The UKC/UKH team have just returned from the final OutDoor show at Friedrichshafen. We saw hundreds of innovative, colourful and exciting new products and in this roundup you can see some of the best products in the rock shoes and footwear category:
Black Diamond - Zone Climbing Shoe RRP £120
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High performance rock shoe with medium stiffness to complement the Shadow and Focus. Knitted upper, down turned toe, wide straps. These shoes come in two volumes and four colours without a hint of "women's" and "men's".
Boreal - Satori and Ninja RRP £120 & £100
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Updates on a popular shoe. Molded heel cup and molded toe rubber maintains stiffness and shape. Available in a low profile and also as a slipper (Ninja £100).
Grangers - Footwear Care
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Range of aftercare products for clothing, footwear and equipment. Grangers have Bluesign manufacturing accreditation. Keep your kit clean and proofed and it will perform better and keep you comfortable. Tumble drier is recommended but you can use a hairdryer as the next best thing which is reassuring.
La Sportiva - Testerossa RRP £150
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A complete re-work from the original, with barely a stitch the same from the 2003 classic. Particular attention has been paid to the heel, which is countersunk (no edges) and fully coated in sticky rubber.
La Sportiva - Trango Tech RRP £225
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An all day boot designed for every day use, that can also fit an articulated crampon. This came around from repeated requests from guides and mountain rescue teams, who spent a lot of time on their feet in a wide range of different conditions.
Red Chilli - Voltage RRP £130
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An update of the Voltage, which has been a key model in the Red Chili range for some time. With good toe rubbering it's a technical model, but with a comfort sock lining for a luxurious feel. That said, it's primary focus is on performance, which is provided courtesy of the Vibram XS Grip sole. A low volume model is also available.
Scarpa - Vapor V Men's and Women's RRP £130
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The new Vapor is synthetic as opposed to leather, which means it's easier to wear in and doesn't stretch too much with use. They've also added a new midsole to keep it nice and supportive, which should improve the Vapor V's already popular place amongst trad climbers and all-rounders
Scarpa - Arpia Men's and Women's RRP £122
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An interesting blend, with comfort blended with technicality. A luxurious next to skin fabric combined with a supportive midsole make this an ideal choice for everyone from indoor climbers to trad enthusiasts.
Dolomite - Cinquanta Quattro Hike GTX RRP £170
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An interesting blend, with comfort blended with technicality. A luxurious next to skin fabric combined with a supportive midsole make this an ideal choice for everyone from indoor climbers to trad enthusiasts.
Five Ten - Aleon
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The upper is a collaboration with Adidas and uses Adidas prime knit. It has a 4-way stretch and is completely seamless. A sock-like fit is easy to get in and out of the shoe but still snug. A really powerful versatile toe, great for steep limestone.
Five Ten - Five Tennies
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A retro throwback of the classic shoe with up to date features. The dotty thread has been updated to give more traction on loose and wet ground. It's also got a climbing toe for more performance. Available as men's and women's as well as a more traditional style.
Hanwag - Ferrata II RRP £290
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A top-spec lightweight B2 mountaineering boot. A Germanic fit for the UK market. Features a lateral flex in high ankle for precision of foot placement. The 3D relief of the sole takes out weight and features a climbing zone. The PU in the design gives both precision and comfort on descents. 1440g per pair in size 8.
Mammut - Ducan Range RRP £139-£229
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Available as high mid and low versions. A very comfortable fit with a little bit of give in the sole. The orange flex plate inside allows really nice movement between the heel and toe and prevents abrasion of the sole.
Ocun - Jett QC & Jett LU RRP £84.95
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QC stands for quick closure and LU stands for lace up. High performance shoes with an asymmetric and flat last to give all day comfort. They both feature a highly breathable mesh tongue and the new Ocun cat 1.5 rubber. The number corresponds to the stickiness of the rubber with the higher numbers being the stickiest.
Tenaya - Mastia, Ais and Ra Women's RRP £120-£130
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Ais is a gym shoe with a flat last and a performance toe and knitted synthetic upper and Vibram XS grip rubber. The Ra women's is a stiff flat lasted edging shoe. Maintains supple midsole despite being available in smaller sizes. The Mastia is a high performance down-turned shoe with a thermally molded heel cup.
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