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Recommendations for a comfy slipper/velcro shoe

Original Post
Brandon R · · CA · Joined Mar 2006 · Points: 221

Some recent, but chronic toe pain is forcing me to reevaluate my shoe choices. I'm looking for a soft, flat-ish slipper or velcro with a wide (left to right, not high) toe box. I've mostly been using Sportiva Cobras and lace up Muiras (which I loved) in the gym, and they're killing my 3rd and 4th toes. Outside, I wear TC's and Otakis, which are sized up enough to be comfortable, but I want something softer for bouldering in the gym. My foot shape looks like "African" according to those foot charts. Anyone have any recommendations?

Cron · · Maine / NH · Joined Oct 2009 · Points: 60

5.10 Anasazi 

John Reeve · · Durango, CO · Joined Nov 2018 · Points: 15

I got some sloppy big tarantulas cause my big toes hurt when I woke up even if I hadn't been climbing the day before.

They are well made but inexpensive.

MP · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Sep 2013 · Points: 2

widest toe box i've experienced are the scarpa maestros.

be careful with your toes, you only get one set of them

Timothy Prime · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2016 · Points: 50

Have you tried Skwamas? 

Josh Rappoport · · Natick, MA · Joined Sep 2017 · Points: 31

The 5.10 Mocs but keep in mind without a stiff sole you will need to use more foot muscle 

bagel bagels · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Aug 2019 · Points: 0

I’ve been happy with scarpa origins as a gym shoe. One of the few shoes that fit right out of th box. I wear the women’s version since I have a low volume heel, but my foot shape is similar to yours.

Brandon R · · CA · Joined Mar 2006 · Points: 221

Thanks for the replies.
Anasazi pinks/velcro - I've used these a long time ago and they're definitely way too tight in the toe box.

Tarantula/Scarpa Origin - I have reservations about their in-house rubber and lack of sensitivity, but might have to go that direction eventually.

Scarpa Maestro - looks like a nice outdoor shoe, might have to try it some day. Doesn't look ideal for indoor bouldering though.

Skwama - I actually have a brand new pair, but they feel pretty down-turned and aggressive when I put them on... maybe I just need to break them in. They do have a wider toe box.

Moccs - I've been hesitant to buy these since I've heard from many that their quality control has taken a dive (from already sketchy quality control) since Adidas bought fiveten. And they raised the price of them. They definitely check a lot of the boxes that I'm looking for though. Flat, sensitive, easy on/off. I hear most people buy them way small and suffer through a break-in/stretching period... don't know if my toes can handle that.

Greg R · · Durango CO · Joined Jan 2013 · Points: 10

Ditto on 5.10 Anasazi

John Reeve · · Durango, CO · Joined Nov 2018 · Points: 15

So I got some moccs last month on sale for cheeep.  I've done maybe 8 days outdoors on them.  They already have a small tear in the material on the top where the foot goes in the shoe next to the elastic. (I haven't had mah coffeee so I can think of a better way to describe it.)

I think I will try and find someone to sew something on there to reinforce it, cause other than that I really like them.

PW Zenpw · · Židlochovice · Joined Sep 2016 · Points: 10

Most comfy shoe I've ever climbed in is: Scarpa Instinct VSR
Climbed before in: Skwamas, Otakis, Solutions.

Ilya · · Seattle · Joined Jul 2013 · Points: 10

For flat and comfy go with the mad rock remura. Cheap too.

Ted Pinson · · Chicago, IL · Joined Jul 2014 · Points: 252
Brandon R wrote: Thanks for the replies.
Anasazi pinks/velcro - I've used these a long time ago and they're definitely way too tight in the toe box.

Tarantula/Scarpa Origin - I have reservations about their in-house rubber and lack of sensitivity, but might have to go that direction eventually.

Scarpa Maestro - looks like a nice outdoor shoe, might have to try it some day. Doesn't look ideal for indoor bouldering though.

Skwama - I actually have a brand new pair, but they feel pretty down-turned and aggressive when I put them on... maybe I just need to break them in. They do have a wider toe box.

Moccs - I've been hesitant to buy these since I've heard from many that their quality control has taken a dive (from already sketchy quality control) since Adidas bought fiveten. And they raised the price of them. They definitely check a lot of the boxes that I'm looking for though. Flat, sensitive, easy on/off. I hear most people buy them way small and suffer through a break-in/stretching period... don't know if my toes can handle that.

They work ok if you don’t downsize them, they’re just more of an all-day/crack shoe at that point.  Haven’t had any problems with mine that I got a few years ago (definitely after Adidas sale).

Nick Drake · · Kent, WA · Joined Jan 2015 · Points: 651
caughtinside wrote: I would try on as many Scarpas as you can.  Booster S are wide and soft, Boostic are wide and stiff, Chimera is pretty wide for a downturned shoe.  

Second vote for any of these if you're looking for more room for your little toes. Also note the last is quite different from the instinct and vapors (I can't use either of them). I have the Chimeras and they were originally my warm up/moderate sport shoe, but I've been enjoying the comfort so much that they've started taking the place of testarossas on all but the really sustained thin routes. Note there was a long break in period to get slipper like comfort, but they were never bad. 

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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