La Sportiva Skwama Climbing shoes (42, black/red) - The Skwama by La Sportiva will pave the way for higher grade routes! This shoe has an asymmetric shape and aggressive downturn, making it perfect for steep and overhanging technical routes. Edging, smearing, toe hooks, and heel hooks are all possible in this shoe. Plus, the shoe's sole is soft and offers excellent sensitivity to ensure that you're comfortable no matter the terrain. Another great feature is the S-heel, which locks your heel in place for secure heel hooking.Of course, it has a sticky toe patch for toe hooks as well. The Vibram sole is guaranteed to blow your mind, considering how sticky and durable it is. The P3 System (Permanent Power Platform) ensures that the downturn maintains its shape even after tons of abuse! As for the closure, you could say that the Skwama is a climbing slipper with an incredibly secure hook-and-loop closure system. It is guaranteed to provide a sock-like fit and make for an extremely easy on/off.If you're in the market for a high-performance climbing shoe for tough technical routes but refuse to sacrifice comfort and sensitivity, the Skwama from La Sportiva would be an excellent choice!
La Sportiva Skwama Climbing shoes (42, black/red) - The Skwama by La Sportiva will pave the way for higher grade routes! This shoe has an asymmetric shape and aggressive downturn, making it perfect for steep and overhanging technical routes. Edging, smearing, toe hooks, and heel hooks are all possible in this shoe. Plus, the shoe's sole is soft and offers excellent sensitivity to ensure that you're comfortable no matter the terrain. Another great feature is the S-heel, which locks your heel in place for secure heel hooking.Of course, it has a sticky toe patch for toe hooks as well. The Vibram sole is guaranteed to blow your mind, considering how sticky and durable it is. The P3 System (Permanent Power Platform) ensures that the downturn maintains its shape even after tons of abuse! As for the closure, you could say that the Skwama is a climbing slipper with an incredibly secure hook-and-loop closure system. It is guaranteed to provide a sock-like fit and make for an extremely easy on/off.If you're in the market for a high-performance climbing shoe for tough technical routes but refuse to sacrifice comfort and sensitivity, the Skwama from La Sportiva would be an excellent choice!
in 2 offers
The lowest price for La Sportiva Skwama Black/Poppy Climbing shoes-42 right now is $319.95 at Summit Gear, compared across 2 retailers.
The all-time low was $239.96 on 27 Dec 2025 — today's price is 33% above the lowest ever. It has been notably cheaper before — worth setting a price alert.
Prices last updated 15 May 2026.
La Sportiva Skwama Black/Poppy Climbing shoes-42
La Sportiva Skwama Climbing shoes (42, black/red) - The Skwama by La Sportiva will pave the way for higher grade routes! This shoe has an asymmetric shape and aggressive downturn, making it perfect for steep and overhanging technical routes. Edging, smearing, toe hooks, and heel hooks are all possible in this shoe. Plus, the shoe's sole is soft and offers excellent sensitivity to ensure that you're comfortable no matter the terrain. Another great feature is the S-heel, which locks your heel in place for secure heel hooking.Of course, it has a sticky toe patch for toe hooks as well. The Vibram sole is guaranteed to blow your mind, considering how sticky and durable it is. The P3 System (Permanent Power Platform) ensures that the downturn maintains its shape even after tons of abuse! As for the closure, you could say that the Skwama is a climbing slipper with an incredibly secure hook-and-loop closure system. It is guaranteed to provide a sock-like fit and make for an extremely easy on/off.If you're in the market for a high-performance climbing shoe for tough technical routes but refuse to sacrifice comfort and sensitivity, the Skwama from La Sportiva would be an excellent choice!
