Climbing Shoes for Big Feet

I'm writing this because it's a post I wish I would've found when I started climbing in 2015.

If you need climbing shoes size 14 and up, this is for you. I have a size 15/16 street shoe myself so I feel the pain of the search for shoes.

The best brand, for myself and big-footed friends, because they cover all the bases, is ACOPA. They make shoes in half sizes up to size 20! My brother has size 18 feet (he's 6'9") and for the first time (once he orders his shoes) he will be able to get on the wall without going through tons of toe pain for an easy run-up Leopard Skin or ... anything for that matter. They are an awesome small company and I can't speak highly enough about them. Let's give them some love and make sure they stick around, for our sakes. However, there is one caveat, as shoes in these large sizes aren't exactly in high demand they make the shoes after you place your order. So be prepared to receive your shoes a month or two after you order. I just got their JB's and had a pair of their Aztecs. They are awesome shoes and you can even get them customized if you want to pay the extra money.

The Scarpa Instinct VS' are available up to size 50 and I frequently climb in those. They do stretch a bit so If you're closer to size 16 these may be slightly tight, but doable for sure. I can leave my Instinct's on for hours.

I climbed in the 5.10 Anasazi's for a long time, but I think the sizing is a bit tighter with the new management. I recently ordered a pair of Moccasym's in size 15 and they were just too tight. I didn't think they'd stretch enough to be comfortable for my desired purpose - easier multi-pitches and gyms - so I sent them back.

Other than Acopa, Evolv is your best bet for climbing shoes up to size 16. They make the Defy, Defy Lace, Geshido, Geshido Lace, and Shaman up to size 16! I started climbing in the defy's (a beginner shoe) and they were great. I ordered some Shaman's recently and am stoked to have them (the 15's seemed too small so I got the 16's, but they have stretched more than I thought so next time I'll probably opt for the 15's).

Red Chili also makes a couple of more entry-level shoes in up to size 16. Notably, the Sausalito's, Session 4, and Session Air. The Sausalito's are pretty good and I recommend them for beginners.

The Tenaya Mudaka is available up to size 15 and they are pretty flexible/soft so they can stretch. Tenaya may also have some other options. 

Happy Sending!

Thank you very much for all the information, it has been very useful.

UnParallel has sizes up to 14.  I am loving their UP Lace in 12.5.  Made in USA by the old Five Ten team, in the old Five Ten factory, with the old rubber compound that Adidas didn't use.  Very sticky!

This is a great thread, thanks!

I wear size 15 street shoe and absolutely love the Tenaya Tarifa and Oasi. They're both super comfortable and high-performance.

Does anyone have beta on big approach shoes? It seems like after the Adidas buyout of FiveTen there is zero interest in accommodating the fringe sizes. I used to be able to get Guide Tennies - but Adidas stopped making big sizes in these. For a while I could get Adidas Terrex, but these too now max out at 13 or so. None of the other big brands seem to offer big sizes - La Sportiva, Scarpa, etc.

Are there any small, boutique approach shoe manufacturers out there that offer big sizes?

Hector P wrote:

This is a great thread, thanks!

I wear size 15 street shoe and absolutely love the Tenaya Tarifa and Oasi. They're both super comfortable and high-performance.

Does anyone have beta on big approach shoes? It seems like after the Adidas buyout of FiveTen there is zero interest in accommodating the fringe sizes. I used to be able to get Guide Tennies - but Adidas stopped making big sizes in these. For a while I could get Adidas Terrex, but these too now max out at 13 or so. None of the other big brands seem to offer big sizes - La Sportiva, Scarpa, etc.

Are there any small, boutique approach shoe manufacturers out there that offer big sizes?

I have the La Sportiva tx3's in 13.5 and while they about ripped a couple of toe nails off when I took them up the Grand Teton a few years ago (actually it was coming down that was painful and made my big toes bleed a bit), they seem to have stretched a little over time and are much more comfortable now.

Tommy: Thanks for starting this thread! Acopa suggests buying your street shoe size, is that what you wear? Would you say that's a good all around fit?

Jay: What's your regular shoe size? Is the 12.5 an all-day or performance fit for you?

Hector: Bummer on the approach shoes! I've been looking around and found a few in 14 but not 15. Scarpa makes a few in size 48 (14).

