12 Best Kids' Climbing Shoes For Your Little Explorer
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Climbing shoes can a tricky item to buy when you don't know what you're looking for, but with the help of Kidadl, you can be sure you're going to find the perfect pair of climbing shoes for your little explorer.
Whether your child is into rock climbing or visiting a climbing wall, getting the right climbing shoes is essential, as, without them, your child is unlikely to be able to climb correctly and safely.
Not only do they provide additional grip and help you keep sturdy, but they also offer your feet extra support and make sure that their growth isn't impacted.
One of the best things about climbing shoes is that they're durable, so even when your children wear them a lot, they're going to be ok. If your child has feet which are regularly growing, the advice with climbing shoes is to size up anyway, due to the position your feet will be in once at an upright angle.
The sizing is dependent on the climbing your child is looking to take up, as some types of climbing recommend a tighter fit.
So here are our top picks of climbing shoes. For more specialist shoes for kids' activities, take a look at our best kids' walking boots and best running trainers.
Kidadl's Top Pick
We recommend all of the climbing shoes on this list as they're all great picks when looking for climbing shoes. However, our number one choice is these Kid's Piki J climbing shoes from Scarpa.
1. Scarpa - Kids Piki J
Our top pick has to be the Kid's Piki J climbing shoes from Scarpa. With the shoes being an allrounder and perfect for even the youngest climbers. The comfort levels in these shoes are described as next level, with an extra EVA layer for more comfort.
Not only are they comfy but also provide stability and a supportive midsole. The neoprene heel hosts heel tension rubber to provide tension without too much pressure. The Kid's Piki J model is friendly on the feet and does not compromise the natural growth of kids feet. With their 4mm vision outsole, they are guaranteeing significant friction and durability.
Main Features
- Price: £38.95
- Age: 6+
- Weight: 210g
- Good grip
- No pre-tensioning
- Made from leather
- Hook-and-loop closure
- Beginner level shoes
Best For Indoor Climbing
2. Climb X - Kinder Kids Shoes
If you're looking for the perfect indoor climbing shoe that looks awesome and also reaps the benefits for your little climber, then the Kinder Kids shoes from Climb X are perfect. These shoes were made to last, providing a heel filler, to give you an extra 1/2 a size growth room.
The Kinder Kids shoes offer added support and are made out of high-grade centre cut leather and with a full velcro closure for easy on and off.
Main Features
- Price: £34.95
- Age: 5+
- Removable heal cap for an extra half size of the growth
- Velcro to easily remove shoes
- Wide opening
- Ideal for those with high foot arches
- Bright and bold colour
- Tekflex synthetic upper
Best For Families On A Budget
3. Decathlon - Rock Climbing Shoe
Our most budget-friendly pick is from Decathlon, who are great for sportswear for pretty much any sport. The rock climbing shoe from Decathalon is a bargain and has excellent reviews. It is also one of the funkiest looking pairs to grace our list.
Offering an easy slip-on shoe with a strap across the front and a print which says 'GO!!!' and 'Ready? '.
These shoes are not only easy to slip on, but they also provide grip via a resin-coated rubber sole. Decathlon advises that you should get these shoes in 1 size up to allow for growth room as these shoes are long-lasting with their anatomic design.
If you're looking for a shoe which is perfect for rock climbing on a budget, Decathlon has you covered.
Main Features
- Price: £19.99
- Age: 4+
- Adapts to the foot
- Easy to take off and on
- Colourful design and print
- Good grip and stability
- Perfect for indoors and outdoors
Best For Younger Kids
4. Millet- Kid's Easy Up
Are you looking for a climbing shoe for your younger kids? This pair by Millet could be what you're looking for. With a lightweight climbing shoe, a good fit and no pre-tensioning this is a great first shoe for your budding climber. The Kids Easy Up climbing shoe provides a removable heel pad for an extended two-size life span.
Main Features
- Price: £60
- Age: 5+
- 135g
- 4Point grip on the sole
- Easy to fasten
- Great for beginners
- Extended heel via removable pad, lasts 2x longer
Best For Supporting Mobility
5. La Sportiva - Kids Gripit
The La Sportiva Kid's climbing shoes are great for supporting mobility and body awareness, with the shoes allowing your child to feel the rock giving them an advantage and allowing them to get ahead with their footwork. These shoes have a great sense of style and come in eye-catching yellow and blue and are perfect for those mountain-loving kids.
These climbing shoes for kids are ideal for growing feet as they feature the Zero Press Construction, which prevents pressure on the growth plate.
Main Features
- Price: £55
- Age: 8+
- Striking design
- No-Edge technology
- Zero-press construction
- 200g
- Robust and built to last
Best For Beginners
6. Boreal Ninja - Azul Climbing Shoes
The Azul climbing shoes are a great beginner shoe as they're comfortable and easy to put on with a velcro strap to allow them to sit nicely on your kid's feet. By buying a pair of Boreal Ninja Azul shoes, you're guaranteed performance shoes even if your little one is a newbie to the climbing world.
