Review on SCARPA Helix Lace Climbing Shoes: The Perfect Fit for Trad and Sport Climbing by Allen Hart

The most comfortable shoes I've ever had! Ideal for long sessions. I love the fabric lining on the heel, it's a really great feature that adds so much comfort. I bought them to match my sneaker size and they were initially a comfortable fit, but after wearing them they may have gone up a half size. Now they are soft on my toes and I can wear them between climbs if I want without feeling loose while climbing. The sole lasted 3 months before reaching the edge which was average for me considering my weight (190lbs). ) and frequency (2-3 times a week, total 8-10 hours). I'll save them just in case because I really like them. The Helix is the same size as the La Sportiva Finale but is very different from my Scarpa Vapor V. The tags say they are the same size but the Helix is about half an inch longer than the Vapor V. I use the Helix for most of my climbs, but I switch to narrower Vapor Vs when footwork is really important. The only downside to Helix was that my feet turned blue after long, sweaty sessions for the first 2 months. I would buy them again. Update: I bought another pair of these on sale, love them so much. I have a pair of Scarpa Force V's that I've tried lately, they are good but I prefer the Helix glove lacing as well as the Force V Velcro straps. Update 2: 2 years later both pairs are still holding up great. One pair was changed twice and the other once.