Gear : Reviews
Reviews for Solution Climbing Shoe
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Average Rating : 4.62 out of 5
Item Details | Reviews
Puzzling Shoe
Review by: aozwolf, 2008-06-24
Everything jollygreen said in the first review is right on. Except that I haven't had any trouble using the outside edge of these shoes. I wear an 11 street shoe and a size 10 in the Anasazi VCS, but I use size 40.5 for the solution. I was amazed that it didn't hurt at all when I put my foot down in there. I was and still remain amazed at these shoes.
Rediculous
Review by: aznrockclimber82, 2008-01-31
Best shoe I've climbed in yet. I bought them as a powerful shoe for bouldering (crazy toeing) but eventually took them to the cliff for routing, which they responded to my style with rediculous fortune.
Haven't tested any better yet
Review by: S0lid_Rock, 2008-01-25
I've had these for about ten month now, and I absolutely love them. The best climbing shoes I've tried yet.
AMAZING FIT
Review by: jollygreen68, 2008-01-21
This is the first impression of this shoe as I have yet to really test it out fully and really appreciate all the in's and out's of it's performance.
First impression on fit and performance after a quick try on a few easy overhanging routes:
Absolutely INSANE fit. There is NO shoe I have ever seen or tried on that fits your foot so well as the Solution. It's like a custom shoe cobbler dipped your foot in rubber with your foot downturned and that is how the Solution fits!!! The heel is sick tight, the toe box is so pointy and downturned, but suprisingly it doesn't hurt. The whole shoe just raps your foot in smooth soft lycra like material and soft fleece like material. The velcro strip/lace is almost unnecessary as the lycra like bootie fits your foot amazingly. The strap and velcro just allow you to cinch the boot down a little more to make it even more secure.
The rubber is really good, sticky, has medium stiffness, great feel. The toe box is stiff and that is where you will be placing your foot 90% of the time with this shoe, on your toe. It's not meant to really use the outside or inside edge to edge on tiny holds (thats your Galileo, Spectre, etc). The toe is where it's at with this shoe and it is insane. This shoe is definitely for at least vertical if not exclusively for overhanging routes and bouldering. You can pull with your toes, toe hook, and heel hook like you have extra fingers.
Sizing is interesting. I wear a size 13-14 street shoe, usually 14, and I wear a size 13 in the Anasazi VCS V2 and they are very tight. But I have these in a size 45.5 (which is like a size 12 Euro) and they fit tight, but not super tight. I could almost get a size 45 if I wanted a crazy tight fit, as the shoe is made for people with a longer big toe. Or if you have morton's toe, it will jam your other toes underneath and force your big toe down into the toe pocket.
Overall just a ridiculous fitting shoe made for serious bouldering, pockets, or overhanging routes requiring great toe pointing and fancy footwork.
First impression on fit and performance after a quick try on a few easy overhanging routes:
Absolutely INSANE fit. There is NO shoe I have ever seen or tried on that fits your foot so well as the Solution. It's like a custom shoe cobbler dipped your foot in rubber with your foot downturned and that is how the Solution fits!!! The heel is sick tight, the toe box is so pointy and downturned, but suprisingly it doesn't hurt. The whole shoe just raps your foot in smooth soft lycra like material and soft fleece like material. The velcro strip/lace is almost unnecessary as the lycra like bootie fits your foot amazingly. The strap and velcro just allow you to cinch the boot down a little more to make it even more secure.
The rubber is really good, sticky, has medium stiffness, great feel. The toe box is stiff and that is where you will be placing your foot 90% of the time with this shoe, on your toe. It's not meant to really use the outside or inside edge to edge on tiny holds (thats your Galileo, Spectre, etc). The toe is where it's at with this shoe and it is insane. This shoe is definitely for at least vertical if not exclusively for overhanging routes and bouldering. You can pull with your toes, toe hook, and heel hook like you have extra fingers.
Sizing is interesting. I wear a size 13-14 street shoe, usually 14, and I wear a size 13 in the Anasazi VCS V2 and they are very tight. But I have these in a size 45.5 (which is like a size 12 Euro) and they fit tight, but not super tight. I could almost get a size 45 if I wanted a crazy tight fit, as the shoe is made for people with a longer big toe. Or if you have morton's toe, it will jam your other toes underneath and force your big toe down into the toe pocket.
Overall just a ridiculous fitting shoe made for serious bouldering, pockets, or overhanging routes requiring great toe pointing and fancy footwork.
Nice fit
Review by: crmlla2008, 2008-01-20
Fit - like an expensive Italian leather racing glove - for my warped twisted sick feet (very curved last with a narrow heel, high instep, wide forefoot - classic oldschool Adidas Trainer).
Sizing - 10.5 in 5.10, 41.5 in these (but to be fair, I'm a 41.5 in Miura and Barracuda as well).
Feel - solid, a bit thick under the forefoot, a bit thin in the instep, firm wrap in the heel.
Climb - wow, didn't realize I smeared and edged off the metatarsal so much - because you really need to work it to do that in these shoes. Toe edging great though, and like above, surprised at "bicycling" ability. Salesperson warned me this shoe would not climb dirty and that it would be like a built-in coach to make me climb right. Oh yeah.
Overall - I think a bit overpriced, a bit more horsepower than I need or can use, but if you have the foot this one fits, you won't find a better slipper.
IMHO.
Sizing - 10.5 in 5.10, 41.5 in these (but to be fair, I'm a 41.5 in Miura and Barracuda as well).
Feel - solid, a bit thick under the forefoot, a bit thin in the instep, firm wrap in the heel.
Climb - wow, didn't realize I smeared and edged off the metatarsal so much - because you really need to work it to do that in these shoes. Toe edging great though, and like above, surprised at "bicycling" ability. Salesperson warned me this shoe would not climb dirty and that it would be like a built-in coach to make me climb right. Oh yeah.
Overall - I think a bit overpriced, a bit more horsepower than I need or can use, but if you have the foot this one fits, you won't find a better slipper.
IMHO.