La Sportiva Skwama Climbing shoes (42, black/red) - The Skwama by La Sportiva will pave the way for higher grade routes! This shoe has an asymmetric shape and aggressive downturn, making it perfect for steep and overhanging technical routes. Edging, smearing, toe hooks, and heel hooks are all possible in this shoe. Plus, the shoe's sole is soft and offers excellent sensitivity to ensure that you're comfortable no matter the terrain. Another great feature is the S-heel, which locks your heel in place for secure heel hooking.Of course, it has a sticky toe patch for toe hooks as well. The Vibram sole is guaranteed to blow your mind, considering how sticky and durable it is. The P3 System (Permanent Power Platform) ensures that the downturn maintains its shape even after tons of abuse! As for the closure, you could say that the Skwama is a climbing slipper with an incredibly secure hook-and-loop closure system. It is guaranteed to provide a sock-like fit and make for an extremely easy on/off.If you're in the market for a high-performance climbing shoe for tough technical routes but refuse to sacrifice comfort and sensitivity, the Skwama from La Sportiva would be an excellent choice!
Last updated at 15/05/2026 08:52:31
La Sportiva Skwama Black/Poppy Climbing Shoe l Size 42 l Summit Gear
Free delivery between 20–28 May
Skwama - Rock Climbing Shoes 42 / Black/Poppy
Free delivery
originally posted on rockrun.fr
I bought these shoes after struggling for months with a pair of La Sportiva Solutions. The shape of the toe-box of the Skwamas suits the shape of my feet so much better and means that I can happily wear them for a full session in the gym without the agony that the Solutions were causing me. Having looked in a bit more detail at the shape of the two shoes, I believe the issue I had with the solutions was not so much the width of the shoe, but the pointed nature of the toe box that cut a line straight from my big toe to my little toe. I have a slight Morton's toe and this was resulting in that second toe being forced into quite an aggressive curl which was causing serious pain over the knuckle which made it painful to weight the outside edge and really painful to ... MoreI bought these shoes after struggling for months with a pair of La Sportiva Solutions. The shape of the toe-box of the Skwamas suits the shape of my feet so much better and means that I can happily wear them for a full session in the gym without the agony that the Solutions were causing me. Having looked in a bit more detail at the shape of the two shoes, I believe the issue I had with the solutions was not so much the width of the shoe, but the pointed nature of the toe box that cut a line straight from my big toe to my little toe. I have a slight Morton's toe and this was resulting in that second toe being forced into quite an aggressive curl which was causing serious pain over the knuckle which made it painful to weight the outside edge and really painful to toe-hook. Whilst the Skwama is about the same width, the toe box has a slightly less severe point and a bit more of a rounded shape. This means that my toes are more evenly compressed into the toe box and therefore do not suffer from the same extreme hot-spots that I had in the Solutions. In addition to this, the rubber over the top of the toe box is significantly softer and therefore doesn't give the same crushing and unforgiving feeling. This has meant that I've been able to down-size another half size while still ending up with more comfortable shoes!So, onto the shoes themselves. When I slip these on, I can feel my feet being pulled into that aggressive down-turned position. The P3 system feels like it's doing it's job far more in these than the solutions. This means that whilst the rubber around front of the shoes feels a little softer, they are still pulling your feet into a position that enables you to latch onto small footholds in steep overhanging situations. The only negative point I have about this is that it can give a feeling of really compressing your feet across the arch which can be a little uncomfortable at times, but nothing that is going to detract from your climbing (again, this will almost certainly depend on your foot shape).That P3 system also pulls your heel in nicely and I have no worries about my heel popping out with powerful heel hooks. I do have occasions when I feel like there is a bit of an air pocket to the side of my heel and have to allow the shoe to settle a little before I really pull on it, but this is not enough to detract from the feeling of security of the heel. It's worth noting that when I first wore these, I was a little concerned that the tension band at the back was digging into my achille's, but that sensation eases very quickly after the first couple of sessions and I don't even notice it now. These shoes are basically an elasticated slipper with a velcro band for added security. This is actually the reason why I've only given them 4 stars. The slipper element of the shoe feels wonderfully snug and secure, the purpose of the velcro seems to be just to