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climbing shoe
Scarpa

Instinct

Category
Climbing shoe
Type
Lace
Key specs
Vibram XS Edge, 3.5 mm; XS Grip 2 heel
Material
Microfiber
Weight
225 g (size 40)

What climbers keep saying · from 9 reviews

comfortable4needs break-in3painful3precise edging1wears out fast1

Their Instincts are 41 vs a 42-42.5 street; any tighter would hurt on a slipper.

positive

Their Instinct Lace WM, bought for the narrower heel, showed obvious wear in the XS Grip 2 after just two sessions on sharp rock.

mixedwears out fast

Their Instincts were super hard to break in; nice shoes but they may not buy another pair.

mixedneeds break-inpainful

The Instinct Women's Lace needed a half size up to get a performance fit: the toe box is slightly narrower and shorter; 3-5 sessions to break in.

mixedneeds break-in

The Instinct Lace is their primary rope-climbing shoe, sized 1 down from street: snug but comfortable out of the box and stretched a little.

positive

The Instinct Lace is precise, sensitive at the tip, comfortable and an all-round outdoor shoe once broken in, though their heel slips when cranking.

positiveprecise edgingcomfortable

The Instinct Lace feels stiffer through the whole shoe and supports the whole foot.

positive

Their Instinct Laces gave better whole-foot support on longer routes thanks to the full-length sole.

positive

The Instinct Lace is their all-time favourite shoe on their third pair: the best all-around climbing shoe.

positive

Prefers the women's Instinct Lace on technical edges where it can still smear a bit.

positive

Got the lace-up Instinct in their Drago size: fine for single crag laps, but agony on a 30+ pitch volume day; would size up half.

mixedpainful

Has the lace-up Instincts in teal, the only shoe whose fit they've ever loved; aggressive yet still soft and comfortable, fitting better than the LV.

positivecomfortable

Their lace-up Instincts were unbearable on the big toes until a few rounds of warming them in the oven and walking around in them; now they can actually wear them.

“I have a pair of Instinct lace ups that were unbearable on my big toes. I tried to sell them without success”
mixedpainfulneeds break-in