Katana Lace Vibram XS Edge Climbing Shoe
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La Sportiva's Katana Lace Climbing Shoe might be one of the most versatile shoes out there. Sized appropriately, the Katana can jam up a finger crack, smear up a slab, or edge through an overhung sport climb. It styles a permanent moderate downturn—thanks to La Sportiva's P3 technology—and lower asymmetry for a balance between high performance and a comfier feel. Vibram's XS Edge rubber has a harder compound than Vibram's Grip, and it ensures long-lasting traction suitable for granite slabs, sandstone smears, and limestone edging.
Details
- Versatile shoe excels on slab, crack, and face climbs
- P3 technology maintains a moderate downturn for life
- Vibram XS Edge optimizes edging performance
- Leather upper conforms to your foot shape for comfort
- Lorica lacing system minimizes stretch for an exact fit
- Item #LSP0165
- Upper Material
- leather, Lorica
- Lining
- Pacific
- Closure
- laces
- Rubber
- Vibram XS Grip
- Last
- slip
- Profile
- downturned
- Asymmetrical Curvature
- medium
- Claimed Weight
- [single] 8.7oz
- Manufacturer Warranty
- 1 year
Reviews
Q&A
Overall Rating
5 based on 4 ratings
Review Summary
Fits Small
Screen reader users: the following list provides a visual scale to illustrate the product fit. Please refer to the heading above for the fit type in text.What do you think about this product?
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Selecting an option will reload the available reviews on the pageAugust 26, 2021
Great moderately downturned shoes
- Familiarity:
- I've used it several times
- Size Bought:
- 44 1/2
- Height:
- 6' 1"
- Weight:
- 155
I was looking for a shoe exactly one notch up from slab shoes in terms of aggression. I enjoy being comfortable in my climbing shoes, but I also wanted more support for bouldering. Also laces are a must. I fit a 43 1/2 in mythos, and needed 44 1/2 katanas. The katanas fit perfectly, with a fairly straight big toe and very slightly curled other toes, when my heel is hitting the back of the shoe. Still breaking in. They're kind of like bouldrery TC pros shape wise. Very nice. Not really such thing as running large or small with climbing shoes in my opinion, they all seem different.
August 3, 2021
My sizing experience
- Familiarity:
- I've used it several times
This is a great climbing shoe. There's nothing I can add that hasn't already been said - EXCEPT my experience with sizing. So here's what fits my feet: Katana Lace - 45.0 for all day comfort. I tried a 44.5 for a more technical fit but they destroyed my toes during break in. If I was climbing radical stuff I'd have stuck with the 44.5 TC Pro - 45.0 Mythos - 44.5 Scarpa Helix - 45.0 (used in the gym) Brooks, Asics, Nike running shoes - US12 La Sportiva Ultra Raptor - 46.0 La Sportiva TX3 approach shoes - 45.5 For what it's worth... hope this helps.
July 6, 2020
Best all-around shoe
- Familiarity:
- I've put it through the wringer
tl;dr This shoe is the perfect blend of comfort and performance. From cracks, to small edges, and even some impromptu heel hooks here and there, these shoes have helped me 'send plenty without the need of throwing on some painfully small shoes. They'll easily take down most 11s and with good technique will do much more! More details- The shoes have a fair amount of support and great grip to stand thinner edges. The laces allow a snug fit throughout the shoe - crucial for squeezing the most support when pushing the capabilities of the shoe. They underperform at toe hooking but can throw solid heel hooks when properly fit. The neutral symmetry and comfy support makes them great multi-pitch and day-long sesh candidates. They are by no means a do-it-all shoe, and advanced climbers will certainly benefit from specialty shoes like TC Pro's or Solutions, but if I had to keep a single pair of shoes, it'd be these puppies. They're very durable and can be re-soled at least once (probably more if you care well for them and don't have smelly feet). The shoes are snug on my average-width feet and I can imagine the laces allow for larger range of widths but I would encourage people at either width extremes to look at other alternatives. They "run small" but so do other La Sportiva models and most brands. Comfort is overrated in climbing shoes, but in my humble opinion and experience, it will be crystal clear when you need tighter, sensitive, or aggressive shoes. Until then, you most likely don't, so may as well spare your toes and make your climbing more enjoyable. People try to give magic formulas for sizing but it's best to get a ball-park estimate from La Sportiva's sizing guide, order two three different sizes in that range and see for yourself what feels best. Looks like Backcountry might start doing free returns/exchanges to save a few bucks when doing this.
May 17, 2020
Good For Wider Feet
- Familiarity:
- I've put it through the wringer
- Size Bought:
- 45
- Height:
- 5' 11"
- Weight:
- 230
60% of all people have one foot that is larger than the other; for 80% of them, their Left is larger than their Right. I am the opposite. So I literally have to buy two pairs of shoes for the right fit: Skwama = L44/R44.5; Solution = L44.5/R45; Otaki = L44.5/R45. Why am I telling you this? Because the Katana Lace seems to be "unisex" sized = a little snug for the rated size. So I can wear a size 45 and they fit both of my feet after breaking in; plus the lacing allows me to further dial in the fit for my freak feet. As for performance, I think they offer about 90% of the performance of a Miura VS without the pain of the Miura toebox; and I am not expert enough to bemoan the extra 10%. Love these shoes for edging on the smallest features I would dare to atttempt. If I am trying something more challenging than I am used to, these shoes inspire confidence!!
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