secure the heel further. This means that the fit of the material that the strap itself attaches to is not all that great and no matter what I do, I tend to have a bit of an air-gap under the material on the outside of my foot behind the strap. It doesn't cause a problem as the elasticated slipper is still firmly wrapped around my foot, and the strap itself is still pulling my foot down into the heel, it just feels like a bit more care around the design of this section could improve things further. Again, this may just come down to foot shape - I have wide toes, high arches, but otherwise quite slender feet so I'm probably a bit of an anomaly!Overall, the upper of the shoe is very comfortable and just looking at the stitching inside, you can see the care that has gone into the design and construction, particularly around the toes. The XS Grip 2 rubber sticks to everything and leaves me feeling super-confident whether I'm on thin edges, smooth volumes or trying to push my toes onto small holds on big overhangs. The rubber over the top of the toes is beautifully soft and sticky. I'm not a fan of big slabs of thick rubber over the toes, so this feels great to me - I can feel with the tops of my toes when hunting out that elusive hidden toe hook and know that I will stick once I've found it.These shoes have been a pleasure to use over the couple of months that I've been climbing in them. They are softening up nicely, but still hold that strong aggressive shape thanks to the P3 rand system and beautifully sculpted design. They are wonderfully sensitive, but still have enough stiffness to them to hold onto small edges with confidence. Time will tell whether the edging ability continues, this is XS Grip rubber after all, but then again these are aimed more at steep, bouldery terrain anyway, so if edging is what you're after you should probably be looking elsewhere! If you have wider feet, or longer toes like me, these are well worth a look.
originally posted on backcountry.com
I have these shoes for several month now. They are to the point where they will need their first resole. I use them exclusively indoor.Sizing/Comfort/Break-in:Out of the box, they are very tight across the forefoot on me (I have very thick feet). I have Katanas and Miura VS in 39 and I don't recall a more painful break-in period. First 10 sessions or so I cannot wear them for more than one climb. Now they are fully broken in, I would consider these my all day comfort shoes. They feel 1/4 size looser than a pair of old 39 Miura VS; it could also be the more symmetrical last also. If you are used to Solutions, these feels shorter and wider even though they are build on the same last. These heels on these are also softer than Solutions and easier to get into. They ... MoreI have these shoes for several month now. They are to the point where they will need their first resole. I use them exclusively indoor.Sizing/Comfort/Break-in:Out of the box, they are very tight across the forefoot on me (I have very thick feet). I have Katanas and Miura VS in 39 and I don't recall a more painful break-in period. First 10 sessions or so I cannot wear them for more than one climb. Now they are fully broken in, I would consider these my all day comfort shoes. They feel 1/4 size looser than a pair of old 39 Miura VS; it could also be the more symmetrical last also. If you are used to Solutions, these feels shorter and wider even though they are build on the same last. These heels on these are also softer than Solutions and easier to get into. They are also a tad softer in the midsole than the Solutions (for what it is worth, the midsole on the Skwams are 0.1mm thinner).Performance:Most of the time, I can trust them on the tiniest foot holds (say 1/4" wide, quarter size). Even sized comfortably for me, I trust them completely on edging. You sacrifice a bit of comfort when edging compared to XS Edge rubber shoes, but they stick well.The half sole design make them very responsive on high feet where you have to dig in with the big toe and pull through with the feet. The rubber on top of the toe makes toe hook a breeze. You'd think the slit in the sole on the forefoot is a bit gimmicky, but it does help the shoes conform to volumes and slopers. The rubber on top of the toe makes toe hook a breeze.Longevity:I have these for about 7 months and I climb on average two times a week with them. The outsole wore down to around 1/4 of its original thickness around the big toe area. I think this is decent for such a sticky rubber. However, I only climbed on plastic with these as I prefer a harder rubber outdoor.
originally posted on trekkinn.com
These are my second pair of Skwamas and have become my go to shoe, from limestone overhangs to smeary gritstone slabs. I have a relatively wide foot and narrow heel. Over time the heel can become baggy but not too much to overly affect heel hooks on small edges. My street shoe size is 43 (9) and the Skwama is 40.5 (7), the yellow and black version stretches over time. Living in the UK there was no issue with delivery, and arrived far sooner than expected.
