Replacement for Pythons?

I’ve tried various shoes like Skwma, Solution, various Scarpa (barf), 5.10 hi angle, etc. None of them had the comfortable toe box, aggressive downturn, and good feel of the Pythons. Skwama was pretty good of course but the plastic material is not nice and overall I dislike the construction quality. Would resole the Python but places like the Rubber Room will take forever to do the resole.

 Scarpa Dragos are the most similar that fit me but they are different in a few aspects and don’t make a good cheap training shoe the way Pythons did. I really didn’t like Skawas for the same reasons and fit. I climbed in Cobras since they were originally released and then Pyhtons for many years and never found anything else like them.

Rock n Resole is a month turn around as of when I dropped shoes off last week. 

If you are able to fit into one of the sizes offered by La Sportiva for the Maverink (meant as a kids shoe but goes up to size 42), I thought that shoe felt pretty similar in terms of fit:

https://www.lasportiva.com/en/footwear-man/climbing/maverink

Bonus is it is cheaper than most of their high performance shoes like Solution, Skwama, Otaki, etc.

The Acro's toe box is unbeatable on my foot.  It's not the most sensitive shoe on the market, which is good or bad depending on your perspective.  Construction quality is top notch.  Might be worth trying.

Also interested in this as my Pythons probably won't last for another season.

I will have to pass on Scarpas because they just have never fit my foot shape. I have looked into the Maverink since my Pythons are 39.5 but my only apprehension is that it is strapless...

Seems like resoling is my best bet.

I went through the same stress when my Pythons (4 pairs) all wore out. Eventually I got Skwamas and didn't like them at first.  Had to size them up 1/2 a size from the Pythons.  But after using them for ~3 months I have decided that I do like them and now prefer them over the 1 pair of Pythons that I eventually resurrected through a radical resole.

If you want another pair of pythons, I've got a pair I could part with. That would allow you to still have a pair while getting the other one resoled. They are a size 40.5 and I've used them once or twice since resoling them with onyx, which was their first resole. 

ASid wrote: Also interested in this as my Pythons probably won't last for another season.

I will have to pass on Scarpas because they just have never fit my foot shape. I have looked into the Maverink since my Pythons are 39.5 but my only apprehension is that it is strapless...

Seems like resoling is my best bet.

I never found the strap to do that much if they are sized super tight anyways. I’ve used cobras and pythons interchangeably and the lack of strap on the cobra has never been much of an issue. I climbed in Speedsters also and the lack of strap was fine for that type of shoe. If I was still trying to fit into Sportiva I’d give those Maverinks a shot. I’ve heard decent feedback from people using them.

What size do you wear? I have a like-new (used once in gym) pair of 39 Pythons to sell. I tried to go up a half-size (normally I wear 38.5) for added comfort, but the fit for the half size up I didn't like. $90 shipped?

I’m size 37.5 in Python and 38 in Solutions. I’m a pretty big fan of XS Grip2 rubber. I’m also intrigued by no edge. Overall this means the Maverink is very interesting to me. When I last researched it people said it wasn’t very downturned. How downturned is it compared to the Python or Solution?

Other shoes I’ve considered are Cobras (not P3), Speedsters, Futuras, and just sucking it up and going with Skwamas. 

I my experience the Cobras are a poor replacement for the Pythons. No strap, slightly different heel cup, generally less aggressive, no rubber on top for toe hooking. So, notably inferior for the niche the Python excels at- super steep gymnastic climbing with heel and toe hooks.

I switched to the Oasi (Tenaya) to replace my pythons. The narrow fit still works well for my narrow “Sportiva foot”, and they fill a similar performance niche. 

rooooock wrote: I’m size 37.5 in Python and 38 in Solutions. I’m a pretty big fan of XS Grip2 rubber. I’m also intrigued by no edge. Overall this means the Maverink is very interesting to me. When I last researched it people said it wasn’t very downturned. How downturned is it compared to the Python or Solution?

Other shoes I’ve considered are Cobras (not P3), Speedsters, Futuras, and just sucking it up and going with Skwamas. 

