Best Kids Climbing Shoes
Updated How we research
La Sportiva Kid's Tarantula Jr Rock Climbing Shoe, Yellow/Black, 9 Boys/Girls
La Sportiva Tarantula Jr kids' climbing shoe with FriXion rubber, an unlined leather upper and an easy closure, built for young beginners who climb mostly indoors.
La Sportiva Kids Stickit Rock Climbing Shoe, Chili/Poppy, 13-13.5 Little Kid
La Sportiva Stickit is a kids' climbing shoe with a soft leather upper, flat low-profile styling, hook-and-loop fast lacing and 3mm FriXion rubber for gym and rock.
Kids need climbing shoes that make climbing fun, not shoes that hurt. Growing feet should never be crammed into aggressive, downturned models; a flat, comfortable shoe with a secure closure teaches good footwork just as well and keeps children excited to come back. Kids shoes vary in adjustability, stretch, durability, and how much growth the closure system can absorb, which matters when feet can jump a size in months and shoes take a beating from dragging toes. We weighed comfort, adjustability across growth spurts, durability, easy on-and-off for younger children, and price, since these shoes get replaced often. Velcro models with generous adjustment suit most kids and gym programs; lace-ups suit older kids climbing more seriously who want a more dialed fit. Fit them snug but fully flat, with toes touching the end without curling, and check the fit every couple of months rather than sizing up with painful room to grow.
The short version
We compared 8 picks. Our scores range from 6.5 to 7.9 out of 10.
- Best overall:La Sportiva Kid's Tarantula Jr Rock Climbing Shoe, Yellow/Black, 9 Boys/Girls. Highest overall score in this guide at 7.9/10.
- Also great value:La Sportiva Kids Stickit Rock Climbing Shoe, Chili/Poppy, 13-13.5 Little Kid. Value score of 8/10, overall 7.8/10.
- Solid build:SCARPA Kids' Drago Rock Climbing Shoes for Gym Climbing and Bouldering. Build and materials score of 8/10, overall 7.8/10.
- Feature-rich:La Sportiva Kids Gripit Kids Rock Climbing Shoes, Chalk, 8+. Features score of 8/10, overall 7.6/10.
Scores are our editorial assessment, not customer ratings. How we score
- 1.La Sportiva Kid's Tarantula Jr Rock Climbing Shoe, Yellow/Black, 9 Boys/Girls7.9/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 2.La Sportiva Kids Stickit Rock Climbing Shoe, Chili/Poppy, 13-13.5 Little Kid7.8/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 3.SCARPA Kids' Drago Rock Climbing Shoes for Gym Climbing and Bouldering7.8/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 4.EVOLV Venga Kids' Rock Climbing Shoes - Blue/Neon Lime - 37.6/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 5.Mad Rock Mad Monkey 3 Kids Climbing Shoe Blue - Size Toddler 97.6/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 6.Black Diamond Kids’ Momentum Rock Climbing Shoes | Engineered Knit Upper | Durable 4.3mm Rubber Sole | for Gym & Outdoor Use | Envy Green | Size 117.6/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 7.La Sportiva Kids Gripit Kids Rock Climbing Shoes, Chalk, 8+7.6/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 8.Butora Boy's Modern Climbing Shoe6.5/10See on AmazonCheck price
#1La Sportiva Tarantula Jr kids' climbing shoe with FriXion rubber, an unlined leather upper and an easy closure, built for young beginners who climb mostly indoors.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 7/10
- + FriXion black rubber is described as very sticky, which suits kids climbing on indoor gym holds.
- + Minimal asymmetry is described as helping beginners progress, a sensible shape for a first performance shoe.
- + Quick closure system lets kids put the shoes on and take them off by themselves between climbs.
- - Priced near 89 dollars, which is a lot for a pair a growing child may outgrow within a season or two.
- - The listing is a single size and color, so check the sizing chart against your child's foot before ordering.