| Fit | Medium |
| Midsole | LaSpoFlex 0,8 mm + P3 System |
| Sole | Vibram XS Grip2 3.5 mm |
| Patent | P3 Sytem: Permanent Power Platform |
La Sportiva Skwama Black/Poppy Climbing Shoe l Size 42 l Summit Gear
Free delivery between 20–28 May
Skwama - Rock Climbing Shoes 42 / Black/Poppy
Free delivery
I bought these shoes after struggling for months with a pair of La Sportiva Solutions. The shape of the toe-box of the Skwamas suits the shape of my feet so much better and means that I can happily wear them for a full session in the gym without the agony that the Solutions were causing me. Having looked in a bit more detail at the shape of the two shoes, I believe the issue I had with the solutions was not so much the width of the shoe, but the pointed nature of the toe box that cut a line straight from my big toe to my little toe. I have a slight Morton's toe and this was resulting in that second toe being forced into quite an aggressive curl which was causing serious pain over the knuckle which made it painful to weight the outside edge and really painful to ... MoreI bought these shoes after struggling for months with a pair of La Sportiva Solutions. The shape of the toe-box of the Skwamas suits the shape of my feet so much better and means that I can happily wear them for a full session in the gym without the agony that the Solutions were causing me. Having looked in a bit more detail at the shape of the two shoes, I believe the issue I had with the solutions was not so much the width of the shoe, but the pointed nature of the toe box that cut a line straight from my big toe to my little toe. I have a slight Morton's toe and this was resulting in that second toe being forced into quite an aggressive curl which was causing serious pain over the knuckle which made it painful to weight the outside edge and really painful to toe-hook. Whilst the Skwama is about the same width, the toe box has a slightly less severe point and a bit more of a rounded shape. This means that my toes are more evenly compressed into the toe box and therefore do not suffer from the same extreme hot-spots that I had in the Solutions. In addition to this, the rubber over the top of the toe box is significantly softer and therefore doesn't give the same crushing and unforgiving feeling. This has meant that I've been able to down-size another half size while still ending up with more comfortable shoes!So, onto the shoes themselves. When I slip these on, I can feel my feet being pulled into that aggressive down-turned position. The P3 system feels like it's doing it's job far more in these than the solutions. This means that whilst the rubber around front of the shoes feels a little softer, they are still pulling your feet into a position that enables you to latch onto small footholds in steep overhanging situations. The only negative point I have about this is that it can give a feeling of really compressing your feet across the arch which can be a little uncomfortable at times, but nothing that is going to detract from your climbing (again, this will almost certainly depend on your foot shape).That P3 system also pulls your heel in nicely and I have no worries about my heel popping out with powerful heel hooks. I do have occasions when I feel like there is a bit of an air pocket to the side of my heel and have to allow the shoe to settle a little before I really pull on it, but this is not enough to detract from the feeling of security of the heel. It's worth noting that when I first wore these, I was a little concerned that the tension band at the back was digging into my achille's, but that sensation eases very quickly after the first couple of sessions and I don't even notice it now. These shoes are basically an elasticated slipper with a velcro band for added security. This is actually the reason why I've only given them 4 stars. The slipper element of the shoe feels wonderfully snug and secure, the purpose of the velcro seems to be just to secure the heel further. This means that the fit of the material that the strap itself attaches to is not all that great and no matter what I do, I tend to have a bit of an air-gap under the material on the outside of my foot behind the strap. It doesn't cause a problem as the elasticated slipper is still firmly wrapped around my foot, and the strap itself is still pulling my foot down into the heel, it just feels like a bit more care around the design of this section could improve things further. Again, this may just come down to foot shape - I have wide toes, high arches, but otherwise quite slender feet so I'm probably a bit of an anomaly!Overall, the upper of the shoe is very comfortable and just looking at the stitching inside, you can see the care that has gone into the design and construction, particularly around the toes. The XS Grip 2 rubber sticks to everything and leaves me feeling super-confident whether I'm on thin edges, smooth volumes or trying to push my toes onto small holds on big overhangs. The rubber over the top of the toes is beautifully soft and sticky. I'm not a fan of big slabs of thick rubber over the toes, so this feels great to me - I can feel with the tops of my toes when hunting out that elusive hidden toe hook and know that I will stick once I've found it.These shoes have been a pleasure to use over the couple of months that I've been climbing in them. They are softening up nicely, but still hold that strong aggressive shape thanks to the P3 rand system and beautifully sculpted design. They are wonderfully sensitive, but still have enough stiffness to them to hold onto small edges with confidence. Time will tell whether the edging ability continues, this is XS Grip rubber after all, but then again these are aimed more at steep, bouldery terrain anyway, so if edging is what you're after you should probably be looking elsewhere! If you have wider feet, or longer toes like me, these are well worth a look.
