Our verdict
Outdoorsy individuals searching for an excellent pair of rock climbing shoes enjoy the Otaki from La Sportiva. Indeed, they look forward to its glove-like fit and comfy interior. The shoe's precision and super-sticky rubber also convert them. And while it crushes it on vertical faces, it also has the chops that smash boulder-type projects.
Pros
- Extraordinary comfort
- Edging genius
- Why trust us
- Requires zero break-in
- updated Apr 19, 2023
- Requires zero break-in
- Mighty precise downturn
Cons
- Could be more sensitive
- La Sportiva Theory
Who should buy the La Sportiva Otaki
The Otaki from La Sportiva offers precision and power to overcome technical routes. Buy it if:
- Your go-to climbing routes demand precision, particularly while toe hooking.
- You've been looking for aggressive kicks that are comfy from the get-go.
- Heavily downturned shoes that also rock on edges are what you need.
Who should not buy it
If "feeling" your way to the top is most appealing to you, opt for the responsive excellent pair of rock climbing shoes We earn affiliate commissions at no extra cost to you when you buy through us La Sportiva Tarantula if you want something significantly more affordable.
Incredible from-the-box comfort
Based on many expert reviews, the La Sportiva Otaki is a superbly comfortable climbing shoe. Most of these reports also state that the shoe's comfiness is available right off the bat.
Otaki: Master of edges
Despite its aggressive downturn, the Otaki is a great edging shoe, according to a considerable number of climbers.
Tenacious in virtually every direction
The sticky rubber used in La Sportiva’s Otaki is incredibly sticky, say professional climbers.
Subpar sensitivity
Grippy all over.
The Otaki's pinpoint precision
This high-quality climbing shoe from La Sportiva has amazing toeing accuracy, testers say.
Outstanding closure system
Senders in droves say that the Otaki's adjustable straps really keep everything on the inside snug and secure.
A steep asking price
With its minimum suggested retail price of $195, the Otaki has a tough hill to climb to woo the budget-conscious. To put things into perspective, the average cost of aggressive climbing shoes ihas amazing toeing accuracy, testers say.
Ascender of boulders
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La Spotiva Otaki vs. Miura
La Sportiva has a wide range of rock climbing shoes, and two of the sought-after models are the Otaki and Miura. Listed below are some of their differences and similarities.
Upper. Both La Sportiva products come with leather uppers. The Otaki has a liner around the forefoot area, while the Miura is fully lined.
Midsole. These offerings from La Sportiva use a 1.1 mm LaspoFlex midsole. A point goes to the Otaki in this regard as its underfoot performance and shape retention are further enhanced by the brand’s Permanent Power Platform (P3) technology.
Outsole. Both climbing shoes carry a Vibram rubber outsole. Their men’s and women’s variants are engineered with the XS Edge and XS Grip 2, respectively. The former offers optimal edging and extra durability. The latter, on the other hand, is a softer compound, which delivers enhanced sticking prowess on trickier footholds.
