Climbing Shoes Don’t Have to Hurt – New Scarpa Lineup Prioritizes Performance and Feel
For years, climbers have grappled with the age-old question: comfort or performance? Scarpa’s innovative 2024 climbing shoe lineup throws out that dilemma entirely. Shoes like the all-new Spot embrace a concept Scarpa has championed for over a decade – soft, comfortable shoes that can still deliver top-notch performance. This commitment to comfort extends beyond the Spot, with the Origin VS offering high-end features at a mid-range price, and the updated Force providing a luxuriously comfy all-rounder. Whether you’re a seasoned trad climber setting the line in the Sierra or a gym rat pushing your limits, Scarpa has a comfortable, performance-driven shoe to help you conquer your next climb.
New Spot puts SCARPA concept of soft, comfortable rock-climbing shoes into a high-performance all-arounder
Other new additions to the SCARPA climbing line in 2024 include the new Origin VS, the Generator V and an updated version of the Force. Over the last decade, SCARPA showed the place that soft — and by extension, comfortable — rock-climbing shoes have in the sport. With its new Spot and the Origin VS, SCARPA continues to build out its collection of versatile, performance shoes in that vein. On the other end of the spectrum, the new Generator V takes the mantle of the most supportive low-cut shoe in the line. And the new Force represents SCARPA’s latest take on a comfortable jack-of-all-trades. Because in climbing, the name of the game is having the right tool for the job at hand.
SPOT ORIGIN VS ‘GENERATOR V FORCE
Spot and Spot LV — Made with a soft, supple microsuede upper and full sticky M50 rubber coverage over the toes, the Spot is a versatile shoe that can be sized tightly for performance yet remains incredibly comfortable. The slightly downturned and slightly asymmetrical shape offers an immediate and natural fit, well suited for both indoor and outdoor climbing. The Spot uses a flexible full-length midsole paired with its softer upper construction, which yields an incredible combination of sensitivity and versatility. Inside, a soft lining provides excellent next-to-skin comfort. SCARPA’s HT-Tension is a one-piece active rand system that gives the Spot even tension from heel to toe, improving precision and focus on the foot. A Vibram XS Grip2 outsole (3.5 mm) provides a combination of support and friction, while M50 rubber on the top of the shoe covers a large portion of the toe box for high friction and superb comfort. The 244-gram Spot features double Velcro straps for quick and easy closure. Also available in a low-volume version. $169.
Origin VS — A soft, comfortable climbing shoe designed for modern indoor bouldering and sport climbing, the Origin VS encapsulates the foot in sticky rubber, delivering a design that balances moderate price with high-end features and performance. The Origin VS uses a super-sticky S72 rubber sole and also incorporates a huge sticky rubber toe cap and full rubber heel for hooking. The upper is built using a dual-ply microfiber upper — a material typically found in more expensive climbing shoes — and a comfortable, padded stretch mesh tongue. A wide, single strap Velcro closure system is easy to use and provides a large surface area of closure across the foot. $139.
Generator V — Building on SCARPA’s Generator Mid, created as the ultimate rock-climbing shoe for full days in the alpine or long routes on granite walls, the Generator V offers the same features in a low-cut model. It also adds ease of operation thanks to two velcro straps — wider on the top, narrower on the lower — instead of laces. It’s SCARPA’s stiffest, most supportive low-cut shoe in the line — great for longer or single-pitch routes where climbers want excellent support. The Generator V uses SCARPA’s Tri-Tension active rand, a design that provides powerful underfoot support and precision for micro and sustained edging, but doesn’t cram the toes uncomfortably into the front of the shoe. A low-profile toe design lends to performance in small cracks. The Eco suede leather uppers are durable, soft, and more sustainably minded with a chrome-free treatment process. They are paired with a breathable stretch mesh tongue for a precise, comfortable fit. The Generator’s heel uses SCARPA’s proprietary PAF (Pressure Absorbing Fit) technology, a design that places a softer material between the rands on the achilles area, retaining performance while increasing comfort by dispersing pressure. Vibram XS Edge rubber underfoot and an M70 rubber toe rand combines friction and precision. $215.
Force — Proving that high performance and comfort can truly co-exist in a rock shoe, the Force V uses SCARPA’s powerful V-Tension rand system to deliver excellent sensitivity, superb smearing and precise edging in a rock shoe that’s at home in the gym or can be worn all day in the alpine. Updated for Spring 2024, the Force uses a snug-fitting heel pocket and a slightly asymmetric, flat-last. A lightly padded mesh tongue and padded heel offer comfort. SCARPA’s Eco suede leather uppers are durable, soft, and more sustainably minded thanks to a chrome-free treatment process. A thin flexan midsole provides support without taking away too much sensitivity. Vibram XS Edge rubber and dual power strap closures round out the details. The Force V is a shoe that works for an astonishing array of climbers, from the more experienced who are seeking a comfortable but precise rock shoe to newer
climbers seeking out an option that will carry them deeper into the sport. Men’s and women’s specific
fits. $175.
About SCARPA and SCARPA North America
Founded in 1938, SCARPA builds performance footwear for climbing, hiking, skiing, mountaineering,
trail running and other outdoor pursuits from its headquarters in Asolo, Italy. SCARPA has been
owned and operated by the Parisotto family since 1956. In 2005, SCARPA opened its North American
headquarters in Boulder, Colo., staffed and directed by veterans of the North American outdoor
industry, to oversee sales, marketing and distribution in the U.S., Canada and South America. For
more information about SCARPA footwear, visit www.scarpa.com.
