Gear shoe and tell go! (see what I did there...)
Here is a common question that I always get:
What are your shoes and what size?
La Sportiva Solution Comp EU 40
I am actually EU 43 in street shoe size meaning that I downsize by 3, I'll explain why later on the in the post I also included a picture of my foot compared to the women's version of the shoe that I am currently using, want to know why I got the women's version? Read more to find out.
This is my main weapon of choice and for multiple reasons, I am in love with its versatility over both bouldering and sport climbing; this is a definitely a shoe that I would always pick given the question if I had to pick only one shoe to bring with me to a deserted island.
Why the hell are you downsizing so much!?
La Sportiva actually recommends downsizing between 2 to 3 EU sizes although it is up to you how you want it to fit; I just happen to feel comfortable (after some breaking in) downsizing this much and I can feel confident that I am drawing the best performance out of these shoes. Keep in mind that climbing shoes also stretch overtime as well, up to half a size actually from my own experience and trust me, it feels like I am at one with my shoes at that point.
Wait there is a men's and women's version, what is the difference and why did you take the women's one now?
I'll be honest I actually could not find a place that did the men's in my usual size at a reasonable price and I needed a pair since my old one's were due to be resoled. From what I am aware, the midsole is softer meaning that it is a tad bit more flexible and should break in faster, the toebox also feels the same as the men's. The shoe is actually aimed at a lighter climber (according to la sportiva <65kg)
I will give a more updated review after I give them a proper go, no regrets so far :P
I have uploaded a picture of the men's version on the left and the women's on the right side by side to compare; I do have a weak spot for the colours of the women's version!
There are loads of characteristics of a shoe that I do take into account, I do have a lot of shoes that I use for different purposes, stay tuned since I will be going over those as well as other pieces of gear!
If you are curious about climbing shoes and their characteristics, I do highly recommend this video by legendary climber Adam Ondra:
stay safe