Soft vs Stiff Climbing Shoes: What’s Right for You?

Quick Summary: Climbing shoe stiffness can seriously change how your feet feel on the wall. Whether you’re edging on vertical routes or smearing on volumes, knowing when to choose a soft or stiff shoe can make all the difference in your performance.

Why Stiffness Matters

The stiffness of your climbing shoe—mostly controlled by the midsole and sole thickness—determines how much support or sensitivity you get when stepping on footholds. It affects:

• Power transfer
• Foot fatigue
• Sensory feedback from the wall

Understanding the difference between soft and stiff shoes will help you pick the right tool for your climbing style.

Stiff Shoes: Power and Support

Stiff shoes usually feature a firmer midsole and thicker rubber underfoot. This structure spreads pressure across your foot and makes standing on small holds feel more stable.

Best for:

• Edging on tiny footholds
• Vertical to slightly overhung routes
• Longer routes where fatigue builds up

Why choose stiff shoes:
They let you relax your toes more while climbing, which reduces foot strain and helps you climb longer without tiring out your forefoot.

Example:

• Tenaya Indalo – Excellent precision and power for technical routes
• Evolv Phantom – Built for aggressive edging and power

Tenaya Indalo: Precision and power for standing confidently on the smallest edges.

Soft Shoes: Sensitivity and Flexibility

Soft shoes offer minimal support but give you direct contact with the wall. They’re more flexible, making them ideal for feeling subtle features and conforming to weird footholds.

Best for:

• Steep bouldering or comp-style climbing
• Smearing on volumes and slabs
• Toe-hooking and surface contact

Why choose soft shoes:
You’ll feel every texture and nuance of the wall, which can boost your confidence when smearing or adapting foot placements.

Example:

• Evolv Zenist Pro – Sensitive and lightweight for comp-style movement
• So iLL Street LV – Flexible and comfortable for overhanging problems

Evolv Zenist Pro: Ultra-sensitive and lightweight—perfect for comp-style footwork and dynamic movement.

Not Sure? Go for a Balanced Shoe

Some shoes strike a middle ground between soft and stiff, giving you support for edging while still offering decent feel. If you climb a wide range of styles, these hybrids might be your best bet.

Examples:

• Tenaya Mastia – Versatile with moderate stiffness
• Evolv Geshido – All-rounder for gym and outdoor climbing

Evolv Geshido: Built for versatility, the Geshido balances stiffness and sensitivity for all-around climbing.

Which One Should You Pick?

Ask yourself:

• Do you climb long routes or small edges? Go stiff.
• Do you boulder steep problems or smear on volumes? Go soft.
• Do you climb everything? Get something in between—or better yet, have two pairs!

And remember: fit still matters most. A perfectly stiff or soft shoe won’t help if it doesn’t fit your foot properly.

Final Thoughts

Stiff or soft—both have their place. Whether you want to stand strong on micro-edges or flow across sloping volumes, your shoe’s stiffness can work with you or against you. Come down to the Boulder Planet Showroom, try on different models, and feel the difference for yourself.

Try soft and stiff shoes side-by-side at Boulder Planet Showroom today!