Scarpa Helix Climbing Shoe - Women's reviews and deals for sale

Favorite Outdoor Climbing Shoe for Years

I finally shredded the sole on my purple and grey Scarpa Helix's that were 3+ years old after heavy use on local sport and trad crags. I love the Helix shoe so much I will be getting the old ones re-soled, but bought the new orange model on sale to see if there were any changes. The shoe has stayed true in comfort and shape with a few upgrades that make it even better. The comfort… read more level of these shoes has no competition when you're spending a day on the rock. The fit is snug but my toes only feel slightly cramped after an hour or two of constant wear. Scarpa is great for those with narrow heels; no slippage or stretch occurs at the heel cup. Despite a full leather shoe, there is little to no break in and they do not stretch much. Buy them true to size. The lacing system allows for adjusting as needed. I did notice the toe on the new shoe is slightly more pointed to allow for better contact on smeary foot-holds. The previous model was a pretty rounded toe with less stick on tougher climbs. I also love the oversized heel loops that help pull them on and a wider, more comfortable tongue. The stitching on the new model seems more reinforced throughout and the rubber now has a denser platform on the ball of the foot and heel. This makes them a little stiffer but more supportive and dependable overall. Highly recommended essential shoe for roped climbs, but not agressive enough for bouldering or highly technical climbs.

Good Fit

I have never had a climbing shoe like this that fits like a dream. Good grip and knowing Scarpa I expect this pair to last a long time,.

Your feet will love this shoe!

The helix is one of Scarpa's most popular shoes. One of the first things I noticed about the helix when I bought them was how amazingly comfortable they are. Right away my feet fit nice and snuggly inside of them. As I used them more the shoes molded even better to my feet. And they are the most comfortable climbing shoes i’ve ever used. The shoes tongue is a nice padded and breathable… read more tongue which I think adds to the overall comfortableness. The primary material on the outside is leather, so keep in mind that these will stretch out a little. The laces on the helix basically go from the top all the way down to the toes. So this gives you a lot of adjustability. It doesn't matter if you have wide or thin feet. You can loosen or tighten the laces to help give you the best possible fit. The Vibram XS edge rubber provides a good grip and according to Scarpa It is also really durable and enhances the life of the shoe. Seems to be the case so far. I haven’t worn these down a bit. Because the helix has a firm flat sole it provides a nice solid platform to stand on. So yeah, Not a lot of bend in it. If you are looking for something that can perform on steep inclined routs, I don’t recommend the this shoe. The Helix shines on long vertical walls that require hard edging. Overall, I think the Scarpa Helix is a solid choice if you are looking for a comfortable flat shoe.

Fits like a glove + I’m in LOVE!

It was love at first climb! The fit is perfect and my feet don’t cramp while climbing. I was a little hesitant ordering climbing shoes online, but the sizing guide I would say it spot on. I am an 8 + ordered the 39.5. Couldn’t be happier!

Like a Glove

These Scarpas fit like a glove! I'm a solid 7 in women's shoes and ordered a USw 7/ UK 38. Love the fit. Love the look. I've had them for about a month, climbed several times per week, and they're holding up really well. These are my first climbing shoes, and I have to say I'm very happy that I ending up getting them.

Great starter shoe

perfect for the gym not too agressive where you cant wear them throughout the day or the belay

Great beginner shoe

My first pair of climbing shoes! I got these because I read that they were good for begginers. They feel tight at first, but loosened up over time. I would stick with your usual street size eventhought they feel snug, which are how climbing shoes are supposed to fit. They feel pretty comfortable and I can wear these for about 2.5 hours before I start feeling the pain. They are good… read more for my level (I do V0-V4). I will probably need to upgrade to a more aggressive type shoe if i continue to climb and progress, but these are keeping my feet happy in the mean time.

"Real Purdy"

I picked these up for my girlfriend, and here's what she had to say: "I got a full size smaller than my street shoe and I think I'm happy with that decision. I've only used them for two gym sessions but I can tell a difference in fit already. I wanted something that would be more comfortable for longer days and it looks like these will do the trick. Also, they are real purdy. They… read more were great for most routes under 5.11, but won't get enough purchase on tiny footholds. But that wasn't my goal for them, so I'm happy."