I have these shoes for several month now. They are to the point where they will need their first resole. I use them exclusively indoor.Sizing/Comfort/Break-in:Out of the box, they are very tight across the forefoot on me (I have very thick feet). I have Katanas and Miura VS in 39 and I don't recall a more painful break-in period. First 10 sessions or so I cannot wear them for more than one climb. Now they are fully broken in, I would consider these my all day comfort shoes. They feel 1/4 size looser than a pair of old 39 Miura VS; it could also be the more symmetrical last also. If you are used to Solutions, these feels shorter and wider even though they are build on the same last. These heels on these are also softer than Solutions and easier to get into. They ... MoreI have these shoes for several month now. They are to the point where they will need their first resole. I use them exclusively indoor.Sizing/Comfort/Break-in:Out of the box, they are very tight across the forefoot on me (I have very thick feet). I have Katanas and Miura VS in 39 and I don't recall a more painful break-in period. First 10 sessions or so I cannot wear them for more than one climb. Now they are fully broken in, I would consider these my all day comfort shoes. They feel 1/4 size looser than a pair of old 39 Miura VS; it could also be the more symmetrical last also. If you are used to Solutions, these feels shorter and wider even though they are build on the same last. These heels on these are also softer than Solutions and easier to get into. They are also a tad softer in the midsole than the Solutions (for what it is worth, the midsole on the Skwams are 0.1mm thinner).Performance:Most of the time, I can trust them on the tiniest foot holds (say 1/4" wide, quarter size). Even sized comfortably for me, I trust them completely on edging. You sacrifice a bit of comfort when edging compared to XS Edge rubber shoes, but they stick well.The half sole design make them very responsive on high feet where you have to dig in with the big toe and pull through with the feet. The rubber on top of the toe makes toe hook a breeze. You'd think the slit in the sole on the forefoot is a bit gimmicky, but it does help the shoes conform to volumes and slopers. The rubber on top of the toe makes toe hook a breeze.Longevity:I have these for about 7 months and I climb on average two times a week with them. The outsole wore down to around 1/4 of its original thickness around the big toe area. I think this is decent for such a sticky rubber. However, I only climbed on plastic with these as I prefer a harder rubber outdoor.
These are my second pair of Skwamas and have become my go to shoe, from limestone overhangs to smeary gritstone slabs. I have a relatively wide foot and narrow heel. Over time the heel can become baggy but not too much to overly affect heel hooks on small edges. My street shoe size is 43 (9) and the Skwama is 40.5 (7), the yellow and black version stretches over time. Living in the UK there was no issue with delivery, and arrived far sooner than expected.
