Campman Outdoor Gear & Apparel

La Sportiva and SCARPA have been making climbing shoes in the Italian Dolomites for nearly a century each, and for most of that time, climbers have argued about which brand reigns supreme. The honest answer is: it depends entirely on your feet. Both brands use Vibram rubber, both are family-run operations with genuine craftsmanship behind every pair. The real difference is in the fit, and every climbing shoe regardless of brand fits different. Get the fit right, and either brand will take you up anything you’re willing to attempt. Get it wrong, and no amount of sticky rubber will help your send. This guide breaks down both lineups by climbing style, foot shape, and skill level so you can stop second-guessing and start climbing.

Brand at a Glance

La Sportiva was founded in 1928 in Ziano di Fiemme, Italy, and has been family-run ever since. The brand is known for the P3 permanent power platform midsole that keeps shoes performing as they break in. SCARPA was founded just a decade later in Asolo, Italy, and is equally family-run. Both brands are equally serious about rubber, both use Vibram XS Grip2 and XS Edge on their performance models, and both produce shoes that resole well.

Head-to-Head: What Actually Differs

Strip away the brand loyalty and the two companies are remarkably similar on paper. Both rely primarily on Vibram XS Grip2 for friction-critical applications and Vibram XS Edge for edging-focused models. Both offer lace, hook-and-loop, and slipper closures. Both resole well. The divergence is in the last shape and midsole philosophy. La Sportiva’s P3 midsole maintains a downturned shape throughout the life of the shoe. SCARPA’s midsoles vary more by model, from the ultra-soft Drago to the stiffer, more supportive Instinct VS platform. On vegan options, SCARPA leads clearly, with the Veloce, Vapor V, and Furia Air all leather-free. La Sportiva’s vegan answer is the Skwama, a strong all-around performer for steep terrain.

Best La Sportiva Climbing Shoes by Style

La Sportiva’s lineup covers every discipline from gym to hard alpine. The entry-level Tarantulace has been one of the top-selling beginner shoes on the market for decades, while the Katana Lace consistently tops all-around roundups from all sorts of outdoors companies. For steep terrain, the Solution Comp is the choice of comp climbers and gym boulderers worldwide. For crack climbing, the TC Pro remains the gold standard.

Best for Beginners: La Sportiva Tarantulace

Flat last, unlined leather upper, neutral fit, and one of the most comfortable beginner shoes on the market. The thick 5mm FriXtion rubber sole is built for durability over sensitivity and resoles well after years of regular use. Not ideal for steep or overhanging terrain, but perfect for slab-to-vertical, and anyone spending long hours in shoes while learning technique. La Sportiva also offers the Tarantula.

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Best All-Around: La Sportiva Katana Lace

Mildly aggressive downturn with excellent edging capability and surprising smearing versatility. Works equally well for sport climbing, trad, granite slabs, and moderate overhangs. The men’s version runs stiffer; the women’s version features a split sole for more precision and flex for lighter climbers. Consistently one of the top picks in annual climbing shoe roundups for its balance of performance and wearability over long sessions.

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Best for Steep Routes and Bouldering: La Sportiva Solution Comp

Aggressive downturn and P3 midsole designed specifically for powerful toe and heel hooks. The go-to for gym climbing, competition-style problems, and overhanging outdoor sport routes. Suppler than the original Solution, with softer rubber for better sensitivity on volumes and steep faces. Purpose-built for climbers who spend most of their time on overhanging terrain and want a shoe that performs at the limit.

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Women’s

Best for Trad and Crack Climbing: La Sportiva TC Pro

The high ankle collar protects against abrasion in crack systems and the stiff, supportive build lets you stand on small edges for hours without foot fatigue. Requires a specific break-in period and is not the right choice for beginner climbers, but rewards patient trad climbers with exceptional performance on long multi-pitch and crack routes. One of the most durable and resole-friendly shoes in either lineup.

Best Scarpa Climbing Shoes by Style

SCARPA’s lineup is equally broad. The Origin is a reliable entry-level option for wide-footed beginners. The Arpia V earned top outdoor pick from Climbing Magazine in 2026 for its balance of comfort and performance. The Instinct VS has become the default bouldering shoe for wide-footed climbers worldwide. The Drago is one of the best pure gym and competition shoes on the market from either brand.

Best for Beginners: SCARPA Origin

Flat last, wide toe box, and a forgiving fit that works well for first-time buyers. The M50 rubber is less sticky than Vibram XS but holds up well for gym use and moderate outdoor climbing. More comfortable out of the box than the La Sportiva Tarantulace for climbers with wide or medium-wide feet. A reliable choice for anyone who has struggled to find a beginner shoe that does not pinch.

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Women’s

Best All-Around for Outdoor Climbing: SCARPA Arpia V

Praised for its balance of precision performance and all-day comfort. XS Grip2 rubber, moderate downturn, and a fit comfortable enough for multi-pitch objectives without sacrificing the precision needed on technical terrain. A strong alternative to the La Sportiva Katana Lace for climbers with medium-width feet who want a slightly more comfortable fit without giving up outdoor performance.

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Best for Bouldering and Steep Sport: SCARPA Instinct VS

Wide toe box slipper with hook-and-loop closure. Ideal for boulderers who need to slip shoes on and off between problems. Aggressive enough for hard overhanging routes, comfortable enough for extended gym sessions. Wide-footed climbers who have been turned away by La Sportiva’s narrower lasts consistently cite this as their go-to shoe. One of the most recommended shoes on either brand’s roster for medium-to-wide feet on steep terrain.

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Women’s

Best for Gym and Competition Climbing: SCARPA Drago

Ultra-soft, highly sensitive slipper built for volume smearing, toe hooks, and gym-specific movement patterns. The M50 rubber toe patch delivers exceptional grip on plastic holds and competition-style volumes. Not ideal for traditional outdoor edging routes, but arguably the best pure gym shoe in either lineup. For climbers who spend most of their time indoors on setting-heavy comp-style terrain, the Drago is the answer.

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Low-Volume

Which Brand Is Right for You?

SCARPA... La Sportiva... Brand loyalty means nothing to squished toes. Truth is every shoe fits differently, and depending on what you're climbing should determine which shoe you'll wear. Choose La Sportiva's TC Pro for long trad lines, and either SCARPA's Drago or La Sportiva's Solution Comp for challenging boulder problems. Models like the Instinct VS and Drago have become the default for climbers who have been turned away by narrower brands. On sizing, La Sportiva generally requires a larger downsize. Most climbers go down 0.5 to 1 full size. SCARPA varies more by model but tends to require less aggressive downsizing for comparable performance. If you are buying online without trying on, err conservative on the downsize for either brand and confirm the return policy before committing.

Stop Overthinking It. Start Climbing.

Both brands make exceptional shoes. The best pair is the one that fits your foot and matches the terrain you actually climb. Try both in our shop if you can. If you are buying online, use the fit profile above as your guide. All of the shoes in this post are in stock at Campman.com with free shipping on orders over $50.

About the Author

Derek Newman

Born in the Wasatch, Derek has had an affinity for mountain life since day one. He was on skis the year he learned to walk, and as a high school graduation present he gifted himself rock climbing lessons. Nearly two decades later, Derek spends most of his time climbing up and/or skiing down most of the mountains around Salt Lake City, and he’s traveled around the world multiple times for the sole purpose of peak exploration. When he isn’t a man about camp, he’s working in Campman’s content marketing crew writing up blogs about backcountry skiing or rock climbing as well as describing products that he’s used personally. He’s climbed in most climbing shoes, toured on most backcountry skis, and ridden the resort on skis, snowboards, and even some evac sleds.