This was my first pair of climbing shoes. I initially tried the Evolv Elektras, but couldn't get them to fit properly. The Katanas are a fantastic alternative; the narrow La Sportiva fit doesn't work for everyone, but it is perfect for me. The heel cup bags slightly, but that should not matter much for a newer climber. The Katanas are comfortable but still aggressive and clean-edged enough to make you feel confident in your foot placement. Don't forget to size down, the leather stretches significantly!
Perfect for all type of climbing, either you´re a begginer or an experienced climber. Super comfty and easy to put on. The velcro straps let you adjust them as tight as you want. I´m size 8 on street, bought these on 37.5 and fit right for training, but I could go even a whole number down. Totally recommend them, a must have, la sportiva is great.
These were my first pair of real climbing shoes and I loved them. I wear a street shoe size of 10.5 and got these in 38.5. I wore them for a year and a half, mostly for gym climbing, and they served me well. They took longer to break in than I would have liked, but once they stretched a bit they fit great and I started climbing better. They’re great for narrow feet because they’re low volume and the straps pull in opposite directions so they fit evenly on both sides. They’re a light color so they tend to look pretty gross after a while, but they don’t hold on to awful foot smell like synthetic shoes do. I’d recommend these to anyone who wants to start getting serious about climbing.
"Godd for a first pair of climbing shoes"
12/06/11
I had these shoes as my first pair of climbing shoes. The size was kinda funky, I needed to get about a size and a half bigger than I actually wear, but they still fit funny. Quite stiff and hard to break in, and at that point I was mainly indoor climbing, so I would have preferred a more flexible shoe (just my personal preference). Overall, they did their job, but after about 6 months, I moved on to my next pair.
I initially bought these shoes in a 39.5 but had to return due to them being too small. I'm normally a size 40, sizing up a half size didn't really do too much for me unfortunately, the shoes just didn't fit my feet much to my dismay. I love the Sportiva brand, the Katana's are beautiful and perform great, aside from the discomfort. I couldn't get these broken in to where I could wear them exclusively when climbing and the heel was a little baggy on me also. I kept these shoes but ended up giving them to a friend and trying Evolv's instead which fit me like a dream. I still miss the Katana's though!
I love the Sportiva brand and absolutely loved these shoes the moment I laid eyes on them. They look awesome, they're a beautiful color and perform great but I could not get them to break in to a comfortable level for me. The heel was a little baggy but no complaints on the toebox. I also felt like the stitching around the ankle area was a little rough. Loved the shoe but needed something with a different fit. Sent them back for a bigger pair to no avail.
Great for edging, smearing, and heel-hooking. Rubber stickiness is excellent and sensitivity is good. These shoes look cool, fit great, and have the best Velcro system of any shoe I've ever tried. However, the trim around the heel cup digs into your Achilles area somewhat; it's not terrible but definitely noticeable at first. Once you wear them a bit and they stretch out, you won't notice it anymore. When this pair needs replaced, I will definitely get another pair of these.
These shoes are really sensitive and great for edging. I feel very confident and solid on really small areas where I need to place my foot. The toe is sharp and pointy and again, I feel really sturdy no matter where I put my foot. On MY foot, the heel fits awkward and pinches a little while standing (these aren't the kind you can hang out in all day), but it's not at all noticeable while climbing and for me, it doesn't change my opinion of the shoe. The velcro is great because the closure is wide enough that you can specify where you want the straps to be tighter or looser. Overall it's a great shoe; big ups!
Bought these a couple weeks ago, and I love them! They fit my feet perfectly, and they really help when climbing on small edges. I would recommend these to anyone looking to get serious about their climbing.
"Well-Rounded Shoe, for all Levels of Climbing!"
12/19/10
My best friend wears these shoes and I have borrowed them several times. She has used them for four years because she loves them so much. Whenever she needs to get a new shoe, she can't help but buy the Katana. I love them too, they are comfortable but helpful on all different levels of climbing. They are a solid shoe with great grip and I would recommend them to anyone! Also, my friend who leads 5.12b consistently won't ever use a different shoe she loves them so much!
These were one of my first pairs of climbing shoes and they did me well. Durable and pretty comfortable (for a climbing shoe...) They're a good shoe when you want something aggressive but not AGGRESSIVE. if you know what I mean :)
I was using the Mythos for about 2 years before I switched to the Katanas and I feel like I'm climbing a grade harder. They're so great on more technical climbs and I absolutely love the fit. I still wear my Mythos on anything that involves smearing and multi-pitch climbs. Having the Katanas on for an extended period of time would not be comfortable. I wore a 38 in the Mythos and went up a whole size in the Katanas. I wish I would have just gone a half size up, because they've definitley stretched out with use. I would definitely recommend getting these shoes! I also highly recommend the Mythos, I don't think I'll ever stop using mine.
$86.99 - $134.95
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