customized individual fit. The Tenaya brand is known for building shoes using lower-volume lasts than many manufacturers, and climbers with narrow feet generally have positive things to say about the fit of Tenaya models. For that price, it has some nice features like a full hemp lining and half-synthetic upper to reduce stretch, a simple but highly effective strap system, and materials in the heel and midsole designed to increase rigidity and support. While these shoes are an acceptable choice as a beginner shoe, the price tag attached may make this shoe more shoe than is necessary. However, for an intermediate or advanced climber, the Vapor V makes a fine addition to a climbers arsenal.

Leather: the most traditional material, it has the most stretch and will often increase a full size or more. Leather uppers can be lined or unlined while some are partially lined with lining help minimize stretch. Some dyed leather will occasionally leach dye onto sweaty feet, staining skin. In general, leather shoes should be bought in a smaller size. After what can be a painful breaking-in period, the inherent stretch allows the shoe to mold to your feet, ultimately providing superior comfort.These features lead to a better grip on marginal holds and more secure heel hooks. This shoe is also a great edging shoe, partly thanks to the full 1.0 mm midsole lending support.