You won’t discover which climbing shoe is best for you in this guide. But after reading it you’ll definitely be in the know on what is considered to be the best indoor bouldering shoes on the market.
So if you are curious about the ultimate climbing shoe database, let’s explore together your options in 2025.
The best indoor bouldering shoes on the outdoor market in 2025
From the 2020s until the present, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the indoor climbing gym industry saw substantial growth in the U.S., UK, and Europe.
Moreover, in the past 15 years, indoor bouldering has exploded in popularity.
With climbing popularity on the rise, so is the list of climbing shoes that feature new technologies, and designs.
Nowadays there is a model corresponding to almost every type of climber. From wide to narrow, soft to hard rubber, comfortable and/or performing aggressive shape, laced or with straps – the market is full of options.
And as if the market didn’t have enough diversity, it looks like 2025 comes with the message that the No Edge technology is here to stay.
But first, let’s talk about the climber’s choice when it comes to the best indoor bouldering shoes.
Tenaya Indalo – the great indoor performance bouldering shoes
To me, Tenaya Indalo was love at first sight! Even though they were designed mainly for indoor climbing,
I had the chance to try these climbing shoes on while rock climbing – and I loved how light they felt on the foot!
But where this model really shines is indoors, on weirdly shaped volumes, overhangs, and smeary slabs.
- Narrow fit with easy and fast closure
- Best for light climbers with narrow feet
- Comfy love bump and Friction Lock heel with double-density rubber for best heel hooking experience
- Sticky Vibram XS Grip 3.5 mm
Who climbs with Indalo:
Alex Megos, Chris Sharma, Angie Scarth-Johnson
Flagship Unparallel
Known for its softness and sensitivity, the Flagship is designed for performance in technical and overhanging bouldering.
Offers great flexibility, is a master of complex foot placements, and maximises contact with the surface.
If you are interested in knowing more about the difference between the two brands, check out this Five Ten vs Unparallel shoe review.
Evolv Shaman Pro
A top-tier and versatile bouldering and sport climbing shoe that is still kicking after all these years – the Shaman is a classic!
The Climbing Shoe Review said they are the best bouldering and sports shoes currently available for intermediate to advanced climbers.
While it’s true this was back in 2020, this model is mainly designed for the indoors but is also highly supportive of rock climbing.
Therefore, with the Evolv Shaman Pro, you will hardly need two pairs of climbing shoes.
- Midsole: 1.6mm soft plastic love bump/1mm rubber midsole with arch support
- Long-lasting thanks to 4.2mm TRAX SAS rubber outsole
Evolv Zenist Pro
A pretty good alternative to Shamans and oriented towards indoor bouldering and competition, even more, is the aggressive Evolv Zenist Pro.
They have a design with moderate asymmetry and Colin Duffy (7th place at the Tokyo Olympics) also prefers them when competing.
- Long-lasting thanks to 4.2mm TRAX SAS rubber
- Great foot support
- Precision and traction, and easy velcro closure
- Great for climbers with normal feet width-wise
Climbers who climb with the vegan Shamans and Zenist Pro:
Colin Duffy, Daniel Woods, Samuel Watson, Anna Hazelnutt
Red Chili Clue is part of the brand’s high-end collection
Ideal for ticking bouldering problems, the Red Chilli Clue comes with a clean design ready to boulder!
Designed primarily for gym climbing, these shoes offer minimal support, making them ideal for lighter indoor climbers.
Despite the soft Vibram sole, the shoe has an aggressive shape that compensates and gives you the right balance when bouldering.
The single velcro strap adjusts fast and snugly on your feet.
- 3 mm Vibram XS Grip rubber sole
- Downturn aggressive shape and moderate asymmetry
- Single velcro strap
Black Diamond Method S
Designed with performance in mind, the Method S is quite a versatile climbing shoe, both for indoor and outdoor bouldering.
While it’s especially effective on steeper routes, it also handles slabs with ease, delivering an exceptional experience while smearing and edging.
- Designed for more narrow to normal feet
- Comfortable thanks to how soft the shoe is
- Grippy sole and true-to-size
Scarpa Veloce – laced out-of-the-box comfort
Veloce is love at first sight for beginner to intermediate climbers who love a good indoor session and have slightly wider feet.
- Lacing system adjustments that allow adjustment in detail
- Broad toebox with comfy last which I am not surprised considering most Scarpa climbing shoes are designed for people with neutral to wider feet
- Affordable compared to competition models
- Fit for beginners as they have out-of-the-box comfort
Which climbing shoes are the most famous in bouldering competitions?
Probably some of the models are not going to surprise you since they’ve been on the market for quite a while.
