La Sportiva Tarantula Womens Climbing Shoes Review

If you’re just starting to boulder or sport climb, and you want a climbing shoe that won’t kill your feet or your wallet, the Tarantula Women’s delivers in spades.

It’s well-made, slips on fast, fits most feet shapes, and doesn’t punish you for climbing longer sessions.

Edging performance is solid for a neutral, flat shoe, but don’t expect magical friction on tiny holds or miracle heel hooks. It’s not a hardcore sending machine, but it’s a reliable, forgiving partner for learning footwork and building confidence.

The real winner here is the fit—especially for those of us whose feet suffer in narrow or aggressive models. If you care about shoe comfort as much as I do, this is a real contender.

Why this climbing shoe? Because I wanted a comfortable, affordable, stress-free option for those of us who care just as much about our toes as our sends.

Trust me, I’ve forced my feet into everything and my lessons were painful—literally.

Here’s everything I learned testing the Tarantula Women’s on plastic and real rock with a fit-obsessed mind.

Let’s take a look at what makes this climbing shoe unique.

I remember when I was first working on my confidence with tiny edges—thinking, does a beginner shoe like this even have a chance?

Honestly, I was surprised. The Tarantula Women’s is nowhere near as stiff or precise as my La Sportiva Katana Laces (my gold standard for intermediate edging), but for vertical walls up to 5.10, it holds its own.

The sole is thick enough that sharp holds don’t jab straight into your foot, and there’s just enough stiffness up front to put some real weight onto smaller footholds.

One time in the gym, I forced myself to climb a whole session in the Tarantulas after a month in more aggressive shoes.

Result: I managed every edge problem up to V3 (some V4s), and my feet never ached like they did in stiffer, pointier pairs. On sharper outdoor limestone, the rounded toe means you have to “place” your foot carefully—it’s not surgical, but it teaches good habits. If you’re learning to edge, this is a safe, confidence-building choice.

Okay, let’s talk smearing—standing with your foot flat on the wall, hoping friction saves the move. Here the Tarantula Women’s is a real friend.

The soft, flat sole actually feels more grippy on volume smears than I expected. On slabby indoor routes, I could trust the shoes to stick—far more than any super-stiff, advanced shoe I own.

The one thing to watch for: the rubber isn’t the stickiest in the universe. It’s totally fine in the gym and most outdoor situations, but if you’re desperate on glassy rock, it’s not magic.

For most new and intermediate climbers, though, you’ll be pleased. I even sent my first proper gym slab in these and didn’t once think about taking them off for comfort mid-problem.

Here’s where this shoe absolutely shines—comfort is off the charts. Seriously, out of every shoe I’ve tested at ClimbingShoesFit, nothing (except maybe the Scarpa Veloce) feels this painless straight out of the box.

When I first slipped these on in my street size (EU 38, US 7.5 for me), my toes had room to wiggle. That was honestly shocking, since I had only ever known pain with other models. No hotspots, no crushed pinky toes, no weird pressure over the big toe joint.

The real talk is: if you’re after a “snug, performance fit,” you’ll have to size down a little (I’ll talk more about sizing below). But if you want all-day comfort for long gym sessions, or your feet get sore fast, the Tarantulas let you climb as long as your skin will allow.

My only struggle? I got cocky and wore them for a 4-hour multi-pitch day and got a bit of heel rub. Lesson learned: comfy, but nothing is perfect on super-long days.

You won’t get razor-sharp feedback from the La Sportiva Tarantula Women’s, let’s be real.

The thick sole and softish upper mean you don’t always “feel” exactly what you’re standing on, especially compared to something like the Futura or Solution Comp. However, this is actually an upside for new climbers.

The climbing shoe protects your toes and lets you make mistakes in footwork without pain.

On trickier bouldery moves where every foot placement counts, you do have to look a bit more and trust your feet. But, surprisingly, after a couple sessions I adapted, and my footwork probably improved more than if I’d been coddled by super sensitive shoes.

Basically: not made for sending V8, but plenty enough feedback for solid progression.

You can definitely hook with these, but it’s not the main strength. The Velcro closure is simple and leaves some empty space in front, so when I tried one of my favorite gym problems with a big, swingy bicycle move, I had to focus extra hard on squeezing my foot to keep the shoe on. It’s nowhere near as locked-in as something aggressive (like the Theory), but it works for learning the basics.

Heel hooks: Softer heel, less structure. When setting up for a desperate heel on a lip at my local bouldering cave, I felt the shoe flex and twist a bit. Not ideal for big moves, or hard outdoor toe hooks where holding is essential. For vertical or slabby problems (or just pulling with your heel, not really cranking), it’s fine.

