The shoes don’t make the climber. But they can certainly help you perform at a higher level, and having the best climbing shoes for your project—that's climber speak for a route or climb you're working on—can make the difference between sending and going home disappointed. If your outsole rubber is too stiff, you might not be able to weight your heel on a slab, and if it's too soft, you won’t be able to edge on that microscopic foothold. So which do you choose?
Because rock climbing shoes are designed with performance in mind, you should purchase your next pair based on your primary style of climbing (that goes for most of your climbing gear). Sport, trad, and bouldering all require different movements, and therefore different climbing shoe types. Read on for considerations or scroll down for our picks of the best rock climbing shoes for all styles of climbing.