We are going to start with classics because while we’re totally open to new models, there is a reason why the little black dress is still in fashion.
The following climbing shoes are known for their performance in competition settings, focusing on sensitivity, precision, and the ability to handle dynamic movements typical for bouldering.
Scarpa Drago / Drago LV
As Scarpa says, Drago is one of the most iconic climbing shoes in the world. And we believe them. First launched in 2016 and 8 years later it is still here.
A superstar among boulderers for its soft, flexible design, this highly downturned asymmetric shoe allows for maximum sensitivity and control on slabs, vertical, and overhanging routes.
It can be easily adjusted with a single strap, and has a very sticky rubber sole, making it perfect for dynamic moves and heel hooking while bouldering.
Although a soft shoe, Drago screams bouldering both indoors and outdoors.
- PCB-Tension active rand provides dynamic power transfer directly to the big toe
- 1/3 length Vibram® XS Grip 2 sole strategically puts the rubber only where you need it
- toe wrap in M50 rubber
- Vibram XS Grip2 (3.5 mm)
Who climbs with Drago/Drago LV?
Oceania Mackenzie, Jessica Pilz, Jenya Kazbekova, Oriane Bertone
Five Ten Hiangle
The Hiangle is a versatile competition and training shoe that performs well in a variety of bouldering scenarios, balancing sensitivity and support.
It’s known for its comfort and performance on both edges and smears, making it a solid choice for different types of indoor problems.
- Awesome gym and outdoor climbing performance
- High-friction Stealth® C4 rubber outsole Snug Fit
Who climbs with Hiangle:
Toby Roberts, Janja Garnbret, Will Bosi
La Sportiva Solution Comp
What would this guide be without the Comp in it? They’re not new – I know.
However, we can see them everywhere in the competition world, in the WC circuit and beyond.
Even at the crag. And for good reasons!
I’ve been climbing with Solution Comps ever since La Sportiva designed them and I must say: wearing them climbing feels like cheating!
- Ultra grippy Vibram® XSGrip2 – 3,5 mm sole
- P3 system in the midsole as a support platform
- Fast-lacing and aggressive shape
- Not so great on slabs but magnificent on tiny holds
- Fit for narrow to normal feet
- Tighter heel than Solution
Who climbs with Solution/Solution Comps
Brooke Raboutou, Stefano Ghisolfi, Jakob Schubert
Ondra COMP – introduced at the Paris Olympics 2025 by Adam Ondra himself
As soon as you touch these shoes you immediately understand why they call them Ondra COMP.
They’re 100% adapted to modern competition – in fact, that’s how they were born: from La Sportiva’s lack of a shoe that’s fully for competition.
Because, let’s face it, modern bouldering is more about giant slippery volumes than it is about small footholds.
- Designed for smearing on volumes, standing on small slopey footholds, and toe hooking
- Sole: Vibram XS Grip2 3,5 mm with La Sportiva SenseGrip technology
- P3 System for the iconic La Sportiva Support
- A wider toe box that allows more room for toes and doesn’t affect your musculoskeletal system – which is a first for aggressive climbing shoes
In my opinion, they’re 30% Skwama, 30% Solution, and 40% Theory.
With an exquisite design and a very soft sensitive rubber, the Ondra Comp is a bouldering weapon when it comes to competition and indoor climbing.
However, don’t count on using them too much while bouldering outdoors. Here’s the full review by Adam Ondra himself.
The No Edge Family
The slow but steady shift towards NO Edge designs reflects the evolving nature of modern climbing.
Difficulty now often lies in dynamic moves, and shiny holds, and thus adapting to this new bouldering and competing style has become crucial.
Lastly, let’s face it: there is no such thing as one shoe fits them all. Therefore, I also find it uplifting to see there is more variety than before.
4 advantages No Edge climbing shoes come with:
- Due to not having a rigid edge, No Edge shoes allow better sensitivity and cover more surface
- Maybe foot technique can sometimes be tricked after all! Thanks to the sticking-out round tip you enjoy more precision even when you don’t use your feet in the most precise way
- Uniform pressure on differently shaped holds
- They’re soft and wrap your feet comfortably so you’re going to suffer less while climbing
Having modern bouldering in mind and what it involves (running, jumping, volumes, shiny holds) it makes sense why some climbers would choose
No Edge over a classic edge shoe. And La Sportiva has not one but 4 models!
Let’s get to know them better.
La Sportiva Mandala made for the modern city climber
A modern climbing shoe designed for indoor routes, the Mandala performs well on rock as well.
They are slightly more rigid than Futura and Genius and thanks to their D-Tech construction along with P3 for support they give good support on small footholds, including to heavier climbers.
