2019 La Sportiva Testarossa

Sheesh, I don’t know what you’re looking for, just thought I’d share a good deal on the 2019 Testarossa in a thread called “2019 La Sportiva Testarossa”.

I did read it and saw a few people saying they enjoyed the new one and saw you saying you were gonna buy a size 43 in the new style. In fact, I have been following the thread since you started it since I was curious about the new model also.

Sorry if my post disrupted the flow of your thread. Still better than 75% of the nonsense posted in the “great online deals thread” imo.

I got the new style Testarossa half size smaller than the original per La Sportiva’s Instagram post and they are indeed more painful but I still like em.

Lena chita wrote:

Weird, it felt different than Genius heel to me... I 

anyway, good luck finding the old ones. Hopefully you are one of those less-in-demand sizes. 2 months ago GearExpress was the only online source that had my size. Weirdly enough, they seem to be the only retailers that haven’t discounted old model of testarossas... they still list them for $180...

I agree about the heel. I found the Genius very difficult to fit as compared to the new ones on the testerossa. Have used mine now for 3 weeks .about twice a week.They do seem a bit bigger and sometime I might try to down size. For now they feel fabulous with any real extra space on my left heel...just a tiny bit.The toe box seems perfect though.

David Swaine wrote:

I agree about the heel. I found the Genius very difficult to fit as compared to the new ones on the testerossa. Have used mine now for 3 weeks .about twice a week.They do seem a bit bigger and sometime I might try to down size. For now they feel fabulous with any real extra space on my left heel...just a tiny bit.The toe box seems perfect though.

Do you think the forefoot is remains same between half sizes or goes smaller? I am debating about going half a size down as is being recommended, but my issue has always been a wider forefoot. I wear 40s in the old model, and the heel is already a bit loose. Based on what's being said I'm afraid going 40 in the new model will leave way too much space in the heel and going 39.5 will leave me with too little in front. 

AlbertL wrote:

Do you think the forefoot is remains same between half sizes or goes smaller? I am debating about going half a size down as is being recommended, but my issue has always been a wider forefoot. I wear 40s in the old model, and the heel is already a bit loose. Based on what's being said I'm afraid going 40 in the new model will leave way too much space in the heel and going 39.5 will leave me with too little in front. 

I tried the size down in the store here in London. Would concur with others IE they run bigger now I wore 36.5 in the old originals these I would guess would be equal to the 36 in the new version.I bought these in 36.5 and have used them quite a lot. They seem great.I have a narrow forefoot but medium/wide middle and narrow heel..Up sizing works but downsizing in the new sizing does as well.

Thanks David. Okay, since consensus seems to be that they are about half a size larger than the old version, I went ahead and ordered a 39.5. Wish I could try them on first, but they aren't available in the country I'm in at the moment but also got a pair of the old ones in my normal size as insurance.

Hello!

Did anyone downsize a 1/2 size (EU) and find they were still too long? I wear a 41.5 in the original and they fit perfectly, but a 41 in the new model is definitely too long for my feet. From the sportiva instagram post referenced earlier in the thread they suggested an "extra 1/2 size" which would seem to imply downsizing 2 half-sizes, given the use of "extra". However, after reading this thread a 1/2 size smaller was what a few people said fit best. I didn't want to risk going down too small as I ordered them online and also wanted a slightly bigger pair for long days outdoors - so worst case scenario I have that bigger pair. Which is the case. Now to find the size that would match the fit of the originals. If anyone has a 40, 40.5, and/or 41 and can measure them in centimetres that would be most helpful. Highly unlikely my 41s were mislabled as a 41 but a length comparison would be great. Also, anyone notice that they seem ever so slightly less downturned? unless the added length creates an optical illusion lol.  

thanks!

I interpreted the IG post as going down .5 EU size from your old model size.  Since I wore a 41 in old model, I bought the new model in 41 and 40.5 to try out.  Comparing the two new models both visually and by fit, 40.5 is shorter.  

My experience: New model 41 was a bit loose/long straight out of the box.  40.5 started off tight, but has broken in.  It is tighter than my old model 41 still, but nothing crazy.  The heel is much better/more snug.

