La Sportiva Testarossa - Red/Black - Climbing Shoes 42

I've had multiple pairs of these shoes and they are great. I find they need to be on the tighter side to scrunch the front of the foot due to the shape of the toe box, so only consider if you like that. Construction is excellent and I've never had any sole delamination or stitching fail. They could use a little more rubber on the topside to facilitate hooking, and for me the laces always abrade at the bottom

Amazing

I climb these in a 41.5 and have wide feet and medium/high arches. The newly designed Testarossa are perfect for anyone with high volume and/or wide feet. Edging masters and super comfortable. Works well with ANY type of climbing but they are an edging/crimping project seekers dream. Took only 2 endurance sessions to completely break in. So much tech in this shoe through and through, especially in the heel...it's the most perfect heel on any shoe I have used hands down...I climb with the following Sportiva quiver.Size 41.5 : Genius, Futura, TestarossaSize 41.0 : Skwama, TC ProSize 8.5 : Street shoe US

Good aggressive lace-up

Purchased with the intent of bouldering in them. I bought the same size as solutions, and they fit noticeably tighter. This worked out OK, but it limits my use to performance climbing. I have pretty low volume feet, and even though these are supposed to be high volume shoes, they fit pretty well.The combination of the leather and lace-up mean you can crank them down tight to get a fantastic fit - absolutely awesome.The heel is weird material, at first it looked slippery, but it actually does quite well with heel hooks.I don't love the huge toe box meant to house curled-up toes. I do prefer the Scarpa instinct low-profile toe box for sure. But the more soft/stretchy exterior doesn't let you crank down the fit in the same way as the Testarossa.

I love these shoes

I wear a size 9.5/42.5 in Salomon’s and bought a size 8.5/41 in these. at first I couldn’t even wear them for one 15 foot boulder problem without extreme pain. It took a few months of climbing every other day for a couple house before they finally broke in enough to wear for a full session without taking them off every couple climbs. Once broken in these things are like gloves though. the toe is very precise and hooks well.

Incredibly high performance in the steeps.

This shoe is too good. Seriously, I feel like I can only use this shoe on 5.12+ or harder, otherwise it is "wasting" it's performance. I use this shoe for any steep terrain that requires precise footwork. Normally, this means steep, but technical limestone. This shoe edges incredibly well, while also retaining a mid-foot flex that enables it to smear and work functionally on steep terrain where you need to claw in to holds.This shoe is probably the most specific, high performance sport-climbing shoe I can think of.

Only shoe you ever need!

La Sportiva Testarossa Original StyleI have had my trusty pair of Testarossas off and on for six years now with a couple of resoles and they have been almost the only shoe I ever reach for. From burly boulders and steep sport on sandstone in Arkansas to technical edging and balancing on faces in the Front Range, and always trusty for anything the setters have to throw at me in the gym. These are my go to, do it all, one stop shop of a shoe. The asymmetrical lacing and combination of leather and synthetic uppers have made a perfect fitting shoe, that even when I have sized it aggressively has remained comfortable for long routes and multiple laps in the gym. But even better is that even when sized more comfortably they have preformed just as aggressively. The only ... MoreLa Sportiva Testarossa Original StyleI have had my trusty pair of Testarossas off and on for six years now with a couple of resoles and they have been almost the only shoe I ever reach for. From burly boulders and steep sport on sandstone in Arkansas to technical edging and balancing on faces in the Front Range, and always trusty for anything the setters have to throw at me in the gym. These are my go to, do it all, one stop shop of a shoe. The asymmetrical lacing and combination of leather and synthetic uppers have made a perfect fitting shoe, that even when I have sized it aggressively has remained comfortable for long routes and multiple laps in the gym. But even better is that even when sized more comfortably they have preformed just as aggressively. The only tweek to the shoe that I would have ever asked for is in the heel; it fits securely but always feels a little thin on heel hooks. I am very excited to see the remodel this year with the redesigned heel, and hopefully get a chance to try them out soon and explore the new heel!

Superior Sending Shoe

After owning 4 pairs of solutions, I decided to give another Sportiva shoe a go, and boy am I glad I did. The updated Testarossa's have provided everything that I am looking for. The shoe itself broke in within just a few pitches, with the lacing system providing the perfect fit to my feet.As a climber that prefers overhung precision climbing, I truly couldn't have asked for a better shoe. On routes with small edges I have found the pointy toe to provide excellent contact and power. I have also found it's updated heel cup to provided great performance while heel hooking on multiple types of rock.If you are looking for a great all around shoe to send your dream project, you really need to look no further.

Testarossa 2019/07/12

Bomb Shoe, the end of the toe box has shifted inwards slightly from the previous testerossa versions. Forces you to use your legs actively and excels on steep routes/blocs. The increased rubber on the heel trends towards a solution feel without going so far as to make your heel hooks feel like their being done with an apple. Still has enough sensation to feel engaged and secure. I previously fit a 41.5 for recreational and 41 when I was redpointing. Got the 41 and feels like my recreational fit, go a half size smaller than usual.

The new version is awful

I liked old Testarossa shoes a lot. They were quite sensitive and extremely comfortable for the aggressive equipment. The question who and why decided ""to modify" them is painful point of the last year of mine. The updated model has less informative toe, unnecessary excessive hardness of sole due to odd bulge and weird loooong laces that can be easily stepped on during your climbing. Finally it seems weird in contrast with previous version. Some my friends with Testarossa additction have migrated to sc**pa camp now and I'm seriously pondering what can be replacement. It would be great if old version were preserved (like miura) but seemingly it contradicts with marketer's dream about yearly bonus. But, to be honest, he/she needs to be fired.

Top of the line climbing shoes for technical sportclimbing

Very good shoe for technical sportclimbing. Perfect grip and edge-power. You have the feeling these shoes can "stand" on anything. Very short break-in time as well. All in all a really good shoe but this can be expected given the price.