User Review: La Sportiva Solution

La Sportiva Solution
Above: The current Solution, which may differ slightly from the version reviewed.

Reviewed December 14, 2007 by David Harding

Rating:
Price Paid: $120

Gone through two pairs of this shoe in 7 months climbing 3-4 times a week at local gym. Took 3 sizes down from shoe size and still moderately comfortable. Feels incredibly powerful on roof problems and edging, some difficulty with smearing compared with a less technical shoe. Supportive on the arches of my feet like no other shoe I have tried.

Only concern is the rate at which the material deteriorates. The metal strap holes rust very quickly and cut away at the straps, all my straps snapped after around 3 1/2 months use and the material in the heel wears away and leaves your heel exposed to blisters from the less comfortable material. In about the same time as it takes for the rubber to wear at the toe. So there is no point getting the rubber recapped.

If you can afford to replace every 3 months then this is the shoe for you. Otherwise get something more hard wearing that can take a resoling and still survive a for another 3 months.