Gear Review: La Sportiva Solution Comp Climbing Shoe

La Sportiva has been making the top tier climbing shoes since the beginning of hard rock climbing. It is always amazing that they can revamp a classic shoe and improve on what was already an incredible design. For years the Solution has been the go to shoe for hard rock climbing. Recently La Sportiva introduced the Solution Comp. The similar shape of shoe that everyone loves, with a slight twist. The toe box is exactly the same shape, but there is slightly less rubber underneath the toe to give more sensitivity. There is more rubber on the top side of the toe for awesome toe hooking and toe scumming on any type of terrain. The biggest difference comes in the shape of the heel. The original Solution heel cup is this massive ball shape and had a lot of rubber on it. Which is great for supporting the heel, and works for some people’s foot shape. Personally, the original Solution’s heel didn’t fit me that well, there was always space in the back of the heel cup for my foot to slide around (even in sized down shoes). The Solution Comp, features a narrower heel cup that allows for a more compressed fit and more sensitivity when using heel hooks and scums. I have used the Solution Comp on everything from steep limestone climbing to vert face climbing at Smith. The Solution Comp is your shoe of choice when needing a more responsive shoe in general, go pick em up you crushers!