User Review: Mad Rock Phoenix

Mad Rock Phoenix
Above: The current Phoenix, which may differ slightly from the version reviewed.

Reviewed May 21, 2008 by Roger Yang

Rating:
Use: Gym Climbing
Break-in Period: 3 weeks, 3 days in the gym ea
Weight: 145 lb
Price Paid: $65.99

At first, the rubber seems rather flimsy, but once you break this shoe in, the rubber is indeed sticky. As a person who generally relies on stealth rubber, gryptonite has exceeded all my expectations. Resoling this shoe is also pretty idiot-proof.

For the most part, this shoe takes time getting comfortable in. The stiff backing causes minor abrasions on the back of your heel. The rubber is a bit thicker than the other shoes I've owned, leading towards less sensitivity. I found this shoe to be less flexible than other shoes due to the stiff heel and thicker rubber. This shoe has also given me a little problems when crack climbing, since it's less form fitting than my previous shoe.

As for durability, these shoes have shown minor wear after perhaps two months of climbing. The stitching has held up well, but I'm not sure about how long the rubber will last. Already there is a definite marking around the toe-area.