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Skwama vs Solution Comp

Original Post
Liam 7 · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2024 · Points: 0

Hi, I currently climb in mens Skwamas and the stiffness to softness ratio is perfect for me to smear, as well as edge in the gym. However I was looking for something a little narrower/ lower volume. I understand Sportiva make their womens shoes softer than mens to accommodate the weight of the climber, so is the womens solution comp a similar stiffness to mens skwama? (considering the solution comp is stiffer than skwama generally - e.g mens vs mens). Or would the womens solution (original) feel similar to the mens skwama?

Thanks.

Slim Pickens · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2023 · Points: 0
Liam 7 wrote:

Hi, I currently climb in mens Skwamas and the stiffness to softness ratio is perfect for me to smear, as well as edge in the gym. However I was looking for something a little narrower/ lower volume. I understand Sportiva make their womens shoes softer than mens to accommodate the weight of the climber, so is the womens solution comp a similar stiffness to mens skwama? (considering the solution comp is stiffer than skwama generally - e.g mens vs mens). Or would the womens solution (original) feel similar to the mens skwama?

Thanks.

LaSpo takes different approaches to men’s and women’s sizing and construction across different models. Some models have sizing the exact same across men’s and women’s, but different stiffness—the solution comp falls in that bucket. Volume wise, I think the comps are in between the women’s and men’s regular solutions.

Other shoes—the regular solutions and the skwamas among them—the men’s and women’s are high volume and low volume respectively.

I’ve climbed in men’s and women’s solution comps, women’s solutions and men’s and women’s skwamas. If you’re looking for lower volume and a similar place on the stiffness spectrum as your current men’s skwama, I’d maybe start by looking at the women’s skwama. If that’s too low volume for you, then yeah, the solution comp might be your next thing to look at. 

Liam 7 · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2024 · Points: 0
rock climbing wrote:

What is wetter a shower or bath?
You are wasting your time just go try the shoes and decide for yourself 

haha, I wish this was possible. Unfortunately there are no places to try on shoes near me.

Liam 7 · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2024 · Points: 0
Slim Pickens wrote:

LaSpo takes different approaches to men’s and women’s sizing and construction across different models. Some models have sizing the exact same across men’s and women’s, but different stiffness—the solution comp falls in that bucket. Volume wise, I think the comps are in between the women’s and men’s regular solutions.

Other shoes—the regular solutions and the skwamas among them—the men’s and women’s are high volume and low volume respectively.

I’ve climbed in men’s and women’s solution comps, women’s solutions and men’s and women’s skwamas. If you’re looking for lower volume and a similar place on the stiffness spectrum as your current men’s skwama, I’d maybe start by looking at the women’s skwama. If that’s too low volume for you, then yeah, the solution comp might be your next thing to look at. 

Thanks for the input! :)

Liam 7 · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2024 · Points: 0
Slim Pickens wrote:

LaSpo takes different approaches to men’s and women’s sizing and construction across different models. Some models have sizing the exact same across men’s and women’s, but different stiffness—the solution comp falls in that bucket. Volume wise, I think the comps are in between the women’s and men’s regular solutions.

Other shoes—the regular solutions and the skwamas among them—the men’s and women’s are high volume and low volume respectively.

I’ve climbed in men’s and women’s solution comps, women’s solutions and men’s and women’s skwamas. If you’re looking for lower volume and a similar place on the stiffness spectrum as your current men’s skwama, I’d maybe start by looking at the women’s skwama. If that’s too low volume for you, then yeah, the solution comp might be your next thing to look at. 

In reference to "the solution comp might be your next thing to look at." do you mean the mens or womens solution comp?

Apologies for volume of questions...

Jesse Neal · · Charlotte, NC · Joined Sep 2022 · Points: 1
Liam 7 wrote:

haha, I wish this was possible. Unfortunately there are no places to try on shoes near me.

you can always try sticking it to amazon by ordering a few sizes in each shoe you're interested and then returning them all once you make your decision and buy from someone else that either has a better deal or supports climbing

Slim Pickens · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2023 · Points: 0
Jesse Neal wrote:

you can always try sticking it to amazon by ordering a few sizes in each shoe you're interested and then returning them all once you make your decision and buy from someone else that either has a better deal or supports climbing

This works with Backcountry too. I think you may have to pay like 7.99 return shipping? Not much.

Liam, the difference in stiffness between the men’s and women’s comps is subtle but it’s there. The women’s is softer, though prolly still stiffer than the skwama. So yeah, sounds like the women’s will be closer to what you’re looking for, IMO.

Another thing to consider is the men’s skwama vegan. Same volume as the regular skwama out of the box, but way way way less stretch over time. 

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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