Climbing Shoe Size Ranges

Rock climbing is only possible to do well when you have a shoe that fits your foot. Climbing shoe size ranges are often smaller than what is available for other footwear like running shoes. In this post we break down all the shoe companies and what sizes they offer.

What is the largest size climbing shoe?

The largest and biggest adult size climbing shoe is US Men’s 17 (EU 52) from Red Chili – with the models Red Chili Sausalito and Red Chili Session (a rental shoe).

Brands that make US M 16 / (EU 52) shoes are:

Butora
Evolv
Red Chili
Saltic

Brands that make a US M 15 (EU 50) shoes are:

Butora
Evolv
Garra
Mad Rock
Millet
Saltic
Tenaya
Red Chili
SCARPA

What is the smallest size climbing shoe?

The smallest adult size climbing shoes are made by La Sportiva going down to US M 1 (EU 32) with many more models going down to US M 2 (EU 33).

The next smallest shoes are by Wild Climb who has many models of shoes starting at US M 2 (EU 33) and even more shoes starting at US M 2.5 (EU 34).

Brands that carry adult shoes US M 2.5 / US W 4 (EU 34)

Andrea Boldrini
La Sportiva
SCARPA
Simond
Tenaya
Wild Climb

Brands that carry adult shoes US M 3 / US W 4.5 (EU 34.5)

Andrea Boldrini
Boreal
La Sportiva
Mad Rock
Red Chili
Saltic
SCARPA
Simond
Tenaya
UnParallel
Wild Climb

Many brands such as Five Ten, Red Chili, Evolv, Butora, EB, Garra, SCARPA, Black Diamond, and Tulson Tolf also have kids specific shoes.

You can see all the kid’s shoes REI offers here.

What are the adaptive shoe options

For amputees Evolv has created the Edlo Z climbing shoe (one size). It can be optionally paired with the Evolv Adaptive Foot (EAF).

Climbing Shoe Size Charts

Most US size charts are still based on a traditional gender model, even if a company uses high/low volume language. When you look at the size chart for a low volume shoe, you’ll see a Women’s size chart or sometimes a size chart that includes both Men’s and Women’s sizing. The EU and UK make it much easier to find your size, no matter the volume of your foot, as there is only one comprehensive size chart and it is not split in gender.

That said, although a number of companies are moving away from gender and towards more descriptive high/low or regular/wide volume terminology, the size runs have not always caught up to this change. According to Healthline, the average US Men’s shoe size is a 10.5 yet women’s shoes still tend to top out around a size US W 10 (EU 42) which is only a Men’s 8.5 (EU 41.5).

Note: WeighMyRack lists the brand size chart along with the specs of each shoe model.

Screenshot of a shoe on WeighMyRack where we include all the technical specs including detailed sizing information.

Climbing shoe sizes by brand

Most adult climbing shoes are between a “typical size curve” of US M 4 (EU 35.5) – US M 12 (EU 44.5) for the size run. We list each of the climbing brands below and their general size ranges and also note the outliers.

For consistency, we’re listing sizes in US M and EU. We’re using US M because that’s how most manufacturers list shoes and it is what is used when a unisex range is presented. Also, US M includes / is a continuation of the kids size range which means it encompasses the smallest sizes and the largest sizes with one scale.

Acopa

Most shoes are size US M 4 (EU 35.5) -15 (EU 49.5)

Outliers: The Nova and Spectre are made down to size 3 (EU 34.5).

Alpidex

All shoes are US M 4.5 (EU 36) – 13 (EU 47).

Andrea Boldrini

Most shoes are US M 1 (EU 32) – 15 (EU 48).

The smallest adult sizes are US M 1 (EU 32) or US M 2.5 (EU 34)
The largest adult sizes are US M 13 (EU 47) or US M 14 (EU 48)

Black Diamond

The Black Diamond shoe size range varies.

Entry level shoes tend to have a wider range, like US M 4 (EU 35.5) – US M 15 (EU 49.5)
Specialty shoes have limited sizing, starting at US M 5, 6, or 6.5 (EU 37 – 38.5) and topping out at size 13 (EU 47).

Boreal

Most shoes are US M 4 (EU 35) – 14.5 (EU 49).

Outliers: The Alpha and Beta and Beta Eco Women and the Joker series come in a US M 3 (EU 34).

