The Best Climbing Shoes of 2026 (Updated April)

Today, brands have such wide lines of rock shoes that it’s hard to believe there were once only a handful of options. But the sport has evolved massively since the crack-and-slab epoch, and we now need climbing shoes for a huge range of applications. For indoor aficionados, there are spray walls, boarding, bouldering, lead routes, and comp-style coordination. And for outdoor climbers, there’s bouldering, sport, trad, and big-wall free, with lots of bleed-over between the genres.

We tested a dozen new shoes—not to mention the dozens of others we’ve tested over the years—on a combined 37,400 vertical feet, from Illinois to Spain. This year’s nine best climbing shoes run the gamut, for both indoors and out, and suit a wide range of climbers from beginner to advanced.

Updated April 2026: After testing a dozen new models, we added six new pairs of shoes to this climbing shoes guide. The best climbing shoe for performance bouldering and steep gym routes is the La Sportiva Ondra Comp. We also highly recommend the new Scarpa Instinct VSR LV for climbers looking for precision on tiny footholds and power on steep terrain. For those seeking a high-quality training slipper that won’t break the bank, the Ocun Jett S is our top budget-friendly pick for technical gym sessions. We’ve also updated pricing as well as shoe specs and info throughout.

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