Tenaya Arai Climbing Shoe Teal, Mens 4.5/Womens 5.5

"What Our Gearhead® Experts Are Saying:""I recommended the Tenaya Arai to a friend who was just getting into sport climbing and the wide bellows tongue alone made the learning curve a lot more manageable since they could get in and out of the shoe quickly between attempts. After a full season on it they're still in the same pair, and the rubber toe box has held up through a lot of gym sessions and outdoor days without showing much wear.""Getting better at climbing is mostly about logging time on the wall, and the Tenaya Arai climbing shoe is built for exactly that. The wide bellows tongue opens generously so you can get the shoe on and off quickly between burns, and the hook and loop closure cinches down with no fuss. For a beginner working through movement fundamentals, or an experienced climber who just wants a comfortable training shoe that disappears on the foot, the Arai shows up the same way every session. What makes the Arai worth paying attention to is how much performance Tenaya packed into a shoe designed around comfort. The accentuated toe box angle improves traction on difficult footholds and channels force toward the toes where it counts, while the four layer 2D PLT 10 midsole distributes that force evenly so your foot does not fatigue as quickly on high-volume days. The rubber reinforced toe box adds durability and edging structure without stiffening the ride, and the adaptable fit accommodates a wide range of foot widths. This is the shoe you reach for when improvement is the goal and comfort is the prerequisite."

Price: $159.99 from Backcountry