Aidan Roberts' Top Climbing Shoe Picks

Aidan Roberts' Top Climbing Shoe Picks

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Scarpa Athlete Aidan Roberts is one of the UKs best climbers and knows a thing or two about what goes into a good climbing shoe. In this blog Aidan takes us through some of his top climbing shoe picks and why he chooses them for his climbs.


In this series of videos – Aidan Roberts’ Top Climbing Shoe Picks, Aiden gives us a climber’s perspective on why you should choose each shoe for different aspects of climbing and different rock types.

Take a look at Aidan Roberts’ top climbing shoe picks in the videos below:

Instinct S

Ever wanted the encapsulated, M50 foot-wrapped performance of the Drago, seamlessly merged with the precision edging and support of the Instinct series?

Then look no further. In this video, elite Scarpa athlete Aidan Roberts tell us just why this shoe is so good and how it varies from other models in the range.

As with all iterations of the Instinct series, the Instinct S is a high performing and versatile climbing shoe which excels on steeper ground, yet unusually for a slipper, still retains a good edge on smaller footholds and vertical ground.

Aidan Roberts' Top Climbing Shoe Picks

The modified CTS (Combined Tension System) construction incorporates aspects of the Drago’s SRT (Surround Randing Tension) and Instinct’s B-Tension constructions with a two-thirds midsole, to create unprecedented levels of support, and perhaps most importantly in a slipper; a secure locked-in heel fit – the best yet!

This locked-in fit and the supportive midsole combine perfectly with full M50 upper toe box coverage, to enable powerful toe-hooking and a shoe which holds its form throughout its lifespan.

Instinct Lace

The ultimate lace up. Instinct Lace is arguably the highest performing all-round lace up on the market, retaining aspects of the all conquering Velcro versions, while incorporating a few subtle design tweaks to give this shoe some distinct fit and application advantages.

In this video, elite Scarpa athlete Aidan Roberts takes us through just why he loves the Instinct Lace and how it varies from other models in the range.

Offering a slightly asymmetrical, downturned shape, with a medium angled toe box, the Instinct Lace is appreciated by climbers for its ability to cope with almost any climbing terrain – adapting perfectly to a large variety of footholds and angles.

Drago LV

The go-to shoe for comp climbers the world over, along with its sibling, the classic Drago, the LV is par excellence when it comes to steep, athletic modern bouldering arenas, whether that be indoors or out.

Aidan Roberts' Top Climbing Shoe Picks

In this video, elite Scarpa athlete Aidan Roberts tell us why this shoe is so good and how it varies from other models in the range.

Seeking to maintain all the winning characteristics of the World Cup winning Drago, the LV version has been engineered to suit climbers of all gender and age with a lower volume, skinnier foot.

Careful tuning over many prototypes has shaved the optimum volume from the original last with much focus on the mid foot and heel sculpting. An extended size range ALS allows this exceptional fit to be enjoyed by a wider audience.


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