Bouldering is becoming more and more popular every day. There are Bouldering only gyms popping up all over the world. With so many gyms out there, many beginner rock climbers are starting out bouldering. So the real question is, what are the best beginner bouldering shoes?
There are so many shoes to choose from when trying to pick out your first bouldering shoe. Many beginners will make the mistake of thinking that the more expensive a shoe is the better. This is absolutely not true!
| Rank | Shoe | Rubber | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tenaya Tanta | Vibram XS Grip | $ |   |
| 2 | SCARPA Men's Force V | Vibram XS Edge | $$$ |   |
| 3 | La Sportiva Finale | Vibram XS Edge | $ |   |
| 4 | Five Ten Anasazi | Stealth C4 | $$ |   |
| 5 | Evolv Luchador SC | Trax | $$ |   |
Sure, many professional climbers wear super aggressive $200+ shoes, but they didn’t start there. Getting a good beginner bouldering shoe will help build the foundation to grow as a strong boulderer.
When looking for your first shoe, you want to consider a few things.
First, you want to get a shoe that is comfortable to wear. If the shoe is too tight or too aggressive it could cause injury or make climbing unenjoyable.
Second, you want to get a shoe that will perform up to your bouldering ability and also last for a long time. Getting a shoe that is made by a respectable manufacturer will ensure this.
Third, you want to get a shoe that is in your budget. The less a shoe costs, the more likely you are to get a second pair. Beginner shoes can be much less expensive than their advanced counterparts.
Top 5 Bouldering Shoes for Beginners
The following a list of the best beginners bouldering shoes on the market today. If you don’t see your favorite shoe in the mix please let us know in the comments below.
#5 Evolv Luchador SC
Rubber: Trax
Price: $$
Inspired by the wrestler in all of us!
The Evolv Luchador is a slightly downturned shoe that offers good versatility. The Luchador supports Trax rubber that can be found on many of Evolvs high-end shoes. These shoes come from the Sharma lineup and are ready to take on anything!
Note: these shoes require your foot to be comfortable with a downturned shoe.
#4 Five Ten Anasazi
Rubber: Stealth C4
Price: $$
The Five Ten Anasazi’s are a perfect shoe for a new boulder. Much like its popular cousin the Moccasym, this shoe is very comfortable. Having a very flat and symmetrical shape, you can be sure your foot won’t be throbbing.
This shoe also has the worlds most popular climbing rubber, the Five Ten Stealth C4. You can stick to anything in these shoes.
#3 La Sportiva Finale
Rubber: Vibram XS Edge
Price: $
It’s hard to get a quality pair of La Sportiva shoes for a good price. The Finale’s are the exception. These high-quality shoes are a great way to get into bouldering without spending a fortune.
The Finale has Vibram XS Edge rubber which is the same stuff that is found on La Sportiva’s $200+ models.
If you’re on the fence about getting a pair of bouldering shoes, look no further. The Finale’s won’t disappoint.
#2 SCARPA Men’s Force V
Rubber: Vibram XS Edge
Price: $$$
SCARPA is one of the top climbing shoe manufacturers in the world. Having the Force V as your beginner bouldering shoe will set you up to get one of their higher end shoes in the future.
This shoe has the same Vibram XS Edge rubber as the Sportiva’s that is ideal for small footholds and technical edging.
#1 Tenaya Tanta
Rubber: Vibram XS Grip
Price: $
The price is super reasonable for the quality you are getting. Tenaya also has some of the top shoes for boulders so you have plenty of other models to grow in to.
If you are looking for a good price to performance ratio, you are in luck! The Tanta’s won’t let you down!
Final Thoughts
We really hope you enjoyed our review of the best bouldering shoes for beginners. If you have any questions or concerns let us know in the comments below.
If you are looking to upgrade check out of advanced bouldering shoes.
Keep Crush Y’all!
Owner and Operator of Every Last Rock. He is dedicated to spreading the Stoke about all things climbing. Often found Bouldering around the US and obsessively training.