I have a wide foot (2e) with average heel and this shoe fits like a glove. I wear size 9.5 US - around 42.5, I purchased a 40.5 and fit without socks. I believe I could go around 0.5 sizes smaller as well, since I can fit with socks (with other problems described below). It stretches a lot over the first 5 hours of wear, and continues stretching for probably the first 20-30h before stabilizing. I recommend -2 to -2.5 vs street shoes. Climbing performance is very good.Downsides:1. Upper rubber has corners which tend to catch on things - The points of the triangles on upper are peeling away - I have glued them back, but ideally it'd cover more of the side, or less, to avoid the catching issues. Partly an issue due to my poor footwork, but sometimes it's hard to ... MoreI have a wide foot (2e) with average heel and this shoe fits like a glove. I wear size 9.5 US - around 42.5, I purchased a 40.5 and fit without socks. I believe I could go around 0.5 sizes smaller as well, since I can fit with socks (with other problems described below). It stretches a lot over the first 5 hours of wear, and continues stretching for probably the first 20-30h before stabilizing. I recommend -2 to -2.5 vs street shoes. Climbing performance is very good.Downsides:1. Upper rubber has corners which tend to catch on things - The points of the triangles on upper are peeling away - I have glued them back, but ideally it'd cover more of the side, or less, to avoid the catching issues. Partly an issue due to my poor footwork, but sometimes it's hard to avoid scumming the side of the shoe on certain climbs.2. The velcro strap has far too much hook velcro, not enough loop. My foot is both wide, and high volume. I would love to have a pair which fits socks for climbing in colder weather, but the hook velcro only touches hook velcro when I have socks. I have around 1cm of hook touching loop without socks, which means the velcro will wear out quickly, and does not stay as secure as I'd like it to. Fix the velcro, and I'd buy a second pair tomorrow.Overall, it's probably one of, if not the best shoe for wide feet on the market. I've tried a lot and nothing fits anywhere close to as well as this one.
These are great shoes that are not too soft and not too stiff, with a surprising good durability considering that. They lasted me 8 months before a tiny hole appeared in one of them but they were great shoes up until then. They do stretch a good amount in the first weeks of wearing them so keep that in mind when buying. I wear a 45 street shoe and I bought a 40.5 wich was hard to get into at first but stretched to be a great size. The only other consideration when buying this shoe is the strap, it does its job of keeping your keep in very well, but if there is any room in the toe box or mid foot it won't do anything for you so make sure your foot fits in the shoe well.Overall a very quality shoe, used it for modern gym climbing and technical outdoor climbing and ... MoreThese are great shoes that are not too soft and not too stiff, with a surprising good durability considering that. They lasted me 8 months before a tiny hole appeared in one of them but they were great shoes up until then. They do stretch a good amount in the first weeks of wearing them so keep that in mind when buying. I wear a 45 street shoe and I bought a 40.5 wich was hard to get into at first but stretched to be a great size. The only other consideration when buying this shoe is the strap, it does its job of keeping your keep in very well, but if there is any room in the toe box or mid foot it won't do anything for you so make sure your foot fits in the shoe well.Overall a very quality shoe, used it for modern gym climbing and technical outdoor climbing and it worked well for both. Nothing super spectacular but nothing really negative either.
