La Sportiva Solution Comp - Women's Review

Stomping smears, cranking on heel hooks, and all manner of overhanging trickery are the name of the game in the Solution Comp. Its unique Lock Harness and Fast Lacing Systems provide a precise fit and additional support through the heels for steep climbing.

Comfort

To the untrained eye, the Solution Comp looks intimidating. Its rubber-covered toe box, flashy Velcro straps, and stretchy tongue make it look uncomfortable and aggressive at first glance. In testing, however, we discovered that these shoes break in fairly easily. The toe box is roomy, allowing your toes to curl into a powerful position without feeling cramped. The midsole hugs the arch of your foot comfortably without binding.

That said, “comfortable” still isn't the first word that comes to mind when you slide them on – the aggressive downturn and snug fit are unapologetically performance-oriented. Once the leather and microfiber began to mold to our feet, we could wear the Solution Comp for longer sessions. The synthetic, stretchy tongue locks your foot in place, while the Velcro strap allows you to fine-tune the fit.

Just like its sister shoe, the Solution Comp is designed for performance climbing, which can make it feel a bit uncomfortable at first. Some folks simply don't like this style of shoe, claiming the soft slipper design causes long-term foot pain. One option to remedy this is to have another pair of more comfortable shoes for warming up, saving the Comps for your project. This tactic keeps toes fresh and can alleviate some of the discomfort of wearing such an aggressively shaped shoe.

Smearing

Perhaps because they were designed with volume holds in mind, these shoes are sensitive, smearing masters. Even though we wouldn't wear these all the time on slabs, the Solution Comp's soft sole and super-sensitive toe box allowed us to smear with confidence on low-angle terrain. The soft sole means more rubber is in contact with the rock, and by conforming to the surface, it provides surprising friction.

This feeling of hugging the surface gives you confidence to trust small holds and slopey smears – things that you wouldn't dare with a stiff shoe. Although we really like these for smearing, they are definitely not our number one choice for low-angle rock or all-day wear. But they may be your key to unlock a difficult route at the gym, a hard pitch at the crag, or a tricky boulder problem.

Edging

The Solution Comp has an even softer midsole than the OG version, so it's not the best option for serious edging. It finds a middle ground — aggressive enough to channel power through the big toe, but flexible enough that you'll feel the subtleties of every hold. On overhanging terrain, that slight softness is actually an advantage, letting you claw at edges rather than just perch on them.

Other shoes with a stiff midsole create a platform that extends perpendicular to the edge, so the shoe helps keep you on your feet. The midsole of the Solution Comp, on the other hand, is relatively soft and bends under your body weight. It's just not supportive enough for sustained vertical edging on micro holds, which is a recipe for sore feet.

Pulling

Over the years, the heel cup on the original Solution received many complaints for being bulky and lacking sensitivity. The design of the Solution Comp is a direct response to these complaints – this shoe features a narrower, softer heel cup that better conforms to the shape of your foot, providing a “locker” platform for heel hooking. Where the Solution Comp really shines is for modern bouldering, where toe-hooks, heel-hooks, and smearing are constant.

The extra rubber coverage over the toe box excels on difficult toe-hooks, while the snug, women's-specific fit keeps them sensitive and responsive. These have an almost pointed toe, which helps them slide into pockets nicely. Their downturned shape lets you pull into the wall with your toes, helping keep body tension on steep walls. As the saying goes, when the going gets steep, get the Solution Comps (or something like that!).

Crack Climbing

The aggressive downturn and bulky rubber patch make it awkward to jam the Solution Comp in thin cracks, and the slipper-like feel doesn't provide the torsional support you want for sustained splitters. The shoe's mold is specifically designed with extra space at the top so your toes can curl easily. This really isn't conducive to crack climbing, and it's quite painful, especially if the shoes are super small.

Their aggressive design should make it obvious that these shoes are not meant for sustained crack climbing. You can get away with it in short boulder-sized cracks or as a quick toe jam here and there, but it's far from the Solution Comp's strong suit. In general, a stiffer shoe with a flatter shape is a much better option for crack climbing.

Should You Buy The Women's Solution Comp?

As a soft, aggressively shaped slipper meant for high-performance, steep rock climbing, we're still hard-pressed to find anything on the market that quite lives up to the Solution Comp. They combine comfort, fit, and design into a tight, stylish package that makes any climber want to try hard. Modern climbers tackling comp-style boulders or big gym sets will feel right at home in these shoes.

What Other Climbing Shoes Should You Consider?

As with most La Sportiva shoes – especially their top-performing, technical models – the Solution Comp is an investment. These are high-performance shoes with a high-end price tag, so purchasing them might require some serious consideration. If you're just starting out, the cost may not be worth it for the specificity of this model. Less expensive and more versatile models like the intro-level La Sportiva Finale or the more advanced La Sportiva Katana Lace are great options.