Mandala is a well-made shoe that helps you perform both in indoor and outdoor bouldering, on rather vertical walls and slabs than serious overhangs.
So fortunately you are not limited to using them only in the gym.
But do keep in mind their sole is still 3mm thin rubber which means they are still going to wear quite fast.
- Maximum heel hook precision
- Single strap slipper design
- An ultra-grippy toe box that makes it perfect for smearing and toe hooking
- XS Grip2 sole is very grippy and has a 3 mm thickness for maximum sensitivity
- Despite the weary soft rubber, the P3 technology will ensure you the support you need while climbing and it also helps to maintain the shoe’s shape even after resoling
La Sportiva Futura and Genius
Both were designed for those climbers who want to enjoy soft shoes but still want some support while bouldering.
Due to their soft structure, they are recommended for indoors.
However, when it comes to more well-trained feet who look to maximise performance they are a great fit for outdoor bouldering as well.
- 3 mm Vibram XS Grip2 and fast lacing technology for Futura
- 3 mm Vibram XS Grip2 and Asymmetrical lacing system for Genius
- Both have a P3 Support System
- Quite versatile both indoors and outdoors
La Sportiva Mantra
La Sportiva Mantra is a super soft shoe with minimum support, designed for lighter gym climbers who are into modern bouldering and have an advanced climbing level.
To fully appreciate the benefits this model brings, you should choose a size that is really snug on your feet.
- 3 mm Vibram XS Grip2
- P3 System
Find the best indoor bouldering shoe in 2025
Just like with many other things in life you will have to try and decide for yourself.
However, this doesn’t mean we can’t give you some guidelines and point out the key features you should be looking for when on the lookout for the best indoor bouldering shoes.
After all, choosing the right climbing shoe can have a significant impact on your climbing.
1. Fit and comfort
Regardless of whether you are bouldering indoors or on the rock, proper fit is crucial when choosing climbing shoes.
A good shoe is a shoe that comfortably fits the shape of your foot and you’re happy climbing with.
So choose a shoe that feels snug and allows you to climb.
Because, let’s face it: no matter the features a bouldering shoe has, if it doesn’t fit well on your feet you will not be able to use those features at their best.
2. Rubber characteristics
Softer rubber is ideal for indoor holds. It provides a better grip, which is highly needed on plastic – especially the slippy modern surfaces.
However, better performance also means your shoes are going to wear out faster. Many bouldering-specific shoes feature softer rubber which is optimised for indoor holds and not only.
Thicker rubber however lasts longer, gives better foot support, and may reduce sensitivity.
Brands like Vibram, Stealth, and Trax have a great variety of both thick and soft rubber soles.
3. Downturn and toe profile
There is a lot of talk about indoor climbing shoes performing well thanks to their shape.
But before you fall into the “trap” ask yourself if you are the right customer for that.
- Downturn and pointed toes mean a more aggressive shape with precise foot placements on small holds which is needed for overhung routes and complicated footholds. But it also means more discomfort for feet that are not used to climbing that much.
- A rounded toe is more comfortable and suitable for beginners. For most indoor bouldering, a moderate downturn is a good compromise.
Depending on your climbing experience you should be able to decide if you really need this and if the shoe is going to serve its purpose with you.
4. Price range
Even though not everyone is on a budget budget is still a point of reference for most of us.
Generally, higher-priced shoes tend to offer better materials, and construction thus performance. But only sometimes.
At Boulderflash we offer you the best and most relevant range of shoes, whether you are a beginner or an advanced climber!
From Egyptian or Greek-shaped toes – we have you covered!
5. Product reviews
More and more I look for user reviews before I buy online.
While I am a hard believer that personal experience matters, it’s wise to check what other people with similar interests experienced in order to get a better idea of the product.
As for new technologies: many brands continually innovate therefore keeping an eye on the latest offerings might also be a good idea.
Do you really need the best indoor bouldering shoes in 2025?
Back when I started climbing in 2013 bouldering gyms had a different type of setting that included classic holds. Not that many volumes but mostly jugs and tiny feet.
As for the polished shiny holds we see in every gym nowadays? Rarely!
So to answer the question, you do – if you are looking for performance, great fit, and specificity.
But if you are in the beginner to intermediate spectrum, no worries – shoes are not going to make that much of a difference.
It comes down to how comfortable you feel while wearing them.
So now that you know the best on the market in 2025, make sure to check out our Boulderflash guide on how to choose the right climbing shoe.
We wrote it so you better understand important aspects such as what you should be looking for if you are a beginner, intermediate, or advanced climber and if climbing shoes should feel painful & more.
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