I had Rock and Resole customize a pair of TC pros for me which worked pretty well, but I'm not sure if they are still doing it. I have a "Greek" left foot and an "Egyptian" right foot - the second toe on my left foot is longer than my big toe making my left foot a bit bigger overall.

David House wrote:

Jay: What's your regular shoe size? Is the 12.5 an all-day or performance fit for you?

Street: 12.5/46.5.  UPLace 12.5/46.5 all day fit, toes flat.  LaSpo Katana Lace 46 is performance/tight. 2nd toe curled.  Wish they made 46.5.  Same in TCPro.  TXGuide 46.5 fits narrow but perfect - climbs well.  Bomber shoe.  TX3 46.0 fits wide and great for wearing around or easy approach shoe work - too sloppy on my foot for real climbing.  I tried the UP approach shoe in 12.5 and it was huge - exchanging it theoretically though I haven't heard from them...

David House wrote:

Tommy: Thanks for starting this thread! Acopa suggests buying your street shoe size, is that what you wear? Would you say that's a good all around fit?

I got the Aztecs in size 15 (normally my go-to street size) and once broken in were a bit big. Then I ordered the JB's in 14.5 which are tight and haven't stretched much at all, though I haven't had a chance to really break them in yet.

Update on the Shamans - I tried on the 15's and 16's, purchased the 16's and they've stretched a bit so next time I'll probably go for the 15's.

Thanks for the sizing feedback, any comments on width/volume? I'm thinking about ordering the Aztecs in 14 to try. They say they fit "narrow to wide feet" - is that really possible? I think both UP and Acopa are probably better for wide feet. My feet aren't that narrow but they are very low volume.

David House wrote:

Thanks for the sizing feedback, any comments on width/volume? I'm thinking about ordering the Aztecs in 14 to try. They say they fit "narrow to wide feet" - is that really possible? I think both UP and Acopa are probably better for wide feet. My feet aren't that narrow but they are very low volume.

Honestly no. I've never had the luxury of really getting to care about that haha - it either fits reasonably well or not. I've had size 13 since I was like 14 years old or something, so if you do try them out, maybe you could supplement this thread with that information?

I tried the Acopa Aztec but they were too wide. Acopa was very helpful and ordering your street shoe size is probably the right place to start. Unfortunately the brand seems oriented to med to wide feet. The Aztec seemed like a good all-day comfortable shoe, pretty beefy, I think it would take some break-in time.

I would up getting the largest pair of the new TC pros and taking them to Rock n Resole to get them customized. I have not been able the break them in yet, I can only wear them for a couple of pitches before they are too painful.

Thanks for the beta!

Here is my shoe beta for climbing/alpinism:

My foot size is 307.9x104.7mm. For altras i wear 15, vivobarefoot 48, la spo ultra raptor 2 in a 49 fit great and have good rubber. 

For ski boots i wear 32 in sacrpa maestrale rs with a punch very roomy i put shims on the bottom to take up volume but very warm for alaska. I have la spo skorpius in a 31 with intuition liners as the stock one is trash for that boot. They are tighter and not as warm. Look to skimoco website for last length in mm as they are different for every brand. I wish alien rs' and f1 lts were made bigger tho! 

I have la spo g2sm in 50, the oly mons are made in this size too. Fits great! And 49 fit my feet fine too. Also lowa single boots in a 14 definately a lotta toe bang and missing toenails from those. La spo size 48 single boots fit me well tho. My feet dont swell too much at altitude and i do not wear thick socks below 6k m.

Rock shoes i wear anasazi in a 50 mostly because i have found them for $40 on amazon. I can wear those all day no problem. But the evolv shamans in 15 work great for me! I have the tx4 approach shoe in 48 and that works well definately a little tight but totally fine compared to other shoes i have had. 

Mostly what helped me the most with big flat feet has been exercizing my toes and feet, and being barefoot when possible to help strengthen arches. Towel scrunches with toes and rolling feet with a lacrosse ball has helped. 

Ben:  Thanks for the tip on the Raptor II's, I had given up on La Sportiva since they mostly stop at 47.5 but it looks like they have larger sizes in the Bushido as well.

I just ordered a pair up UnParallel UP Lace's in a 14 LV. I have high hopes and will report back.

Has anyone tried the Black Diamond Mission approach shoe?