The Perfect Shoe to Start

My boyfriend had been climbing for years and asking me to give it a fair shot a few times before totally ruling it out. This had been going on for months when he bought me a pair of the Helix's and said that if I still don't like it after trying it with proper shoes, that he would return them and drop the subject. After my first day in these shoes, I fell in love with climbing.… read more It's true when people say shoes make all the difference, and I think that these shoes are the PERFECT jumping off point for any new climber! I wear a size 6(US) in street shoes, and purchased the 36.5. The lining took a handful of small climbs and an extensive all-day climbing excursion before they started to feel like they weren't even on my feet, but I'd say the fit is still pretty comfy even before breaking them in! I've been climbing for months in these, and when my feet sweat I still get a bit of orange coloring on my toes but that really doesn't bother me. I also love the lace-up option because it allows me to give just enough room for some thin socks for colder climbing days. They're very easy to hang out in between climbs since they're casual, but I still feel that the toe performs better than I'd expect from a non-aggressive shoe! They've kept me confident on smears, heel-hooks, & tiny footholds, all while allowing me to avoid the trouble of constantly swapping shoes between climbs. As someone that's fallen hard for climbing in such a short amount of time, I really have to credit these shoes (and my boyfriend) for my change in heart. They've given me the confidence I never thought I'd have to tackle such an incredible and liberating sport.

Great all-around shoe

I've worn these for over a year after destroying the La Sportivas I got when I first started climbing. When I bought them, I was initially looking to upgrade to something more aggressive, but everything I tried hurt my feet, so I figured I'd give these a chance and I'm glad I did. They're not so much a beginner shoe as a classic shoe for anyone: simple but comfortable and they get… read more the job done. Solid smearing, secure edging, stiff enough that my feet don't get tired on multi-pitch, but sensitive enough that I can feel what I'm stepping on, and they don't pop off during heel hooks. I don't do much bouldering, so if that's your deal, I don't know if they're aggressive enough for you, but for trad and sport on a variety of rock, these things are versatile and won't hold you back. They run a little small: I wear a 7 in most street shoes, but needed a 38.5 in these to get the right balance of performance vs. lack-of-pain. But they suit the shape of my foot, which is low-volume and narrow and the heel cup hugs my heel so nicely it's spoiled me for any other shoe, climbing or otherwise. They haven't stretched much in all this time but they did mold more to my feet after 3-4 wearings. The rubber has held up well and just now needs resoling after climbing indoors & outdoors 2-3 times a week for a year. Only downside is the orange dye will stain your feet for the first few wearings, but it's such a fun color, it's worth it!

Cute practical beginner shoe

I'll admit, it was initially the bright contrasting colors that attracted me to these. I'm a newer climber and had been borrowing gear until purchasing these shoes. It was between this and the La Sportiva Tarantulace. I tried both on at my local outdoors store before purchasing and ended up going with this shoe because the fit was more comfortable for my foot shape and it looked… read more more appealing to me. So far, I've only been using them at the gym and they've worked pretty well with both bouldering and climbing. I feel a lot more confident in my footwork and they've become more comfortable over time as I break them in. The only thing is they feel a little weird in the heel, but it's a minor discomfort that you get used to. Looking forward to seeing how they do outdoors! EDIT: After having tried these outdoors with more climbing experience, I have to say I'm a little disappointed. Really sensitive (feels painful on sandstone) and the sole isn't very sticky. On a lead climb, I had a minor moment of panic when I almost lost my footing in a place that wasn't particularly sketchy. I also thought these would stretch a lot more and they have hardly stretched at all! My feet are a little wider in the toe box and because of how tight these are, my feet hurt long after I've finished climbing for the day. They also feel uncomfortable in the gym from time to time. Not for me.

They are starting to grow on me.

I just started climbing this summer. Still only been a few times. These shoes are great though. -I purchased a size 37 and I wear a size 6 in street shoes. -I expect these shoes to stretch out a bit after using them since they are all suede. -They already feel a lot better than the first day I wore them. -I love the lace closure because I feel that it forms to my feet better.… read more -The lacing does take a lot longer to put on and off compared to velcro but I don't mind spending the extra time for comfort. -The sole seems to grip pretty well as I can tell now. -The cushion tongue is super comfy. -I have started to leave them on while I belay. GREAT BEGINNER SHOE!!!!

Great shoes

Lots of sizing options. I'm new to climbing but like shoes that don't totally kill my feet so I sized up. I normally wear a size 8 and I went with a 8 2/3 and I like them!