Best Five Ten Climbing Shoes

How to Choose Five Ten Climbing Shoes

Five Ten fits the widest of the three big brands. Five Ten's last is more generous through the forefoot than La Sportiva or Scarpa. If you have wide feet and have been frustrated by other brands, Five Ten is often the answer.

The Five Ten Range

Beginner / comfort: Rogue VCS, Niad Lace — flat-lasted, comfortable, sticky Stealth rubber from day one. The Rogue VCS is the most accessible Five Ten at around $130.

Trad / all-day: Niad Lace, Quantum, Anasazi Pro — comfortable for full days, precise edging, the foundations of American big-wall climbing.

Sport / all-rounder: Anasazi Pro, Quantum, Kirigami — moderate downturn, all-day comfort with serious performance. The Anasazi Pro is the daily driver of countless 5.13 climbers.

Bouldering / steep: Hiangle, Hiangle Pro, Crawe — aggressive downturn, sticky rubber, built for steep terrain and modern competition-style problems.

Five Ten Fit Notes

• Width: Widest of the major brands — best for medium-to-wide forefeet.
• Heel: Heel cups vary by model — Hiangle has a snug performance heel; Anasazi is roomier.
• Sizing: Most climbers go 0.5 size below street shoe for comfort fits, 1 size below for performance models. Five Ten shoes stretch less than La Sportiva.

Stealth Rubber

The reason Five Ten exists. Stealth C4 (most models), Stealth Onyxx (Quantum), and Stealth Mi6 (specialised) are all proprietary rubber compounds developed in-house. Many climbers consider Stealth C4 the stickiest climbing rubber in production — it grips smears, slopers, and rounded holds that other rubbers slip off. The trade-off: Stealth wears slightly faster than Vibram on rough rock.

History and Acquisition

Five Ten was founded in 1985 in Redlands, California. The original Anasazi (1990) defined a generation of free climbing — Lynn Hill's 1993 free ascent of the Nose was in Anasazis. Adidas acquired Five Ten in 2011 and continues to make the shoes under the same Stealth-rubber formula.

Budget Guide

• Budget ($120-140): Rogue VCS, Niad Lace
• Mid-range ($150-180): Anasazi Pro, Quantum, Kirigami
• Performance ($180-220): Hiangle, Hiangle Pro, Crawe

Common Mistakes Buying Five Ten Climbing Shoes

Underestimating Stealth rubber's stickiness. First-time Five Ten wearers often find the rubber feels almost grabby — perfectly normal. Smears that slip in other shoes hold in Stealth.

Buying Hiangle as a first pair. Aggressive shoes from any brand are wrong for beginners. Start with the Rogue VCS or Niad Lace.

Sizing as Scarpa or La Sportiva. Five Ten runs different — generally a half-size larger than equivalent Scarpa or La Sportiva models.