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Reviews by steelgrc (5)


Cinch Belay Device popular Average Rating = 4.24/5 Average Rating : 4.24/5

In: Gear: Essential Equipment: Belay Devices & Descenders

Great! 5 out of 5 stars

Review by: steelgrc, 2010-10-01


I prefer this one over the grigri because it works great with both thin and thick ropes. It's real simple and doesn't weigh much. Great for belaying a second also.
I used to belay exclusively with tube devices, but now I like this one a lot.


Aztec Rock Shoes (Manufacturer link) Average Rating = 4.00/5 Average Rating : 4.00/5

In: Gear: Shoes: Climbing Shoes: Lace Up

disappointing 2 out of 5 stars

Review by: steelgrc, 2010-10-01


I've climbed with mad rock, evolv, five ten and la sportiva, so I really can compare them with other brands' models..

the upper has great looks and real fine quality, it's thick enough to jam without pain and they mold perfectly to your foot when broken in. They are great speaking about comfort.

But in my opinion the sole is just WRONG, just as in every other acopa. Since here in Mexico you were able to find them at a reasonable price a couple of years ago (not anymore! they're expensive as hell now) I've owned 3 pairs looking for them to become a cheap workhorse (aurora lace-up and b3 besides this one) and had the same durability issues with all of them, with toes blasting open in less than 3 months, delaminating rands and generally wearing down as pencil erasers.. Too bad they get completely destroyed before even thinking of resoling them with better rubber.

Overall: great quality uppers, absolutely poor rubber
there are a hundred better shoes you can get for that price tag


Mythos (Manufacturer link) popular Average Rating = 4.61/5 Average Rating : 4.61/5

In: Gear: Shoes: Climbing Shoes: Lace Up

super comfortable BUT watch out for the sizing 5 out of 5 stars

Review by: steelgrc, 2010-10-01


Excellent quality, great flat lasted shoes, work real good on edging and jamming. Being so comfortable these ones will stay on for multipitch also.
The only issue has to do with sizing.. this is my only sportiva shoe so I can't compare with the rest of them, but I wear US 9 anasazi, pontas and new mugen (EUR 42 all of them), getting a tight technical fit, but with the mythos I had to go all the way down to EUR 40 to get a comfortable fit.


Pontas Climbing Shoe - Mens (Manufacturer link) popular Average Rating = 4.27/5 Average Rating : 4.27/5

In: Gear: Shoes: Climbing Shoes: Velcro

great project shoe 4 out of 5 stars

Review by: steelgrc, 2010-10-01


I've owned this shoe for almost a year and it has performed great on sport technical faces and overhangs. Great for edging on small stuff. Breaking them in does not take very long. Shaped and sized almost exactly like anasazi velcros. I would not recommend them to climbers with a super wide foot or those used to size very small because the extra rubber on top will make big toes hurt like hell. Low volume feet get a much better fit from them.
I didn't give them 5 stars because in my opinion the rubber wears down faster than stealth, and THEY DO STINK, even if the rest of your shoes don't..
I wear US 9 on new mugens and anasazi velcros, also 9 for these ones


Joker Climbing Shoe - Mens Average Rating = 4.50/5 Average Rating : 4.50/5

In: Gear: Shoes: Climbing Shoes: Lace Up

versatile workhorse 4 out of 5 stars

Review by: steelgrc, 2009-12-22


Great shoe that took a long time to break in (several weeks of plastic and rock, 4-5 days a week), but once it did, felt true to its size.
Good thing it's a very durable shoe, 8 months and running, and it has shown acceptable wear. Rubber was a bit slick for the first couple of weeks though.

It's a versatile shoe, I have used it to climb from slab to slightly overhanging (you may want a more technichal shoe for very steep or roof climbing), pretty good at faces, cracks and corners. Comfortable for multi-pitch. Edges great and smears OK, I have slipped off just a couple of times, when they were new.
I would say it's neither stiff nor soft. It feels like right in the middle.
Pull tabs and lacing system work fine.
Heel hooking is great.
bottomline: it's a good deal