La Sportiva Tarantulace Climbing Shoes Review

If you’re in the market for your first real climbing shoe, or if you’re a budget hawk looking for something that won’t destroy your feet on long sessions, the La Sportiva Tarantulace deserves a look.

These aren’t high-performance weapons, but they do just about everything a new or casual climber needs at a price that’s easy to stomach. They fit a wide range of foot shapes, break in without too much misery, and stand up to serious abuse.

There are flashier (and pricier) shoes out there, but there’s a reason you see Tarantulace everywhere—from the plastic holds at your local gym to dusty crags. Are they for everyone? No. But if you want a shoe that makes climbing approachable, the Tarantulace could be your best partner.

I started ClimbingShoesFit because, truthfully, I wasted way too much cash (and way too much skin) trying to force my wide, weird feet into shoes that just didn’t work for me. The result? More time searching for the ‘perfect fit’ than actually climbing.

If you love hunting for that Goldilocks shoe—just right, not too tight—you know the struggle. So when one of my friends at the gym asked why nobody ever talks about beginner shoes that actually fit well, I set out to give the La Sportiva Tarantulace a proper test.

I wanted an honest answer: are these really ‘beginner’ shoes, or just a cheap compromise? Could they work for more than your first few months of flailing on V1s? I took them on everything from three-hour gym sessions to a dusty day of cragging to find out.

Here’s what I learned, the mistakes I made (hello, sizing!), and who I really think these shoes are for.

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

Let me be upfront—the Tarantulace isn’t your secret weapon for standing on razor-thin limestone crimps. During my first session on vertical granite, I immediately noticed that these shoes have a relatively soft sole compared to aggressive, high-end models.

There were a few micro edges where I started to doubt whether they’d hold. But on bigger footholds, and especially in the gym, they were more than serviceable.

One thing that helped: the laces really let you snug up the toe box. If you take the time to lace tight, you’ll feel a bit more support when edging. But if you’re used to stiff, pro-grade shoes (I messed up by testing them back-to-back against my Miuras!), you’ll definitely notice a drop in power.

Still, for most new or casual climbers, the Tarantulace has enough structure to teach you footwork without punishing your toes. I even flashed a surprising V4 with a sketchy, dime-sized foot chip thanks to the shoe’s moderate shape… But I won’t pretend it was easy.

Here’s where the Tarantulace shines, especially for newer climbers. The sole is flat enough and the rubber soft enough to make smearing on volumes, slabs, and gym angles nearly foolproof.

On the big plywood slabs at my gym, I was honestly surprised by how confident I felt just plastering my foot onto the wall. It doesn’t have the sensitivity of high-end shoes, but for confidence-building, that big, flat sole is awesome.

Outdoors on rougher granite, it was totally serviceable—though in rain or gritty sand, the rubber started feeling less sticky. In short, if you’re learning to trust your feet on friction moves, the Tarantulace is a soft landing.

Real talk: I usually hate breaking in climbing shoes. My toes are wide, my street shoe size is EU 43 (US 10), and anything narrow makes me want to throw my socks at La Sportiva’s headquarters. But the first time I laced up the Tarantulace, I was shocked—they felt, dare I say, comfortable.

Don’t get me wrong, no climbing shoe is a bedroom slipper. The first couple of sessions, my toes were a little scrunched and I took them off between problems. But by the second full session (about three hours in), they loosened up considerably.

The full leather upper stretches a bit—plan for up to half a size, so don’t panic if they feel a touch snug at first. They never left deep marks on my feet, and for once, I didn’t dread the long top-rope sessions.

If pain and blisters on day one have scared you off before, these will be a relief.

Here’s the trade-off for all that comfort: you don’t get the sensitivity of a thin, soft, high-performance shoe. On small placements, I sometimes felt like my toes were guessing instead of knowing exactly what was underfoot.

You do feel some feedback, but the thick rubber mutes the details.

That said, for most gym climbing and the kind of bouldering where you’re standing on good, obvious holds, this really isn’t a deal-breaker. If you’re a newer climber still building confidence, having a little more padding might actually help you trust your feet more.

Now, if you’re trying to impress your crush by pulling wild toe hooks on the arch or sticking big dynos with locked-in heels, the Tarantulace is not the best tool for the job.

While you can get away with basic toe hooks on gym jugs and some simple heel hooks, they don’t ‘grab’ the feature the way a stiffer, more aggressive shoe does.

