Climbing shoe recommendations for very shallow heels?
’m looking for climbing shoe recommendations for people with very shallow/narrow heels.
I’ve owned some shoes at this point, including:
La Sportiva Ondra Comp
La Sportiva Tarantula
Evolv Zenist Pro LV
Tenaya Indalo
All of them have had some amount of dead space in the heel. The Ondra Comp is probably the closest fit I’ve found so far, but it still isn’t quite right, and the break-in period was absolutely brutal. I’d rather not go through that again if there’s another option out there.
I’ve also tried pretty much every shoe available at my local gym and climbing store, and nothing has really solved the heel issue.
Most shoes fit reasonably well in the forefoot but end up with air pockets or looseness around the heel, especially when heel hooking.
For sizing reference, I wear EU 41–42 in street shoes and typically wear EU 39.5 in both La Sportiva and Tenaya.
For those of you with similarly shallow heels, what shoes ended up working for you? Any brands or specific models that are known for particularly low-volume heels?
For reference, I’m mostly climbing indoor boulders, and I’m looking for a performance-oriented shoe rather than an all-day comfort shoe.
Thanks!
Posted Jun 11, 2026, 9:19 PM UTC