I agree, the new model does look less downturned.

If anyone on this thread is still looking for old Testarossas (size 41), I'm selling some. See link below.
https://www.mountainproject.com/forum/topic/117521465/fs-testarossa-size-41

I picked up the 40.5 and they fit a wee bit tighter (on my left foot) than my 41.5 OGs when new, but feel like they're close to becoming a perfect fit after a few routes indoors. I think?!?!  Right foot feels perfect'ish; left foot soso'ish. They're still in that kind-of too painful/too stiff break-in period so fingers crossed they fit even better than the OGs after a week of climbing. Thankfully, the 41s (new model) are great for outdoors when my feet swell up and the 41.5 OGs become too tight for my sore toes.

Izzy Nawfal wrote: I interpreted the IG post as going down .5 EU size from your old model size.  Since I wore a 41 in old model, I bought the new model in 41 and 40.5 to try out.  Comparing the two new models both visually and by fit, 40.5 is shorter.  

My experience: New model 41 was a bit loose/long straight out of the box.  40.5 started off tight, but has broken in.  It is tighter than my old model 41 still, but nothing crazy.  The heel is much better/more snug.

I agree, the new model does look less downturned.

I read it as you did at first (and in relation to this thread) but they didn't say go down a .5 EU size, they said an "extra .5 size" which could have been a colloquialism but if you care to indulge my nerdiness for a moment, no need to say extra imo lol - either way, the 41s turned out to be a worthwhile buy as they come through outdoors when needed. 

I love the OGs but the wee bit tighter feel of the NMs may prove to be a winner after they've broken in. Good luck to every ones feet! And that can be said when purchasing: indoor vs outdoor use. I can climb all day indoors and there's not much change to how my shoes feel. Outdoors and the OGs can become too painful to wear. 

David Swaine wrote:

I agree about the heel. I found the Genius very difficult to fit as compared to the new ones on the testerossa. Have used mine now for 3 weeks .about twice a week.They do seem a bit bigger and sometime I might try to down size. For now they feel fabulous with any real extra space on my left heel...just a tiny bit.The toe box seems perfect though.

B K wrote:

Thanks. Maybe read some of the thread to see what it’s about before just posting something?

Just cause you’re on the internet doesn’t mean you have to be a jerk.

• update*. Loving the new version.

I got the same size as my old pair and honestly they don’t feel any different, maybe a bit longer to break in

How do you size testarossas compared to katana laces? My street shoe size is US 13; I wear 45.5 in katana laces...

Pat Dempsey wrote: How do you size testarossas compared to katana laces? My street shoe size is US 13; I wear 45.5 in katana laces...

How do your Katana Laces fit? If they are comfy(ish), all-day type fit then these reference points might be less useful, but here they are anyways...

I wear 43 Sportiva approach shoes, 39.5 Katana Lace (tight fit, not sized for all-day or sustained cracks), and a 38.5 Testarossa. I typically wear a 39 in most other Sportiva models (Miura, TC, Solution), but I wear the Python and Skwama in the same size as the Testarossa.

X Cwrote:

How do your Katana Laces fit? If they are comfy(ish), all-day type fit then these reference points might be less useful, but here they are anyways...

I wear 43 Sportiva approach shoes, 39.5 Katana Lace (tight fit, not sized for all-day or sustained cracks), and a 38.5 Testarossa. I typically wear a 39 in most other Sportiva models (Miura, TC, Solution), but I wear the Python and Skwama in the same size as the Testarossa.

43 approach shoes to 38.5 Testarossa..holy sh*t, I can't wrap my mind around it haha, I just got the 40.5 and wondering if I exchange it to 41 (43 approach shoes as well)

edit: update, I did indeed exchange it for the 41 and I'm super happy about it

Size them for your foot length and toe curl. The great thing about the Testarossas is how much you can adjust volume of the shoe with the lacing system to match your foot. For reference, I wear 42 in LaSpo approach shoes and 39.5 in the Testarossa.