I tried the classic gym comp boulder—big swing, toe catch on a volume, then a bicycle move. Tarantulace gave enough grip to not embarrass myself, but I felt some foot movement. The heel, with its basic design, doesn’t ‘lock in’ for super-technical hooks. A few times outdoors, on sloping sandstone, my heel slipped out when I needed it most (spooked me pretty well).

So they’re passable for basic use, but don’t expect to send your hardest cave-problem in these.

My biggest surprise with the Tarantulace? How much more I climbed when I wasn’t battling my shoes. During a three-hour bouldering session, I realized I’d only taken them off twice—the comfort let me stay in the zone, figure out moves, and try hard longer.

Another cool moment: bringing them to an outdoor friends’ day where two people forgot shoes. Both borrowed my Tarantulaces (yes, socks were involved), and both immediately commented, ‘Oh, these aren’t painful at all!’

After so many years thinking climbing shoes had to hurt, I learned that some just… don’t. That made me smile.

Here’s where I can help the most. My feet are wide in the forefoot, with a standard ‘Egyptian’ shape (big toe longest, rest tapering down). The Tarantulace is a surprisingly forgiving option. The toe box is round and neither super narrow nor super asymmetric.

I asked friends at the gym—one with a flatter, ‘Roman’ toe shape found them a bit too roomy at the front, but my Greek-foot buddy (second toe longest) said the laces saved the day by letting him cinch down for a closer feel.

If you have:

• Wide to medium feet, you’ll love the space.
• Narrow feet, the laces help, but some heel slippage is possible.
• Super high or super low volume feet, plan to spend extra time dialing the lacing.

The Tarantulace fits the three most common toe shapes with ease:

• Egyptian (big toe longest): room for your hallux without squeeze.

• Greek (second toe longest): plenty of space so that second toe doesn’t curl.

• Square (toes even length): all five toes lie side by side naturally.

Because the footbed is straight and uncurled, it simply follows your own toe layout—no forced bends or pinches.

Best for medium to wide feet because the toe box has extra space and the full lace-up lets you customize the fit. Narrow feet may have too much room, causing heel slippage.

Available in a wide size range for both men and women. Just check the size chart for conversion—my test pair was EU 42.5 as a guy with a 43 street shoe.

Sizing climbing shoes is always a gamble, and even after years of obsessing about fit, I still get it wrong sometimes. My street shoe: EU 43 (US 10). I tried both 43 and 42.5. Here’s what happened:

• At my street size (43), the fit was relaxed and comfy, almost too roomy after a month. Good for all-day comfort, but not precise for more technical stuff.
• Downsizing by half (42.5), the fit was snug but bearable. After break-in, these felt just about perfect—still not performance-tight, but secure for gym sessions and easy outdoor days.

My tips:

• If you prioritize comfort or have wide feet, buy your street size.
• If you’re planning to push your grades, try a half-size down.
• Don’t try to size super aggressively—the upper stretches only a bit, but this isn’t a precision shoe anyway.

Here’s what impressed me most. I’m rough on gear (ask anyone who’s seen my carabiners). After six months of steady gym use—2-3 sessions a week—the Tarantulace barely shows wear.

The rubber is thick, the sole hasn’t flattened, and the stitching is intact.

The laces haven’t frayed, and the upper only stretched a half size. After a dirty outdoor trip, a quick wipe and they were basically good as new. I suspect, for the price, you could get a full year of use if you’re mindful. Compared to pricier shoes, the Tarantulace is a tank.

This is where the Tarantulace absolutely justifies its reputation. You’re not buying a high-end Ferrari, but you’re not stuck with a cheap rental shoe either.

For the price, you get a shoe that will hold up to abuse, teach you solid footwork, and let you figure out what kind of climber you want to be.

I’d recommend it to anyone who climbs a few times a week, especially if you don’t want to spend an arm and a leg. If you outgrow its capabilities, great—you’ll know exactly what you want in your next shoe. But if all you want is a comfortable, no-fuss gym and crag workhorse: this is it.

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

Skip these if you:

• Want to tackle steep, overhanging boulders with hardcore toe hooks
• Need max sensitivity on tiny edges
• Have super narrow feet/heels (may get slop or heel slip)
• Compete or try to push V6 sport and above—buy a specialized shoe instead

These are perfect if you:

• Are new to climbing, or looking for your first ‘real’ shoe
• Value comfort over ultimate performance
• Have wider feet, hate super-tight shoes
• Need something affordable and durable
• Climb in the gym or do mellow outdoor days