Climbing shoe
size

Your size on each chart

Type your foot length. You get your street sizes, and the size on each brand’s climbing chart that matches your street EU size. That’s the starting point: most climbing shoes are then sized down (below).

Neither brand publishes foot lengths for its climbing sizes, so each chart is matched through its EU size, the size it’s built on.

How far to size down

Street shoes leave room in front of the toes for walking; climbing shoes don’t. SCARPA puts it this way: “In climbing shoes, it is preferable to eliminate gaps, to increase sensitivity and precision when climbing,” and “the choice of downsizing (1 size) depends on the desired fit.” La Sportiva says its Solution, made for overhanging sport routes, bouldering, gym climbing and technical face climbing, is “generally sized down 1-3 EU full sizes from a standard EU street shoe size.” How far depends on the model: check the product page of the shoe you’re buying.

Street sizes are the standard sizes for the foot each EU size fits. US sizes as La Sportiva prints them; its chart marks 6 men’s sizes with a “+” (EU 34 is US 2.5+): the second of two EU sizes that share one US size. SCARPA’s chart uses the same EU numbers.

Why climbing shoes use EU sizes

Both brands build their climbing shoes on EU sizes. La Sportiva says its shoes “are built on European half sizes which are smaller increments than US half sizes. This gives us five extra sizes per size run.” SCARPA says all its footwear “uses European sizing, except for the skiing boots”, and puts the steps at 6.6 mm for a whole EU size and 8.4 mm for a whole US size (the standard tables: 6.7 and 8.5 mm). So buy by the EU number; the US sizes on the charts are conversions, and several EU sizes can share one US size.

Measure first

Measure your foot standing, heel to the wall, to the tip of your longest toe, and use the longer foot. Measure in whatever you’ll wear in the shoe. Step by step: how to measure your foot.

Questions