The Maverink is flat.

The Futura is definitely closer in softness to the Python than the Skwama is. All are excellent shoes.

Noah Yetter wrote:

The Maverink is flat.

The Futura is definitely closer in softness to the Python than the Skwama is. All are excellent shoes.

Really? Sportiva notes that they are downturned, although I know sometimes it differs irl.

I have Pythons, Futuras, and Skwamas, and the Futura is the closest to the Python all around imo. The heel on the Futura is very similar to the Testarosa heel, no coverage on the sides like the Python. I really enjoy the no-edge sole as well. 

BrianWulf wrote: I have Pythons, Futuras, and Skwamas, and the Futura is the closest to the Python all around imo. The heel on the Futura is very similar to the Testarosa heel, no coverage on the sides like the Python. I really enjoy the no-edge sole as well. 

Concur with this.  The Futura has caused me to have no use for my Pythons (size 42.5 for sale if interested).  The Futura is the best shoe in my quiver at the moment. The shape, toe and sensitivity (way sensitive and soft) are perfect.  The heal could definitely be improved though.  

ASid wrote:

Really? Sportiva notes that they are downturned, although I know sometimes it differs irl.

Yeah that marketing copy is... erroneous. Even just holding the shoe in your hand you can see that the outsole is completely flat, vs. the concave shape of the outsole on the Futura and Genius. Put it on and you can feel the difference immediately.

Still a great shoe, though. 3mm rubber and no midsole makes it amazing at smearing. Great on comp-style volumes and sandstone slab.

rooooock wrote: I’m size 37.5 in Python and 38 in Solutions. I’m a pretty big fan of XS Grip2 rubber. I’m also intrigued by no edge. Overall this means the Maverink is very interesting to me. When I last researched it people said it wasn’t very downturned. How downturned is it compared to the Python or Solution?

Other shoes I’ve considered are Cobras (not P3), Speedsters, Futuras, and just sucking it up and going with Skwamas. 

As Noah mentioned, Maverink is VERY flat. I'm a 39.5 python and got the same size in maverink. I can't toe in hard to pull with the maverink on, didn't like them at all for gym training steep problems. They were amazing on 10+ granite friction slab though.

I have used the skwama and now the drago for training. Skwama was a bit stiffer than I would like for big holds, but it grew on me. I use them a lot outside on rock now. The drago is even softer and more sensitive than the pythons were, yet still seems to edge well for being a soft shoe. Heel fit is better. Amazing for toe hooks. Built on more of an egyptian style foot shape than scarpa traditionally are. I have a 41 drago and it's a hair more comfy than my 39.5 pythons were once stretched. 

Not all Scarpa shoes fit my foot, but the Furia is definitely worth looking at- certainly my favorite soft steep shoe.

I tried numerous Scarpas including the Furia. The Furia seemed really low volume compared to the Pythons. They might have performed well, but I didn’t notice due to the pain.

I’m considering the Futura, although I heard the toe is similar to the Solution which is less comfortable than the Python 38 Solution, 37.5 Python). How does the Futura comfort compare to the Solution and Python? How do you size Futura compared to Python?

Late to the party but I will chime in-

I find the Futura not a direct comparison to the Python. It has more downturn and more of a shaped toebox and doesn't smear as well. I loved the Drago and like my Futuras, but they cannot smear like the Drago and don't climb as well on sandstone.

Oddly though I took out my Skwamas the other day to the local standstone crag and found they smear better on pure friction than the Futuras and my 2nd favorite to the Drago. To me the Futura was more like the Chimera in terms of feel and performance or maybe Furia S.

I don't have outdoor time in Pythons yet. I got them .5 size smaller than my Skwama and Futura and hope it's the right size, but so far they feel pretty damn similar to the Drago but with a better heel (for me).

I wore pythons forever. Futuras are the closest fit. The no edge thing takes a few pitches to get used to but I love it now. I agree they don't smear super well...probally not the best shoe for granite slabs but steep limestone and you'll be happy.