Bufo

All shoes have a range of at least US M 3.5 (EU 35) – US M 13 (EU 47)

The Fun, Pharao, Shark, Spider all go to US M 15 (EU 49)
The Trance and Unbreakable Velcro go to US M 15.5 (EU 50)

Butora

Most Butora shoes come in US M 4 (EU 35.5) – 14 (EU 48)

Outliers: The Endeavor Wide and Endeavor Regular comes in sizes 5 – 15 (EU 36 – 49.5)

Butora did mention that they have fulfilled shoe orders (by phone) for shoes size 15 and 16.

Climb X

Most shoes are US M 3 (EU 35.5) – 13 (EU 47).

EB

Most shoes are US M 4 (EU 35) – 12.5 (EU 46).

Outliers: Neo US M 13 (EU 47), Mojo US M 14 (EU 48), Torch Lace US M 14 (EU 48).

Evolv

Most shoes are US M 4 (EU 35.5) – 11 (EU 44.5) but there are a number of shoes that go higher, topping out between 13.5 (EU 47) – US M 16 (EU 51)

Evolv also has an adaptive shoe called the Eldo Z.

Five Ten

Most shoes start at US M 3.5 (EU 35)
The large size range varies from US M 9 (EU 42) to as high as US M 15 (EU49) on the Kirigami.

Garra

Shoes go as low as US M 4.5 (EU 34.5) and as high as 16 (EU 50).

La Sportiva

Shoes start between US M 1 (EU 32) and US M 2.5 (EU 34)
The high end is widely different per model (and gender) and ranges between US M 11.5 (EU 45) and US M 14 (EU 48)

Outliers: Tarantulace Men and Taramtula Boulder Men go up to size US M 15.5 (EU 50).

According to La Sportiva catalogs they have many shoes that go down to US 1 (EU 32) including:

Cobra
Finale VS Men
Finale VS Women
Genius – REI carries the Genius down to US 1.3 (EU 33)
Kataki women
Otaki Men
Otaki Women

Lavan

Most shoes are US M 2.5 (EU 34) – 14 (EU 48).

Lowa

All shoes are US M 4.5 (EU 36) or US M 5 (EU 37) – US M 13 (EU 47) or 14 (EU 48).

Mad Rock

Sizing starts at US M 3 (EU 34.5)
Most shoes go to size 13 (EU 47) or 14 (EU 48)

Outlier: The Rover goes to size 16 (EU 51)

Millet

Millets sizing varies widely depending on the model.

The smallest adult shoe is US M 2.5 (EU 34)
The largest shoe is an XL Rental Shoe that goes up to US M 16 (EU 51)

Ocun

Most shoes are US M 5 (EU 36) – 14 (EU 48).

Shoes start at US M 4 (EU 36) or US M 5 (EU 37)
Most shoes end at US M 14 (EU 48) except their rental QC which goes to US 15 (EU 49)

Red Chili

Shoes start at US M 3 (US 34) or US M 4 (EU 35)
Shoes top out anywhere from US 12 (EU 45.5) to US 17 (US 52) with the Red Chili Sausalito and Red Chili Session (rental).

Saltic

Shoes tend to start at US M 3 (EU 34) and end at US 12 (EU 45.5).

Outliers: The Slick Rental and Spirit, and Spirit Rental go up to size US 16 (EU 51).

SCARPA

Most shoes start at US M 2.5 (EU 34) or 3.5 (EU 35)
The upper end varies significantly from US M 11.5 (EU 45) – US M 15.5 (EU 50)

SCAPRA has the most shoe options for larger feet at US M 15.5 (EU 50). This includes the following models:

Arpia Men
Helix Men – At the time of writing, REI carries the Helix Men up to US M 14 (EU 49).
Maestro Alpine
Maestro Eco Men
Maestro Mid Eco Men
Origin Men
Origin Women
Quantic Men
Vapor V Men
Veloce Men

Simond

Shoes start at US M 2.5 (EU 34) or US M 4 (EU 36)
Shoes go up to US M 12.5 (EU 46) or US M 13 (EU 47)

So Ill

Shoes start at US M 4 (EU 36) or US M 5 (EU 37)
Shoes end between US 10.4 (EU 44) and US M 14 (EU 48)

Tenaya

Most models start at US M 3 (EU 34) or US M 3.5 (EU 35)
Many models go up to US M 14 (EU 48)

Shoes that go down to US M 3 (EU 34) are:

Triop

Most shoes are US M 4 (EU 35.5) – 13.25 (EU 47).

Tulson Tolf

Shoes start at US M 3.5 (EU 35) or US M 4 (EU 36)
Shoes top out at US M 13 (EU 47) or US M 14 (EU 48)

UnParallel

Shoes start at US M 3 (EU 34.5) or US M 4 (EU 34)
Most shoes top out at 14 (EU 48).

