Scarpa Helix

Opinion on this shoe as an all around shoe

I have a pair. Decent entry level shoe. If you're just getting into climbing they're great until you learn better foot technique that won't destroy your feet and have a better idea what type of shoe you need. I've since bought a pair of Techno X, and my Helixes (Helices?) have been relegated to gym duty.

If you haven't gotten shoes yet, thehelix is a great pair.  They are super comfortable, mold to your feet almost instantly, and last a long time.  My wife still uses hers after 1 year of climbing twice a week.  I only traded mine in for vapor v's after 2 months because of a defect in one of the shoes 

I love my helixes for long trad multi-pitch days. They're affordable and confortable.

Baba Fats wrote:

If you haven't gotten shoes yet, thehelix is a great pair.  They are super comfortable, mold to your feet almost instantly, and last a long time.  My wife still uses hers after 1 year of climbing twice a week.  I only traded mine in for vapor v's after 2 months because of a defect in one of the shoes 

Just curious on how your wife sized her helix. I have a friend who has been wanting to get into climbing but she's not sure how the sizing is for those

She's not into cramming her toes into her shoes, so I think she just went with her street shoe size or maybe a half size smaller.  It's hard to tell.  Sometimes she wears a 7 US, others a 7.5.  Her helix's are a 38.  

I have two pairs, one for comfort with the toes slightly curled, one a half size smaller for precise edging. I'm of the opinion that the performance specs of a shoe don't matter all that much, and it's the fit that counts. These are the only shoes I've found that fit my feet perfectly, and they're a well built shoe, so if they fit your foot, go for it. The only areas I've found them lacking is on very steep (i.e. horizontal) terrain, where some downturn would be helpful, but that's not the shoe's fault; the flat sole is preferable for more vertical terrain. I would prefer a slightly stickier rubber on the heel for heel hooking. Note that the sole rubber is relatively hard, great for edging, not ideal, though certainly not horrible, for slab. I've spent plenty of time on hard 12 in these shoes, and when I pop off it's because I suck, not because of the shoes. If they fit your particular foot shape well, they'll be a great all around shoe; if they don't, they'll suck just like any other shoe would. 

Bnice, Sorry, I lied.  In normal shoes a 7.5 US would convert to a 38.  According to Scarpa's conversion, her Helix's are a 40.  I had to go digging for the box.  

I use my pair for my zen garden bouldering sessions and gym, comfy, wear a 9 USM street shoe, 41 in Helix 41.5 in Techno, performance is so so as is my ability and initiative.