2005 Rock Shoe Review

11 Top Rock Shoes for 2005

The shoe train keeps on rolling: Last year 38 new models debuted; this year another 28 models are entering the market. Whatever your climbing bliss might be, you’re sure to find a shoe that fits it, and you. The innovation that marked last year as a standout in shoe development continues unabated in 2005. Most notably, several companies are unveiling new rubber formulas this year.
The number of new shoes on the market does, however, create a conundrum for our devoted test crew here at Climbing. We have a good dozen people here to rough up the latest kicks, but to be frank, that’s too few pairs of feet to give a fair test to 28 new models and show you the results in time for the summer season. Not to mention the 15-page sprawl of a review that would result if we covered everything.
So, in the interest of fairness, we asked each manufacturer — 11 total — to select one new shoe for us to test for this issue. And test ’em we did, from the razor crimps of Hueco to the splitter fingers of Indian Creek. The other 17 models? Fear not, dear reader. After we closed this issue (in early March), we continued our testing on through the end of April, putting every new shoe through its vertical paces. For the full results of the review, fire up your Internet connection and head over to www.climbing.com. There’ll you’ll find the lowdown on each and every model, plus how-to-buy info and bios on our test crew.

The Test Results
Acopa
Boreal
EMS
Evolv
Five Ten
La Sportiva
Mad Rock
Mammut
Montrail
Red Chili
Scarpa