Main Features
- Price: £39.95
- Age: 7+
- Velcro strap from the heel strap for a firm fit
- Lovely blue colour and design
- Great edges
- Adjustable heel for the children's feet.
Best Climbing Shoes For Advanced Climbers
7. OCUN- Kid's Rival
If your child is advanced when it comes to climbing these shoes may be perfect for their next pair of climbing shoes—aimed at those who are advanced and competition-level climbers. This shoe has a hook-and-loop closure system, and this is done in the same way as the adult equivalent.
The rubber is thicker around the toe and heel of this shoe which is for hooking.
Main Features
- Price: £59.95
- Age: 6+
- Special features for advanced climbers
- Long-lasting
- Vegan
- Lightweight
- Cat Rubber 1.5 sole
- 44mm sole thickness
Best For Bigger Kids
8. La Sportiva- Maverink
The Maverink shoes are a great choice for your bigger kids. With advanced technology, these shoes are highly asymmetrical, providing customers with an excellent grip. These shoes are recommended for sport climbing and bouldering.
La Sportiva has made these shoes easy to slip on and also offer good grip. Their yellow and orange colour design is bold and unique. Although, it is worth noting these shoes weigh 400g which is quite heavy for climbing shoes.
Main Features
- Price: £49.99
- Age: 6+
- Made from Suede leather and microfibre
- Mid sole 0.8mm LoSpoFlex only found on the front of the shoe
- Bold design features
- Easy to take off and on
- Supports climbing fluidly and naturally
- Absence of pressure points for extra comfort
Best For Performance
9. Adidas - Five Ten Kirigami Climbing Shoes
If you're looking for climbing shoes for your child which are best for performance, the Five Ten Kirigami shoes from Adidas are the perfect climbing shoes for kids. With a bold design and unique design features, your child will love these climbing shoes.
Their hook-and-loop closure makes them easier to manage even with small hands. These shoes come with a sock liner to add comfort and can be removed to accommodate growing feet.
Main Features
- Price: £34.95
- Age: 4+
- Built for great grip
- Leather
- Great for long sessions
- Bold colour choices
- Comfortable
Best For Rock Climbing
10. La Sportiva- Kids Stickit
Another pair of shoes from La Sportiva, however, these vary from the la Sportiva Maverink climbers as they are aimed more at rocking climbing as opposed to any other type of climbing. With several unique benefits, these climbing shoes are a must-have for rock climbing.
The closure on these shoes is slightly different from other kids' climbing shoes as they have a lace closure instead. The Stickit shoe is lightweight and only weighs 190g, creating ultimate comfort levels.
- Price: £44.95
- Age: 5+
- Lacing closure
- Leather
- Recommended for sport climbing such as rock climbing
- No pre-tensioning
- 190g
- 3.5mm sole thickness
Best For Leather Alternatives
11. Mad Rock- Mad Monkey 2.0
Mad Rock is known for its innovative designs and features, aiming to make its shoes reasonably priced. Their shoes are made from synthetic leather whilst still providing grip and, more recently, two rear closure straps to provide even more growth flexibility.
Constructed with super-stretchy Synflex upper and R2 sole for ultra comfort, these are a perfect shoe for kids whose feet are still growing.
Main Features
- Price: £43.95
- Age: 5+
- Stretchy fit
- Vegan
- Strong grip
- Ideal for a performance shoe
- Includes a heel strap
Best For Comfort
12. Black Diamond - Kid's Momentum
The final pair of climbing shoes on our list is the Kid's Momentum climbing shoes from Black Diamond offering a solution to beginners who are looking for grip and climbing shoes which are comfortable and easy to wear. The shoe is made from textiles making the Black Diamond shoe a game-changer. The sole is made from NeoFriction.
The Kid's Momentum shoes are praised for being robust and providing high edge stability, which is perfect for climbing walls.
Main Features
- Price: £49.95
- Age: 5+
- Good fit
- Long-lasting
- Comfortable
- 4.3mm sole thickness
- Perfect for stability and good grip
- Breathable
Kidadl Best Buys are happy to help you find recommendations of the best products which are great for families of all ages. If you found these recommendations useful, you may also enjoy our best kids smart watches or archery sets for a keeping the kids busy.
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Bachelor of Science specializing in Cinematography and Film/Video Production
Olivia ThristanBachelor of Science specializing in Cinematography and Film/Video Production
With a degree in Film and Television Production from Staffordshire University, Olivia is a writer who is passionate about photography and loves to watch documentaries. When she's not working on her writing, Olivia can usually be found experimenting with baking, collecting Lego figures, getting creative with polymer clay, and searching for the best pizza joints in the West Midlands and beyond.
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