Tests & reviews

La Sportiva - Otaki - Climbing shoes tested

Praise vs. Criticism

Roman

21.03.2023

Amazing, versatile shoe

I have climbed with 7 different climbing shoes and have tried on many many more. I have wide feed with relatively small heels, so my most common issue is that the shoe either has a saggy heel, or is too narrow. This is probably the best shoe I have had so far - it is a bit stiff, and normally I prefer softer shoes, but despite that, this shoe seems to perform amazingly on all types of rock and types of climbing (overhang/vertical), as well as indoors both on roped climbs and boulder problems. It does the job for me on slabs as well, but I don't climb many "hardcore" super smeary slabs, and I would guess it might not be very good for that.

I usually wear EU43, and size 41.5 of this shoe fits me perfectly(took a fairly long time to break in though).

I'll have it re-soled soon and am considering getting a second pair just so I have another while the original is being repaired.

One thing to keep in mind that it is a performance shoe that is certainly not comfortable to walk in / wear for a long time, so I would not recommend it on long multi-pitches.

Advantages
Good fit
Versatile
High edge stability
VS

Razvan

25.07.2022

I don't recommend it for limestone

I found this pair of shoes too slippery on limestone. I have been working on a project with a very used pair of shoes (wild climb pantera soft) and on my final attempts, I tried this otaki. They proved to be too slippery. Finally, I get back to WC pantera soft and I managed to send my project despite of been almost broken on the edge. Very disappointed about otaki.

Advantages
Good fit
Disadvantages
poor grip

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This is what other customers say:

Roman
21.03.2023

The thread was edited on 21.03.23

Amazing, versatile shoe

I have climbed with 7 different climbing shoes and have tried on many many more. I have wide feed with relatively small heels, so my most common issue is that the shoe either has a saggy heel, or is too narrow. This is probably the best shoe I have had so far - it is a bit stiff, and normally I prefer softer shoes, but despite that, this shoe seems to perform amazingly on all types of rock and types of climbing (overhang/vertical), as well as indoors both on roped climbs and boulder problems. It does the job for me on slabs as well, but I don't climb many "hardcore" super smeary slabs, and I would guess it might not be very good for that.

I usually wear EU43, and size 41.5 of this shoe fits me perfectly(took a fairly long time to break in though).

I'll have it re-soled soon and am considering getting a second pair just so I have another while the original is being repaired.

One thing to keep in mind that it is a performance shoe that is certainly not comfortable to walk in / wear for a long time, so I would not recommend it on long multi-pitches.

  • Advantages
    Good fit
    Versatile
    High edge stability

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mare
23.10.2019
Sure footing

This shoes give you confidence in your footings.

  • Advantages
    High edge stability
    Robust
    Good fit

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This is what customers from around the world say:
Antonios
20.04.2016

100% have found the reviews
by Antonios helpful

Great shoe

It is really a great shoe. It edges amazingly in the smallest if holds and smears great too. I like the slightly wider fit that you can snug with the easy to use Velcro

I use to use Miura lace up and I think they are at par on technical climbs while providing better support with the p3

  • Advantages
    High edge stability
    Versatile
    Good grip
    Good fit
Jan
06.05.2018

100% have found the reviews
by Jan helpful

  • Advantages
    Good grip
    High edge stability
    Versatile
Fabian
07.08.2016

96% have found the reviews
by Fabian helpful

  • Advantages
    Versatile
    Good fit
johannes
06.05.2021

17% have found the reviews
by johannes helpful

  • Advantages
    Good grip
    High edge stability
  • Disadvantages
    Not comfortable
Florian
15.09.2025

  • Advantages
    Robust
    Good fit
    Versatile
    Good grip
    High edge stability
Saleh
15.11.2024

85% have found the reviews
by Saleh helpful

  • Advantages
    Robust
  • Disadvantages
    Not comfortable
Thijs
29.03.2024

  • Advantages
    Robust
    High edge stability
Maximilian
31.07.2023

  • Advantages
    Good fit
    Versatile
    High edge stability
    Good grip
Rune
01.06.2023

  • Advantages
    Good fit
    Robust
    Versatile
    High edge stability
Jan Bart
29.05.2023

  • Advantages
    Good grip
    High edge stability
    Robust
Moritz
13.03.2023

  • Advantages
    Good fit
    Good grip
    Robust
    High edge stability
Thorsten
15.07.2022

  • Advantages
    Durable
    Versatile
    Good fit
    Robust
Thomas
15.05.2022

  • Advantages
    Good grip
    Versatile
    Good fit
Joshua
03.02.2020

  • Advantages
    High edge stability
    Robust
    Good grip
    Good fit
Michael
14.10.2019

  • Advantages
    Good fit
    High edge stability
    Good grip
Stefan
16.04.2019

  • Advantages
    Versatile
David
09.11.2018

  • Advantages
    Versatile
    High edge stability
    Good fit
    Good grip
marcel
09.11.2017

  • Advantages
    Good grip
    Good fit
    Versatile
Matti
25.03.2017
My new favourite shoe

I'm a Solutions die hard but thought I'd try a pair of the Otaki for a new indoor shoe. Very impressed and have swapped these to my primary outdoor shoe.

  • Advantages
    Versatile
    Good grip
    Good fit