I wear la Sportiva Solution climbing shoes in my street shoe size. I bought the Skwama shoes to address some things that I would like to improve versus the Solution. I bought the Skwama is a half size below the street. I use both of them for indoor bouldering. I haven't used the Skwama much because "30 days to do a review" and I'm nursing some minor injuries (of course) The Skwama is not as stiff as the Solution which makes it more amenable for overhang climbing. I also find the heel fits better. The Solution has some small space that leads to a bit of movement in the heal - also affects jumping off of volumes to get a starting hold requiring a leap. There is some stretching in the Solution after a few months of use, across the top, and I've reduced the length of ... MoreI wear la Sportiva Solution climbing shoes in my street shoe size. I bought the Skwama shoes to address some things that I would like to improve versus the Solution. I bought the Skwama is a half size below the street. I use both of them for indoor bouldering. I haven't used the Skwama much because "30 days to do a review" and I'm nursing some minor injuries (of course) The Skwama is not as stiff as the Solution which makes it more amenable for overhang climbing. I also find the heel fits better. The Solution has some small space that leads to a bit of movement in the heal - also affects jumping off of volumes to get a starting hold requiring a leap. There is some stretching in the Solution after a few months of use, across the top, and I've reduced the length of the lace part of the velcro fastener by somehow typing a know in it. The Skwama has a solid velcro attachment and this eliminates issues with the Solution lace with a velcro tab wearing through. I think that the solid velcro will give me a tighter fit if the shoe stretches across the top. The Skwama seems to be made of thinner material than the Solution and there is not as thick a rubber on top of the toes - but it is "sticky" and grips well. But, this may affect how those toes feel after a long day of toe hooks. On the plus side, the toe box is a bit wider in the Skwama which adds to the comfort. I think that the Solution is better for those tiny edges in vertical climbing - given the stiffness, but the Skwama does have that small gap in the sole around the middle of the ball of the foot that enhances flexibility for prehensile grip. Everyone's feet are different. SO, your mileage may vary. The price point of the Skwama is much lower than the Solution which also adds to its attractiveness. If your foot likes the La Sportiva fit, and you like to do overhang bouldering more than slab then I would suggest trying the Skwama over the Solution.
I have both the 40.0 and 40.5 men sizes (street shoe size 42.5-43 or USM 9.5-10). The 40.5 gives a super snug but not painful fit right out the box and breaks in is fast (within a single session). The 40.0 I'd consider a performance fit as its just small enough where the edges scrape a bit against my ankle bone out the box but will eventually stretch enough after a few session. In a typically session, I'd still need loosen / take feet out within 30min due to big toe being a tad too crunched up on the 40.0, but not the 40.5. Heel is very good on both and I don't feel the risk of the shoe popping off on deep heel-hooks. Rubber is soft and sticky (grip 2) so will need to resole if smearing too much. The snug fit makes it suitable for both edging and smearing which I ... MoreI have both the 40.0 and 40.5 men sizes (street shoe size 42.5-43 or USM 9.5-10). The 40.5 gives a super snug but not painful fit right out the box and breaks in is fast (within a single session). The 40.0 I'd consider a performance fit as its just small enough where the edges scrape a bit against my ankle bone out the box but will eventually stretch enough after a few session. In a typically session, I'd still need loosen / take feet out within 30min due to big toe being a tad too crunched up on the 40.0, but not the 40.5. Heel is very good on both and I don't feel the risk of the shoe popping off on deep heel-hooks. Rubber is soft and sticky (grip 2) so will need to resole if smearing too much. The snug fit makes it suitable for both edging and smearing which I haven't found in other shoes.
I did a lot of comparative research before purchasing these shoes, and I have been extremely pleased with them. I climb in them indoors and outdoors, routes and boulders. They are light and fit very well--so they are responsive and place precisely. The rubber is outstanding and sticks to everything. The sole construction allows for great sensitivity on a variety of hold and rock types. I have climbed in these shoes on slabs, faces, and overhangs, and on plastic, granite, and limestone. They have performed every time. I can call on all my leg power whether my toe is on little sloping bulges, shallow dishes/depressions, or tiny edges/nubbins. The heel is excellent for heel hooking, especially when navigating over roofs. I do not toe hook often, but the occasions I ... MoreI did a lot of comparative research before purchasing these shoes, and I have been extremely pleased with them. I climb in them indoors and outdoors, routes and boulders. They are light and fit very well--so they are responsive and place precisely. The rubber is outstanding and sticks to everything. The sole construction allows for great sensitivity on a variety of hold and rock types. I have climbed in these shoes on slabs, faces, and overhangs, and on plastic, granite, and limestone. They have performed every time. I can call on all my leg power whether my toe is on little sloping bulges, shallow dishes/depressions, or tiny edges/nubbins. The heel is excellent for heel hooking, especially when navigating over roofs. I do not toe hook often, but the occasions I have in these shoes the upper rubber on the toe has made the hook feel much more secure. These shoes are excellent.There are some things some may consider drawbacks. I downsized two sizes from my street shoes (my choice) and these get uncomfortable after about a consistent hour to 1.5 hours in them. But, I pop the heel off for a few minutes and I'm good to keep going. Soft, sticky rubber means it can wear down a little quicker than other rubbers, especially on rougher rocks or if your footwork isn't precise--but that's the trade-off of competition grade rubber. The rubber on the upper foot of my shoes, above the big toe knuckle has started to peel a little, but I just glued it back down. If you are foot jamming a lot of cracks, I would not go with these shoes--softer sole and the downturned toe are not ideal.Knowing what I know after climbing in them for about a year, would I buy them again? Yes, and I did. I purchased a second pair that I use for only outside climbing. I highly recommend these shoes.
