The right climbing shoes will allow you to give your best when scaling those heights. They are what is between you and the rocks and should therefore come with some important of features. This includes a snug fit and good grip.

Vegan climbers will prefer climbing shoes that are made free of animal products. While many are often constructed from leather, there are still those that are made from synthetic and are equally as durable.

But finding the best vegan climbing shoes is nothing easy. This is especially when you consider the huge variety in the market. We’ve done research to find the top 5 best vegan climbing shoes available in the market.

1. La Sportiva Mens TC Pro Climbing Shoe

Product Overview

Are you in the market for shoes that will give you an edge when climbing cracks and edges? Then take a look at the La Sportiva Mens TC Pro Climbing Shoe? These shoes are lightweight and feature a patented P3 permanent power platform. Whether its crack climbing, big walls and face climbing, the La Sportiva Men’s TC Pro Climbing Shoe are an excellent choice.

The foam padding is placed strategically inside the shoe to provide extra cushioning when climbing cracks. The upper is durable, made from 80% leather and 20% Vibram rubber.

Other than the great comfort and support that you get from the shoes, there is also good ankle support and good arch support. That said, we found that the shoes can be a bit too long and when you do get shoes that are the right size, these could be loose on the heels.

Also, while they may feel a bit too stiff at first, they do break in and warm up to your feet. For edge and crack climbing the La Sportiva Mens TC Pro Climbing Shoe are among the best climbing shoes.

2. SCARPA Women’s Origin Climbing shoe

Product Overview

If you in the market for a 100% vegan shoe, then check out the SCARPA Women’s Origin Climbing shoe. These are lightweight and are made from suede. The sole is synthetic and offers remarkable grip on rocks. And for the best performance, you get classic passive randing.

SCARPA features its proprietary vision rubber to help you maintain your footing and progress in your climbing. And if you are concerned about the shoes comfort, it comes with a flat lasted design which leaves your feet snug and comfortable.

To ensure that the shoes remain tight and snug around your feet and to help you prevent stretching, the SCARPA Women’s Origin Climbing shoe features a dual closure system. This also allows you to make the right adjustments.

That said, the shoe stretches a bit so it’s a good idea to get a size smaller and allow them to stretch to your foot size. These are a great choice for people with narrow feet and features good arch support. This also makes them ideal for people with flat feet.

3. Climb X Rave Strap Climbing Shoe

Product Overview

The Climb X Rave Strap Climbing Shoe comes in three main colors— blue, red and gray. If you are searching for a tight and snug fit, excellent grip and top performance, then this shoe is worth a look. They are a great looking pair of climbing shoes that are designed to handle the terrain.

One of the main drawbacks that we found is that after using the shoes, they break in and tend to stretch. Also, when you order, it is a good idea to order a size larger as your own size will likely come with a shoe that fits too tight.

That said, the right fit leaves you feeling comfortable allowing you to give your best when scaling the rocks. The shoes are free of any animal products and are perfect for vegans. What’s more is that that they have excellent arch support. If you have wide feet, the great thing is that you can find a shoe that fits you well.

4. Evolv Elektra Women’s Climbing Shoe

Product Overview

The Evolv Elektra Women’s Climbing Shoe is made from synthetic making it a perfect vegan climbing shoe for the adventurous lady. They feature an asymmetrical design and are super lightweight. These shoes also come with a midsole for great support.

The traction is good thanks to the high friction rubber outsole. If you are looking for the perfect combination of comfort, performance and value all combined in one well fitting shoe, then this is the ideal shoe for you.

It is a great choice no matter your level of climbing experience, whether you are a beginner or advanced climber. Some climbing shoes tend to dig into the ankle causing pain. The Evolv Elektra Women’s Climbing Shoe however do not and are comfortable on your feet.

These shoes could however run a bit small so its recommended to go for a size up.

5. Evolve Men’s Royale Climbing Shoe

Product Overview

If good grip is your main concern and you do aggressive climbing then take a look at the Evolve Men’s Royale Climbing Shoe. The upper is durable and the outsole is made from thick rubber.

These shoes feel snug and comfortable while also giving you top performance when climbing. They are lightweight and the front area comes with double rubber layering for increased durability.

This is a lace up type of climbing shoes and feature metal eyelets. This provide great durability and prevents the upper from damage from pressure.

However, that said, we did notice that the shoe comes with long laces and the blue color on the upper can rub on your feet and stain them. The good thing is that you can wash this off.

The also comes with a full-length midsole that cushions the foot and results in comfortable fit leaving you to concentrate on climbing.

Final Thoughts

When choosing the best vegan climbing shoes, there are a number of factors that you need to consider top of which is the climbing shoe type that you need. You can choose between neutral, moderate as well as aggressive shoes. Neutral shoes for example allow your toes to lie flat on the shoes. The flat profile allows you to fit your feet into cracks. Take a look at the Evolv Elektra Women’s Climbing Shoe

Also, it is a good idea to consider the features that are most ideal for you. You will have the choice between the lace up, slip on and strap designs. The Evolve Men’s Royale Climbing Shoe has metal eyelets that provides more structural integrity. The SCARPA Women’s Origin Climbing shoe on the other hand features a dual strap design resulting in a tight and secure fit.

The material construction is a great factor for a vegan climbing shoe. The best shoes are made from synthetic and while these may stretch when breaking in, it is not significant. As soon as they are broken in, they can offer a snug and comfortable fit.

The sole is absolutely crucial. The right grip will allow you to make progress when climbing. The first thing to consider is the outsole rubber. It should feature the right thickness. Some shoes will have softer rubber on the outsoles than others.

Often you will get more support and much firmer edging with shoes that have firmer rubber outsoles. If you are smearing on slabs then you will benefit from much stickier rubber shoes. That said its important note that the thicker rubber shoes will not stand up to abrasion as well as firmer rubber. Climb X Rave Strap Climbing Shoeshave firm rubber.

A tip when shopping for your shoes is to do so in the afternoon as this time your feet have swollen a bit and this will allow you to pick the bests fit. Also keep in mind that you need to be flexible when choosing the right size. Sometimes you may need to go a size up and other times you may need to go a size down. Also pay special consideration to the comfort of the shoes. You want to go for shoes that are comfortable to be in over extended durations of time.