REASONS TO BUY
Super stiff toe
Precise
Unique heel for hooking edges
REASONS TO AVOID
Lacks sensitivity
Bad for smearing
Mad Rock Drone 2 HV Review
This is a specialty shoe that excels at clinging to and powering off edges on overhung boulders
If you need a stiff shoe to power through your overhanging boulder project, the Mad Rock Drone 2 HV may just be the key to unlocking that crux.
Credit: Dom Rickicki
By Dom Rickicki ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ July 9, 2026
Our Verdict
The Mad Rock Drone 2 HV is one of the more unique shoes we've ever tested. Our lead tester originally wrote them off, but, noting their popularity among climbers on Colorado's Front Range, we decided to give them another try. What we learned is that these are radically different from the shoes you may be used to. The Drone 2 shines for its edging performance on steep boulders and helps pull tension on small footholds unlike anything else on the market. Despite its low overall score, this stiff, specialty shoe should be on the short list for any dedicated boulderer.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Mad Rock Drone 2 HV | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best for Sport Climbing and Bouldering |  Our Favorite Slipper |  Your First Outdoor Shoe | Your First Gym Shoe | |
| Price | $159 List Check Price at Backcountry | $219 List Check Price at REI | $127 List Check Price at Backcountry | $139 List Check Price at REI | $139 List Check Price at REI |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | Thanks to a unique molded toe box, this incredibly stiff shoe excels at pulling into and pushing off small edges on overhanging boulders | A nearly perfect shoe for sport climbing and bouldering, this slipper is your one-stop shop for steep climbing | A low-cost option that is adaptable to many styles of climbing | A bargain price for a respectable climbing shoe makes this an easy choice for beginners | Sticky rubber and a comfy fit come together at an affordable price, making this an ideal entry-level shoe |
| Rating Categories | Mad Rock Drone 2 HV | La Sportiva Skwama | Unparallel UpMocc | La Sportiva Finale | Evolv Defy Lace |
| Comfort (20%) | |||||
| Smearing (20%) | |||||
| Edging (20%) | |||||
| Pulling (20%) | |||||
| Cracks (20%) | |||||
| Specifications | Mad Rock Drone 2 HV | La Sportiva Skwama | Unparallel UpMocc | La Sportiva Finale | Evolv Defy Lace |
| Sizing Recommendations | Comfort Fit: true to up 0.5 EU size Performance Fit: true to down 0.5 EU size |
Comfort Fit: down 0.5 EU size Performance Fit: down 1.5 - 2 EU sizes |
Comfort Fit: 0.5 - 1 EU sizes Performance Fit: down 1.5 - 2 EU sizes |
Comfort Fit: down 0.5 - 1 EU sizes Performance Fit: down 1.5 EU size |
Comfort Fit: up 1 EU size Performance Fit: true to EU size |
| Expected Stretch | 0 - 0.5 EU size | 0.5 - 1 EU Size | 1 - 1.5 EU size | 1 - 1.5 EU size | 0 - 0.5 EU Size |
| Downturn | Moderate | Aggressive | Flat | Flat | Flat |
| Asymmetry | Moderate (sharp toe) | Moderate | Neutral | Moderate | Neutral |
| Closure Style | Velcro | Velcro | Elastic | Lace | Lace |
| Upper | Syn Flex | Leather / Microfiber / Rubber Toe Cap | Leather | ECO Leather / Microfiber | Synthetic vegan |
| Lining | Unlined | Unlined | Unlined | Unlined | Lined |
| Volume Options? | High Volume, Low Volume | Regular, Low Volume (Women's) | None | Regular, Low Volume (Women's) | Regular |
| Rubber Type | Science Friction 3.0, Heel Rand: Science Friction R2 | Vibram XS Grip2 | RH Rubber | Vibram XS Edge | TRAX SAS |
| Listed Rubber Thickness | Not Listed | 4 mm | 4.2 mm | 5 mm | 3.5 mm |
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Drone 2 is a secret weapon for overcoming small edges on boulder problems. Credit: Dom Rickicki
Likes
The rubber molding process is not new in climbing shoes, and we have seen it used primarily on the heel cups of popular bouldering shoes. By applying the same method to the other end, the molded toe box on the Drone 2 is wickedly stiff and maintains its shape.
This design is especially useful on small footholds on steep boulders – wearing the Drone 2, we could stand on virtually anything. This shoe provides a leg up on the tiniest footholds where holding body tension is a challenge. Since the toe box is so stiff, we didn't have to work as hard with our feet.
The heel on the Drone 2 has a unique lip that helps catch on edges while heel-hooking. Anytime an edge was available, these felt as close to cheating as a climbing shoe could get, which might make them the key you need to solve certain boulder problems.
The molded toe box is unique: unlike other shoes with a toe box built around a last, it maintains both its shape and stiffness over time. Credit: Dom Rickicki
Dislikes
The downside of the stiff molded toe box is that it lacks sensitivity, making it harder to be accurate with our feet. The toe box is also nearly impossible to flatten out, making it practically impossible to smear. While it's really good at powering off small edges, overall, the Drone 2 feels like a one-trick pony.
The fit is also a bit odd and, for us, a bit challenging to get used to. Since the molded toe box doesn't expand easily, it was hard to position our feet inside the shoe – in fact, we had to size up relative to our normal size in similarly aggressive shoes just to pull on the Drone 2. If you're already used to any other bouldering shoe, it's going to take some time to get used to this unique fit.
Pulling on the Drone 2 was consistently a chore. But if we needed it for a certain problem, all that effort paid off. Credit: Dom Rickicki
Should You Buy the Mad Rock Drone 2 HV?
For climbers looking for a shoe to add to their quiver for special footholds on their bouldering project, it's worth experimenting with the Drone 2 – it could be the key to solving your project, especially if the crux involves small edges on an overhang. However, anyone looking for an all-around bouldering shoe should look elsewhere.
What Other Climbing Shoes Should You Consider?
The Scarpa Boostic R is similar to the Drone 2 in the way that it excels at powering off small edges, but is more of a specialty shoe for face climbing, rather than boulder. The Scarpa Instinct VS also plays off edges well, but is a much more well-rounded option for sport climbing and bouldering. If you're focused on bouldering, it would be interesting to own the Drone 2 alongside the Scarpa Drago – that would give you a quiver including the stiffest and softest bouldering shoes on the market.
—Dom Rickicki
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