This is my second pair of Skwamas. They aren't a workhorse shoe, they aren't particularly durable, but hell, they perform like a Ferrari on a racetrack for steep climbing indoors and (less so because of durability, but) outdoors-- absolutely flawless. They're sensitive like hurt feelings and supple like springtime... they're everything your toes needed after watching some hack boulder shoeless.Durability: first pair is still in the rotation after 7+ months of heavy sandstone bouldering and indoor climbing, but the top of foot (?), toe-hook rubber peeled off ages ago and there are holes forming in the toe and the edge has gone real round. But they feel lovely and I can wear them the better part of a session without taking them off.Fit: they stretched out about a ... MoreThis is my second pair of Skwamas. They aren't a workhorse shoe, they aren't particularly durable, but hell, they perform like a Ferrari on a racetrack for steep climbing indoors and (less so because of durability, but) outdoors-- absolutely flawless. They're sensitive like hurt feelings and supple like springtime... they're everything your toes needed after watching some hack boulder shoeless.Durability: first pair is still in the rotation after 7+ months of heavy sandstone bouldering and indoor climbing, but the top of foot (?), toe-hook rubber peeled off ages ago and there are holes forming in the toe and the edge has gone real round. But they feel lovely and I can wear them the better part of a session without taking them off.Fit: they stretched out about a size. More than I had planned. So this new pair is a half-size smaller. I wear a US M's 9 and wear a 38.5 in these and they aren't even too tight.Question: The heel fits snug but somehow feels way too stiff compared to the rest of the shoe and I haven't loved placing techy heel hooks in em... anyone else?
The Skwama is amazing!I (M, 20, 195cm) remember doing a lot of research on what would be my next step up from my first pair of shoes (Scarpa - Veloce) and finally settled for these. The internet had almost nothing but perfect reviews for the Skwama and I can also say that I have no complaints.I downsized about 4 EU sizes to fit into these (46-42 : Veloce was 46-43). 1 size lower than with the Veloce because I found them to be more spacious.The rubber is amazing. The grip is very strong and the curve isn't too aggressive. The shoes break in quite quickly and fit snug like a glove.The colour scheme is very nice and velcro strap is easy to use.Only downside is that I found myself pulling the velcro strip quite far out to feel secure in the shoes - maybe it's ... MoreThe Skwama is amazing!I (M, 20, 195cm) remember doing a lot of research on what would be my next step up from my first pair of shoes (Scarpa - Veloce) and finally settled for these. The internet had almost nothing but perfect reviews for the Skwama and I can also say that I have no complaints.I downsized about 4 EU sizes to fit into these (46-42 : Veloce was 46-43). 1 size lower than with the Veloce because I found them to be more spacious.The rubber is amazing. The grip is very strong and the curve isn't too aggressive. The shoes break in quite quickly and fit snug like a glove.The colour scheme is very nice and velcro strap is easy to use.Only downside is that I found myself pulling the velcro strip quite far out to feel secure in the shoes - maybe it's just my small feet :)
| Fit | Medium |
| Midsole | LaSpoFlex 0,8 mm + P3 System |
| Sole | Vibram XS Grip2 3.5 mm |
| Patent | P3 Sytem: Permanent Power Platform |