#2La Sportiva Stickit is a kids' climbing shoe with a soft leather upper, flat low-profile styling, hook-and-loop fast lacing and 3mm FriXion rubber for gym and rock.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + Soft leather upper with flat, low-bulk styling is described as a comfortable fit for small feet
- + Fast Lacing System with hook-and-loop fastening makes adjusting the fit simple
- + Padded midsole and a higher heel tab are listed for comfort and easy on and off
- - Flexible no-edge toe favors comfort and learning over edging on small holds
- - Listing shows one size per ASIN, so check the size carefully as kids' feet grow
#3SCARPA's Kids' Drago is a soft, sensitive shoe for young climbers doing gym climbing and bouldering.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 7/10
- + Soft construction lets light kids feel holds without heavy pressure
- + Scaled from SCARPA's performance line for keen young boulderers
- + Great for youth teams and kids who climb several times a week
- - Soft, sensitive shoe is overkill for kids climbing only occasionally
- - Premium kids' price for shoes they will outgrow
#4EVOLV Venga is a kids' rock shoe for growing feet, adjustable by up to two full sizes and rated PSR 3 for sensitive smearing, suited to gym and boulder sessions.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Adjustable by up to two full sizes, so it can stay in use as a child grows
- + PSR 3 rating in the listing points to a sensitive shoe that smears well on volumes
- + Established climbing brand with a clear fit system explained in the listing
- - The listing shows a single size per ASIN, so sizing needs care and a size chart check
- - Low PSR rating means less edging power on small holds than a stiffer shoe
#5Mad Rock Mad Monkey 3 is a kids' climbing shoe with Science Friction 3.0 rubber, a toe patch for learning toe hooks and a neutral profile, aimed at young beginners.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Science Friction 3.0 rubber is listed for grip and durability
- + Xtreme Friction toe patch gives young climbers a place to learn toe hooks
- + Neutral profile is described as natural and comfortable for long wear
- - Synthetic upper stretches about a half size, which matters when picking a size
- - Listing shows a toddler size for this ASIN, so check which sizes are offered
#6Black Diamond Kids' Momentum is a flat-lasted kids' climbing shoe with an engineered knit upper, 4.3mm rubber sole and two hook-and-loop straps for gym and outdoor use.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Neutral, flat last is described as comfortable for vertical climbing and all-day wear
- + Engineered knit upper is listed for breathability and comfort
- + Two hook-and-loop straps make adjusting the fit quick for younger climbers
- - Neutral flat last gives less aggressive performance on steep terrain
- - Listing shows a single size per ASIN, so check the size against the child's foot
#7La Sportiva Gripit is an Italian-made leather kids' climbing shoe for ages 2 to 10 with stretch heel and tongue and a no-edge sole. It costs more than most kids' picks here.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 6/10
- + Four-way stretch elastic heel and tongue are listed to accommodate growing feet
- + 2mm FriXion sticky rubber and a no-edge sole are described for sensitivity and even wear
- + Hook-and-loop fast lacing and two heel tabs, one usable for a carabiner, ease on and off
- - Priced above most other kids' shoes in this guide, which matters for fast-growing feet
- - Listing covers ages 2 to 10 only, so older kids may need a different shoe
#8Butora's Boy's Modern climbing shoe is a simple kids' shoe for boys starting out at the climbing gym.
Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 5/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 7/10
- + Straightforward design keeps the focus on comfort for new young climbers
- + Butora makes dedicated climbing shoes, not generic sneakers
- + Suitable for gym classes, birthday climbs and after-school programs
- - Boy's sizing label may limit choices for shoppers using unisex charts
- - Check the closure style and material before comparing with rivals
Before you buy: trade-offs we flagged
No pick is perfect. These are the main compromises we noted for the top products in this guide, so you can check they will not matter for you.
- Priced near 89 dollars, which is a lot for a pair a growing child may outgrow within a season or two. (La Sportiva Kid's Tarantula Jr Rock Climbing...)
- Flexible no-edge toe favors comfort and learning over edging on small holds (La Sportiva Kids Stickit Rock Climbing Shoe,...)
- Soft, sensitive shoe is overkill for kids climbing only occasionally (SCARPA Kids' Drago Rock Climbing Shoes for...)
- The listing shows a single size per ASIN, so sizing needs care and a size chart check (EVOLV Venga Kids' Rock Climbing Shoes -...)
- Synthetic upper stretches about a half size, which matters when picking a size (Mad Rock Mad Monkey 3 Kids Climbing Shoe Blue...)
- Neutral flat last gives less aggressive performance on steep terrain (Black Diamond Kids’ Momentum Rock Climbing...)
Frequently asked questions
›What is the best choice among kids climbing shoes?
La Sportiva Kid's Tarantula Jr Rock Climbing Shoe, Yellow/Black, 9 Boys/Girls is our top overall pick. La Sportiva Tarantula Jr kids' climbing shoe with FriXion rubber, an unlined leather upper and an easy closure, built for young beginners who climb mostly indoors. It earns our score of 7.9/10, based on fit for the job, features, build and value.
›What is a good budget option?
La Sportiva Kids Stickit Rock Climbing Shoe, Chili/Poppy, 13-13.5 Little Kid is the strongest low-cost pick in this guide. La Sportiva Stickit is a kids' climbing shoe with a soft leather upper, flat low-profile styling, hook-and-loop fast lacing and 3mm FriXion rubber for gym and rock.
›How much should I expect to spend?
Picks in this guide span See on Amazon price bands (roughly: $ = under $30, $$ = $30 to $100, $$$ = over $100). We never display exact prices because they change constantly, so the buttons above always show Amazon's current price.
›How were these products chosen?
We shortlist products that fit the job this guide solves and compare their published specifications, such as size, capacity, materials and what is included. Each pick gets an editorial score out of 10 for fit, features, build and value, and we write the pros and cons from those details. Our score is not an Amazon customer rating. We earn a commission if you buy through our links, which never affects the ranking.
Climbing Nest independently selects every product; we may earn a commission from links above.
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