The La Sportiva Theory is a high performance bouldering and sport climbing shoe, designed for maximum feel and surface contact; ideal for mauling, hooking and clamping big volumes and all modern indoor climbing gym features.
An unusual shoe, the Theory has no midsole and a hybrid outsole design. This provides No-Edge Technology in all but the very front portion of the shoe, with the final two or three centimetres featuring a classic squared-off edge profile. This has been designed with indoor climbing in mind, giving the user a toe-end edge, for small footholds, and a rounded more adaptable instep for improved hooking and clamping.
As you would imagine, the rubber outsole used on the Theory is Vibram XS Grip 2, the stickiest rubber manufactured by Vibram. Perhaps more interesting is the fact La Sportiva have done something a little unusual in their application of rubber. The toe-end features a relatively standard (for performance shoes) 4 mm thick rubber outsole, but which then tapers to 1.8mm at the centre of the sole. This ensures the malleable flex the designers were after, while still giving a decent platform under the toe - making for less deformation and increased durability.
The synthetic upper features more rubber coverage than any other shoe in the La Sportiva range, making it the ultimate camming and hooking model. While the PD 85 last - Pointed & Downturned with 85 degrees of asymmetry - is the most aggressive last used by Sportiva... telling you exactly what this shoe is for: Olympic standard indoor performance.
As with all recent performance models this shoe features La Sportiva's famous P3 system, which keeps the shape of the shoe throughout its lifespan. An amazing shoe for competition climbing and all styles requiring maximum feel and adaptability.
In summary, arguably La Sportiva's best ever comp shoe, the Theory is perfect for volume loving, prow squeezing, feature hooking, gym fiends!
Specification
- Lining: HF (toe-box and arch area only)
- Midsole: P3 System™
- Sole: XS GRIP 2 with D-Tech™ 3,5mm
- Upper: Lorica®
- Gender: Unisex
- Last: PD 85
- Closure: Strap
- Weight: 400g (EU 41)
Help with sizing your rock climbing shoes
If you require some assistance with sizing this shoe to your particular needs click here: Rock Climbing Shoe Sizing Guide
