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There are times when climbing requires skills that are a lot more specialized like intermediate climbing. At times like these, you need shoes that are up to the task. There are different levels of proficiency when it comes to climbing; beginner, intermediate and advanced. The more difficult the climb, the more proficient you need to be and the more specialized the kind of shoes you use during the climb needs to be as well. Your reason could also be as simple as wanting the best second pair of climbing shoes, either way, we have got you covered.
Now, this brings us to the question of how to find the best intermediate climbing shoes online. It is not very easy to shop for climbing shoes. To do this, you need to understand the necessary features to look out for in a shoe buying it. There are so many climbing shoes on the market, but not all of them are the best fit. There are shoes that are better off for beginners and there are shoes that are better off for experts. Here are our picks for the best intermediate climbing shoes;
Image | Product Name | Ranking | Rating | Latest Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | La Sportiva Tarantula Climbing Shoe | BEST OVERALL | ||
 | Mad Rock Men’s Drifter Climbing Shoe | BEST VALUE | ||
 | La Sportiva Men’s TarantuLace Performance Rock Climbing Shoe | RUNNER UP | ||
 | Scarpa Men’s Vapor V Climbing Shoe | BUDGET FRIENDLY | ||
 | Tenaya Oasi Rock Climbing Shoe | BUDGET FRIENDLY |
1. La Sportiva Tarantula Climbing Shoes
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Product Overview
The La Sportiva Tarantula Climbing Shoe is a shoe that has been built as the perfect addition to the toolkit of an intermediate climber. This a shoe with just enough grip for intermediate climbers to perform the slightly more complex climbing techniques they need to get to the top of any rock. It absolutely brings out the full skills of the climbers, with a full-friction experience. This footwear is also extremely comfortable and versatile. It is a brilliant choice for all kinds of climbing techniques regardless of the terrain. The shoe features an asymmetrical shape and a flatter last.
This is a shoe that makes every step of the climb safer, comfortable and worth it. It is a 100% leather and absolutely perfect for an all-round climbing experience. There is no way an intermediate climber could go wrong with this footwear and the La Sportiva is a brand that can give such a guarantee.
2. Mad Rock Men’s Drifter Climbing Shoes
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If you have ever heard the phrase “don’t judge a book by its cover, this shoe seems to be based on that principle. The Mad Rock Men’s Drifter Climbing Shoe is a climbing shoe with a simple design, yet it holds the capacity to withstand the same pressures that many high-end shoes are capable of handling. The value for money that this shoe delivers along with such incredible performance levels makes it the perfect climbing tool for every single level of proficiency. Mad Rock seems to have outdone themselves this time around with such an incredible footwear and it is effectively competing with some of the biggest names on the market.
The footwear is comfortable and it easily promotes the safety of its users through its design, which allows it to carefully lodge itself between rocks for the perfect grip. With a shoe like this, intermediate climbers are in for a treat. However, it is also a bit difficult to clean as well, but it is still worth every dime.
3. La Sportiva Men’s TarantuLace Performance Rock Climbing Shoe
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Product Overview
The La Sportiva Men’s TarantuLace Performance Rock Climbing Shoe is one of the top competing intermediate climbing shoes among thousands of others on the market. La Sportiva is a brand that seems to target the general needs of athletes when it designs its shoes, and this shoe easily targets athletes who are not big fans of a regular lacing system. It has been a part of their brand strategy to find gaps in every sport and create a shoe that easily fills up those gaps without any hassles.
The shoe is flexible, durable and easy on your feet. It also takes comfort and precision to the next level. Any athlete with this footwear can easily take strides with so much confidence. Intermediate climbers will love this shoe for its simple design, but those who love color variations might end up feeling a little disappointed. Regardless of this, performance-wise the shoe is a great addition. It so easily accommodates all intermediate techniques with minimal wear and tear, giving the athlete more confidence in his ability to try new things.
4. Scarpa Men’s Vapor V Climbing Shoe
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It should come as no surprise that family businesses are some of the biggest in the world. This is because they have had generations of experienced family members who have dedicated their entire lives to honing a craft. This level of experience cannot be bought or hired and this is what has made the Scarpa brand a massive success over the years. With over 80 years of experience in shoemaking, this shoe-making company is the brain behind the Scarpa Men’s Vapor V Climbing Shoe. This footwear has the brand name and many years of experience to back the technology behind its production, making it one of the best intermediate climbing shoes you can find on the market.
With such a detailed design targeted at climbing techniques, this shoe literally obliterates most of its competition with sheer dedication and creativity. The value for money that the shoe offers athletes is unrivaled and the quality and durability that this footwear is capable of maintaining under extreme conditions is incredible. It is certainly worth the shot.
5. Tenaya Oasi Rock Climbing Shoes
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The Tenaya Oasi Rock Climbing Shoe is another brilliant rock climbing shoe for intermediate climbers. The shoe is mostly made of synthetic materials and the amount of research that has gone into the production of this amazing footwear is almost incomparable. Even reviewers have gone as far as stating that “there’s nothing the Oasis can’t do”. This is a shoe that will radically redefine everything you know about rock climbing. The Vibram XS Grip outsole and extremely sensitive midsole provides all the necessary support and sturdiness an intermediate climber needs in a shoe.
The Oasi is firm on the feet and its performance is consistent over the entire lifespan of the shoe. It is also properly padded to provide that extra dose of comfort during a climb. As an intermediate climber, the kind of shoes to go for are shoes that provide excellent stamina, and this is one of the many features of the Oasi. It is an excellent buy for the price and the value that comes along with it.
Final Thoughts
Intermediate climbers usually require certain kinds of climbing shoes because they are at the transition phase between beginners and advanced levels of proficiency. This is why we have paid a lot of attention to the collection of shoes that have been outlined above.
While the La Sportiva Tarantula Climbing Shoe is durable, flexible and has most of the essentials of the perfect intermediate climbing shoe, it can be quite difficult to wash due to the leather material that it is made out of. The best cleaning technique for such a shoe would be to wipe it with a wet cloth.
The Mad Rock Men’s Drifter Climbing Shoe, on the other hand, offers one of the best shoe climbing experiences that an intermediate climber could ever have. Although, the brand still has sizes that run small but may expand with time.
The La Sportiva Men’s TarantuLace Performance Rock Climbing Shoe makes room for the demand of a fast lacing system with much-added comfort through extra paddings. However, when it comes to design, it cannot be said to be the most pleasing to the eyes.
Ankle support is very important during a strenuous sport like climbing, especially with the amount of risk involved. The Scarpa Men’s Vapor V Climbing Shoe provides the assurance of that extra ankle support and comfort required to pull off daring climbs.
The Tenaya Oasi Rock Climbing Shoe is one of the most detailed rock climbing shoes you can find on the market. This shoe makes it obvious that some extra level of work was put into its production, making it the perfect addition to any intermediate climber’s kit. There have however been a few complaints that the rubber used on the shoe is a bit soft.
Our top recommendation for an intermediate climbing shoe is the Tenaya Oasi Rock Climbing Shoe, owing to the intense level of detail and flexibility, while our second recommendation is Scarpa Men’s Vapor V Climbing Shoe also because of its extra detail which is only second to the Oasi. We hope this guide helps you make the best choice as you take your climbing career to new heights.