La Sportiva Skwama Climbing Shoe
La Sportiva Skwama Climbing Shoe
The La Sportiva Skwama is a feature-packed advanced bouldering and sport climbing shoe that’s known for a level of comfort unusual in such a sensitive high-performance shoe. La Sportiva have designed the Skwama to be adaptable across all types of climbing, and it will perform best on steep and overhanging technical routes that also include edging, smearing, toe hooks, and heel hooks. Probably their most versatile shoe for climbers seeking all-round high-performance rather than just single-area high-performance.
The Skwama's P3 rand system helps maintains the shoe's aggressive shape, and this combined with the split-sole designed to reduce deformation when edging still provides a decent level of edging stability and support in such a soft shoe. The Skwama really excels at toe and heel hooking, including both the S-Heel™ with an "incompressible rubber insert" to help create a solid and unmoveable hook on holds during torsion-heavy moves, and the elongated toe rubber that provides friction across the entire forefoot.
As for fit, the Skwama features a suede leather / microfibre upper which is lined only in the back. Being part synthetic and part leather, expect it to stretch up to half a size. La Sportiva recommend you fit the Skwama on the snug side for a performance fit. If you're looking for a similar shoe but one that's stiffer and more suited for all-round use, try the Otaki or Kataki shoes which are built on the same last as the Skwama.
Tech specs
Upper material | Microfiber Suede Leather |
Flex | Soft |
Closure type | Velcro |
Sizing and fit | Medium Foot |
Color | Yellow / Black |
Weight | 0.42 kg (Size 40 EU) |
Last | High Asymmetry |
Sole material | Vibram XS Grip 2 |
Sole thickness | 4mm |
Profile | Downturned |
Lining | Lined (Back Only) |
Features

Vibram XS Grip2™
Rubber compound built for pure friction, recommended for use where maximum grip is the primary need - bouldering and sport climbing, indoor climbing, or extremely smooth, polished routes.

P3® Permanent Power Platform
After intensive abuse, downturned climbing shoes can start to lose their distinctive shape. La Sportiva’s P3 rand system prevents from this happening so your shoe maintains its powerful profile, permanently.

Full Features List
• Patented S-Heel™ construction provides optimal heel hooking manoeuvrability and the perfect heel cup fit
• P3® patented technology coupled with the new innovative split-sole construction allows the sole to spread when weighted, reducing edge deformation
• Sticky rubber toe patch for toe hooks and scums
• AWARDS: Climbing Magazine - Editors' Choice 2017
Excellent sport climbing and bouldering shoe. Fits like glove and gives by far the best sense in hugging footholds and pulling them in steep terrain. Could be tiring if climbing slabs or vertical routes that require to step on smears or very small edges for an extended period. However, it will never let down in terms of precision in overhanging routes. The rubber above the toe provides confidence in toe hooks and personally, although not a master in heel hooks it suits me perfectly without any signs of coming off in aggressive heel hooks or not fitting in thinner surfaces.
A MUST TRY for LaSportiva user!!
I'm 190cm and 80kg. 43 Street shoes
Solution 42 europe (41,5 too painful)
I choose 41,5 for this model. Feel tight but comfortable (maybe too much so I will down-size for a 41). S-heel avoid well the torsion of the heel but the heel a bit too soft for my weight (vs Solution, but much more sensitive). This model seems perfect for indore, but it's not a shoe for edging in rock neither for spots route because it's too soft for support your foot. Maybe next time I will try a 41,5 in those oatki or kataki for bouldering or sport route.
One of my best shoes, perfect in everything, I love the sensibility in this shoes, heel hook and toe hook are great for me. Even downsizing 1/5 i feel like walking in clouds,I still think that I can go 2 or 2/5 for a higher performance. Definitely looking forward to buy another pair.
Uk street size 9
Skawama size 7/5
A sensitive performance shoe, with great heelhook, toehook and edging abilities. It feels a bit like something in between Solutions and Pythons with best parts taken from both. I got these for bouldering so I sized these rather small 39,5 while I use size 40 in Solutions, Pythons and Testarosas (Street shoe size 42). Today I might go half size up so that these would be more comfortable in sport routes also. Heel of shoe required some break in time.
skwama is a super comfortable and precise bouldering shoe. great for heal hooks and small foothold performance.
highly recommended!