Wild Climb

Wild Climb has one of the most impressive small shoe offerings, as every adult shoe they make is available in some of the smallest sizes.

All Wild Climb adult shoes start at either US M 1.5 (EU 33) or US M 2.5 (EU 34)
US M 3 (EU 35) – 16 (EU 50)

A Note on Gender in Climbing Shoes

Most seasoned climbers know that although there are “men” and “women” labels on shoes, if you have a high volume foot, no matter your gender, it’s likely a men’s shoe will fit better because the lasts used to make men’s shoes are larger in volume. If you have a lower volume foot it is likely a women’s shoe will fit better for the opposite reason.

Similarly, there are a few companies, such as SCARPA and La Sportiva, who change the type of rubber on the men’s versus women’s shoe. The women’s shoe can have a stickier/softer rubber for lighter climbers and then men’s shoe has a harder rubber that will not deform as much with a heavier weight. Or the thickness of the midsole might change between the men’s and women’s model, providing a stiffer, thicker midsole for the presumed heavier male climber. Again, this is by design as studies (including Gallup) continue to show that on average women are about 19% lighter than men. To me this says companies aren’t looking just to “shrink it and pink it” and are going further into the nuances of design between models.

Perhaps in the future these shoes will be labeled “soft” or “hard” in addition to low/high volume. Or the “soft” shoes will come in smaller sizes while the “hard” shoes are reserved for larger feet which typically follow a larger height.

Previously we’ve heard shoe companies state that they’d like to move more towards high/low volume language but they’ve had pushback from the retailers. From a retail perspective, gendered shoes are helpful because it allows the retailers to merchandise products easier and they believe it’s easier for a customer to better find their shoe, by starting with gender.

The Future ?!?

One brand we talked to dreamed of not only choosing between a high/low volume shoe with a soft/hard option, but also being able to choose a shoe that had options for a “small” or “normal” heel.

Even if each brand doesn’t make every model of shoe in 6+ variations, it’d be great to see each brand list all the foot fitting details, like instep (high/low), toe type (Egyption, Greek, Roman), toebox width (wide/narrow), toe length (short/long), heel hight (short/long), and heel width (wide/narrow).

Currently it’s rare for shoe companies to list which foot configurations fit best, but this could (should!) be the next trend we see in helping to get a proper fit. Ocùn and Red Chili have nice graphics in this direction.

This post is sponsored by REI as part of a Size Inclusivity in Climbing series. In 2021 REI made an announcement that they were making a “commitment to becoming a fully inclusive, anti-racist, multicultural organization.” They followed this announcement with the Product Impact Standards, a document that specifically outlines the requirements that any partner brands they work with must meet.

By Spring of 2024, REI is requiring all apparel/gear partners to include marketing diversity and inclusive sizing as defined by these standards:

…have in place inclusive guidelines for marketing assets, photo casting and production that ensure diverse and inclusive representation across race, age gender identity/expression, body size/type and disability.
…each brand partner that sells wearable products offered in a variety of sizes to provide REI at least one sample size outside the standard size range for marketing photography.
…expects that all wearable products offered in a variety of sizes maintain the same price within a style regardless of size.

By Spring of 2025, they’re requiring a diverse hair type inclusion standard:

…each brand partner that produces headwear (helmets, hats, headbands, hoods, balaclavas, hijab, etc) to have in place guidelines for ensuring an inclusive assortment for a variety of hair types, including higher-volume and textured hair.

If you’d like to read more about how REI is fighting climate change, advancing inclusion in the outdoors, and managing chemicals, the Product Impact Standards are a great way to learn more.

Our Best Advice for Climbing Shoes

Go to shoe demos (at the gym or climbing festivals) and try on ALL THE SHOES. Including the high and low volume versions of the same model. Ideally, try climbing the same routes in each pair so you can get a sense of how they fit and perform differently. Note how they fit: are there pressure points or any gaps between your foot and the sides / top / bottom of the shoe? Pick what fits snugly and feels right to you.

If there’s a spot on a shoe that’s nagging you or any part of your foot slips in the shoe, keep trying on shoes. After trying on a ton of shoes, at one point you may wonder, “is this shoe perfect?!” because you can’t find anything wrong with the fit – at this point trust your intuition. And, for future reference, write all this info down on your phone: whether the shoe model fit or not, and what sizes are good/bad.

Want to See All The Climbing Shoes (over 400)?

At WeighMyRack, we list every climbing shoe and give you filters for volume, closure, material, last shape (downturn / asymmetry), and more. You can also filter by on sale items with discounts > 20%.

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