New Katana Lace announced, available in March 2022

Huh, sounds like the new piece is the women's shoe, which sounds a lot like a re-launched kataki.

Interesting what he said about women's foot volume (that it is the same as men's after a few months of climbing). I wonder if that is real or just a line for corporate so he could get permission to make a new shoe.

This is kind of a bummer, the Katana Lace is my favorite all-around crack climbing shoe.  It’s a bit frustrating that they changed the design as they had already released the Otaki and Kataki.  I guess the best thing for “heavier” climbers like me who wear 45.5s, is that they didn’t change it to a 3/4 sole.   Even with big feet the original Katana Laces really shined on thinner cracks.   I hope the sizing doesn’t change like the new TC Pros because ordering shoes where I live is a pain. 

Luke Lalorwrote:

Huh, sounds like the new piece is the women's shoe, which sounds a lot like a re-launched kataki.

Interesting what he said about women's foot volume (that it is the same as men's after a few months of climbing). I wonder if that is real or just a line for corporate so he could get permission to make a new shoe.

It does seem like these are a merge of katana and kataki. 

Having a skinny low volume foot i can assure you the difference in volume between men and womens miura and miura vs is dramatic.

That all sounded like a used car salesman too me.

Tyler Bjorkmanwrote:

This is kind of a bummer, the Katana Lace is my favorite all-around crack climbing shoe.  It’s a bit frustrating that they changed the design as they had already released the Otaki and Kataki.  I guess the best thing for “heavier” climbers like me who wear 45.5s, is that they didn’t change it to a 3/4 sole.   Even with big feet the original Katana Laces really shined on thinner cracks.   I hope the sizing doesn’t change like the new TC Pros because ordering shoes where I live is a pain. 

Buy a couple pairs of the old version when they go on sale because the new ones come out. I probably will.

I also wonder if they will fit similarly to the old ones. I found that the old ones were a bit too wide for me but Katakis are perfect for my narrower feet, HOWEVER, the 3/4 sole in Katakis causes my arches to hurt after a while, thus preventing me from using them on multi pitch. I feel like the womens version with the XS Grip would not last very long if I was throwing them in thin cracks. thoughts on this? as of now I am forced to use Katakis on single pitch thinner cracks and just use my TC's on Multi pitch. 

Looks like they’re being fielded tested on the Dawn Wall right now.  I will probably try to pick up another pair of OG Katana Laces.  I am curious how the new shoe will compare.  They were supposed to be released in March so there might be some pairs in the wild soon.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CaC9gwep7I0/?utm_medium=copy_link

Sportiva was supposed to send me a pair in feb but told me last week to expect July 2022 now

Evan Gerrywrote:

Sportiva was supposed to send me a pair in feb but told me last week to expect July 2022 now

Anybody else told about a delay?

Bummer for a second when I read this I thought it said kataki :)

Epic TV has the new Katana in stock. If anyone is looking

Michael Swrote:

Epic TV has the new Katana in stock. If anyone is looking

Hmmmmmmmm got me thinking....

Adam Floydwrote:

Buy a couple pairs of the old version when they go on sale because the new ones come out. I probably will.

If only I could find them. They've been tough to find tbh. 

Luke Lalorwrote:

Huh, sounds like the new piece is the women's shoe, which sounds a lot like a re-launched kataki.

Interesting what he said about women's foot volume (that it is the same as men's after a few months of climbing). I wonder if that is real or just a line for corporate so he could get permission to make a new shoe.

It seems to me that there is such a huge variation in foot shapes of both men and women that it is pointless to call the climbing shoes “men’s” or “women’s”. I think calling some models “low-volume”, or “ smaller heel”, or “wide-foot”, rather than assigning gender to them makes a lot more sense.

I’m excited about the lace-up versions! The slight annoyance of extra time required to get the shoes on/off is more than offset by the fit, IMO.

So even though the old Katanas don’t fit me, I’m looking forward to trying these ones. 

Lena chitawrote:

It seems to me that there is such a huge variation in foot shapes of both men and women that it is pointless to call the climbing shoes “men’s” or “women’s”. 

Off topic - ditto hand sizes and shapes.  Which is why calling things finger, hand and fist cracks only gives me personal experience-adapted information, not factual information.

I am curious to know whether the new katana(s) design results in less pressure on the achilles tendon.  

I loved the forefoot design of the old katana, but the wide, baggy heel and location / tension.  The rand of the old Katana causes severe inflammation of my achilles tendon.  

Karl Henizewrote:

I am curious to know whether the new katana(s) design results in less pressure on the achilles tendon.  

I loved the forefoot design of the old katana, but the wide, baggy heel and location / tensio. Of the rand causes severe inflammation of my achilles tendon.  

The old one is funny to me. then once the tension rubber ripped (because of a different design flaw) the shoes comfortable again. It was like the two mistakes canceled each other out.