REASONS TO BUY
Comfortable
Good toe and heel hooking
Surprisingly versatile
REASONS TO AVOID
Difficult to tighten (if needed)
Velcro sometimes comes undone while climbing
Scarpa Vapor S - Women's Review
A great option for bouldering and sport climbs, this mildly aggressive shoe is surprisingly versatile
The Scapra Vapor S is a versatile option if you trend towards bouldering and sport climbing.
Credit: Whitney Clark
By Whitney Clark ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ October 30, 2026
Our Verdict
The Scarpa Vapor S can do a bit of everything – it's a versatile shoe that's perfect for the climber who wants to boulder in the gym one day, and then go sport climbing outdoors the next. Their sticky, Vibram XS Grip2 rubber inspires confidence on slippery holds, and the slight downturn and asymmetrical shape help you pull into the wall. They're comfortable enough to wear all day, and if you choose to size them for a more performance fit, you can easily pull this soft slipper on and off. If the fit is fairly wide in the toe box – if this won't work for your foot, we recommend looking elsewhere, because they are a bit difficult to tighten. Although the Vapor S doesn't excel in any particular way, it's a well-rounded option for modern gym and sport climbers.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Scarpa Vapor S - Women's | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best All-Around Climbing Shoes |  Best for Sport Climbing |  Best Value for Progression | Best For First-Time Buyers | |
| Price | $199 List Check Price at Backcountry | $219 List Check Price at REI | $219 List Check Price at REI | $159 List Check Price at REI | $139 List Check Price at REI |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | A versatile climbing shoe that easily goes from indoor boulders to overhanging outdoor sport climbs | These high-performance slippers work well for almost all types of climbing, from cracks to steep sport climbs to bouldering | As edging machines, these shoes are great for hard sport climbing and overhanging bouldering | This slipper is comfortable and affordable, yet it's nearly as precise as more aggressive shoes, making it the perfect upgrade from your first pair | A step above your average entry-level option, this affordable shoe is our top choice for first-time buyers |
| Rating Categories | Scarpa Vapor S | La Sportiva Skwama | Scarpa Instinct VS | La Sportiva Skwama Lite | Evolv Defy Lace LV |
| Comfort (20%) | |||||
| Smearing (20%) | |||||
| Edging (20%) | |||||
| Pulling (20%) | |||||
| Cracks (20%) | |||||
| Specifications | Scarpa Vapor S | La Sportiva Skwama | Scarpa Instinct VS | La Sportiva Skwama Lite | Evolv Defy Lace LV |
| Sizing Recommendations | Comfort Fit: true or down 0.5 EU size Performance Fit: down 1 EU size |
Comfort Fit: down 0.5 - 1 EU sizes Performance Fit: down 1.5 EU size |
Comfort Fit: true or down 0.5 EU size Performance Fit: down 1 EU size |
Comfort Fit: down 0.5 EU size Performance Fit: down 1 EU size |
Comfort Fit: up 1.5 EU size Performance Fit: up 1 EU size |
| Expected Stretch | 0 - 0.5 EU size | 0.5 - 1 EU size | 0 - 0.5 EU size | 0 - 0.5 EU size | 0 - 0.5 EU size |
| Downturn | Moderate | Aggressive | Aggressive | Moderate | Flat |
| Asymmetry | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Neutral |
| Closure Style | Velcro | Velcro | Velcro | Velcro | Lace |
| Upper | Microfiber (synthetic) upper | Microfiber and leather | Microsuede and leather | Microfiber | Synthetic Vegan |
| Lining | Unlined | Unlined | Unlined | Unlined | Unlined |
| Volume Options? | Regular, Low Volume (Women's) | Regular, Low Volume (Women's) | Regular, Low Volume (Women's) | Low Volume | Low Volume |
| Rubber Type | Vibram XS Grip2 | Vibram XS Grip2 | Vibram XS Grip2 | FriXion Black | TRAX SAS |
| Listed Rubber Thickness | 3.5 mm | 4.0 mm | 3.5 mm in fromt and 2 mm in heel | 4.0 mm | 4.2 mm |
Our Analysis and Test Results
Soft and sensitive, the Scarpa Vapor S are a great shoe to use both indoors and out. Credit: Luka Krajnc
Likes
The Vapor S combines a Bi-Tension system with a full-length 1mm insert, giving it a stiffer platform under the forefoot. Unlike split soles, this design offers more support on tiny edges while still maintaining some flexibility in the midsole, allowing it to smear better than others.
Excluding endless crack climbing, the Vapor S is really a Jill-of-all-trades kind of shoe. As far as slippers go, it's super comfortable, and it's easy to pull on and off in between burns on your project. Even sized small for higher performance, we never felt the desperate need to take them off, unlike so many other shoes out there.
The Scarpa Vapor S strikes a nice balance between aggressive and comfortable, making it a well-rounded climbing shoe. It has lots of rubber coverage on the top for tricky toe hooking, and the heel fit really well, which gave us confidence on overhanging climbs.
The Vapor S uses Vibram XS Grip2, a relatively soft outsole designed to prioritize friction and sensitivity. Credit: Luka Krajnc
Dislikes
Like most Scarpa shoes, the Vapor S will likely fit you well if you have a slightly wider forefoot. However, if you have a slightly narrower foot – like our lead tester – the Vapor S can be challenging to tighten. It has only one strap, and that strap only tightens one spot over the top of your foot. Our solution was to girth-hitch the strap to tighten it, but this caused the Velcro to come undone, sometimes in the middle of the pitch.
We had a hard time getting the fit tighter with only one strap across the top of the foot. Credit: Whitney Clark
Soft and semi-aggressive shoes are never going to be a go-to for crack climbing – they're just too painful, and the Vapor S is no exception. The occasional rand smear or foot jam is fine, but for continuous jamming, better look elsewhere.
Should You Buy the Women's Scarpa Vapor S ?
It's a great buy for climbers who want a shoe they can use to climb overhanging boulders one day, difficult, sensitive limestone smears the next, and long gym sessions the weekend after that. It's a versatile shoe for anyone with a wider forefoot, but if you have narrow feet, the fit and ability to securely tighten the shoe might be a problem.
What Other Climbing Shoes Should You Consider?
Another all-around high-performance shoe is the Scarpa Instinct VS - Women's. It pulls on overhangs just as well as the Vapor S, but unlike the Vapor S, it also excels at edging. And once you break it in, it also does really well on sensitive smears and for tricky foot placements – all reasons why it's one of our favorite shoes for sport climbing.
—Whitney Clark
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