If you’re chasing those high-heel hooks on monsters, this isn’t the shoe. But for casual use and learning proper technique, it’s more than serviceable.

Biggest surprise? How much more I enjoyed long sessions when my feet weren’t begging to come out of the shoes every 10 minutes.

One of my most memorable sessions was coaching a new friend through their first top rope, both of us in Tarantulas—no complaints, just fun and focus on foot placement. The shoe fades into the background—in the best way.

I also realized how much I improved my actual movement by NOT being distracted by foot pain. The shoes let me focus on enjoying the climb, not counting the seconds until the next shoe-off break.

I finally understood that “performance” isn’t always about aggressive shoes—it’s about you feeling good and moving well.

This is where I think the La Sportiva Tarantula Women’s really separates itself.

My foot is on the wider side (not super duck-wide, but regular shoes often feel tight on the outside edge). The Tarantula fits me without crushing anything. Even my friend with flat, square toes (a notoriously hard-to-fit shape) found these comfortable.

If you have:

• Medium or wide feet (especially at the toe box)
• Straight to slightly tapered toes (Egyptian, Roman, even Square toes work well)
• A higher instep or beefier foot volume

you’ll probably love this fit. Super narrow feet may swim a bit. People who demanded super pointed shoes (Greek toe) won’t feel locked in at the tip.

If you’re used to shoes that squeeze your little toes too hard, you’ll finally relax in these.

The Tarantula Women’s has a rounded, relaxed toe box that works great for climbers with Roman, Square, or Egyptian toe shapes—basically any foot where the toes are more even across the front or taper gently from big toe to pinky.

If your second toe is much longer than your big toe (Greek shape), you might feel a bit of pressure up front or need to size up slightly for comfort.

That said, it’s a forgiving shoe, and most people will find a shape that works.

Best for medium to wide feet, especially those who struggle with tight toe boxes. The fit doesn’t pinch or compress the outer toes, making it super comfy for anyone with a higher volume or broader foot.

This is made specifically for women (or anyone with lower-volume feet). Sizes generally run EU 33–42, so if you wear a men’s/unisex US 8 or below you’ll probably fit fine. Men with narrow feet sometimes love the women’s cut, too.

Okay, mistakes were made. The first pair I grabbed was an EU 39 (I’m usually EU 38 in street shoes, US women’s 7.5). That felt like wearing slippers—not secure enough for confidence on small holds.

Sizing recommendations:

• For max comfort and all-day wear, go with your street shoe size (EU 38 for me). Your toes will touch the end, not jammed. Great for gym, beginner sessions, and multi-pitch comfort.
• For a snug fit (a little more performance, less slip): size down by half a Euro (I tested a 37.5, and it was just right for moderate/techy climbs—still not painful at all!)
• Don’t size down aggressively—the soft leather will stretch a bit, but you can’t force performance out of these by downsizing 2 full sizes. You’ll just compromise comfort and still not get a super tight feeling.

Try on both close sizes if you can. If your feet are skinny, maybe consider the men’s/unisex version for a narrower fit.

I’ve used my Tarantulas for almost 8 months, mostly in the gym. Zero delamination. The Velcro is still solid, leather has stretched a tiny amount (normal for any shoe), and I haven’t blown through the rubber on my big toes (which I usually do fast in super soft shoes). These things are little tanks.

My only issue: after months of toe-dragging bad habits, the toe rubber did get a little shiny, but still nowhere near a resole. They’re tough and hold up to regular, beginner mistakes.

Honestly, this is one of the best values in climbing. Usually under $100 (and you can often find sales at major retailers), it’s tough to beat what you get. For the price, you’re getting a real leather upper, proper climbing rubber, and a shoe that’ll last until your technique outgrows it.

I absolutely recommend this to any friend starting out. Advanced climbers might find it “boring,” but for learning and comfort, it’s actually a steal.

As with anything one size doesn’t fit all. Here are my recommendations.

Not ideal for:

• Hardcore climbers chasing elite boulders or lead routes
• Anyone who needs a pointed toe for pockets or super precise edging
• People with very narrow feet (may feel too roomy)
• Fans of aggressive, downturned shoes

These are for:

• Beginner and intermediate boulderers or sport climbers
• Anyone with wider or higher-volume feet
• People who want comfort first, and don’t chase V7 or 5.12+
• Climbers learning good footwork or doing long sessions
• Boulderers or gym climbers who value easy on/off (the Velcro is fast!)