Butora Endeavor Climbing Shoe, Wide Fit, Seagrass, 11.5

Why it's worth it

The Endeavor comes in a true wide last, not just a longer version of a standard shoe. For climbers whose broad feet have kept them in rentals, that's the difference between a session that ends when you're tired and one that ends when your toes give up.

Wide feet are a fit problem, not a size problem. Going up a size in a standard last gives you a longer shoe that still crushes your forefoot, which is why so many broad-footed beginners quit or rent forever. Butora builds the Endeavor in separate narrow and wide lasts, and the wide version gives you actual toe-box volume. That's the reason it's here.

The microsuede upper breaks in more kindly than stiff synthetics but keeps its shape better than unlined leather, so what you buy is roughly what you'll have in six months. Hemp lining helps with breathability, which you notice on a warm evening in a crowded gym. A hook-and-loop closure lets you crank it down for a hard attempt and open it up while you rest.

From our review of 7 climbing shoes for beginner boulderers, by Eleanor Vance, Health & Beauty Editor

What we like

• +Wide feet are a fit problem, not a size problem
• +The microsuede upper breaks in more kindly than stiff synthetics but keeps its shape better than unlined leather, so what you…
• +Underneath, a 3D injection-molded ABS midsole gives the shoe enough structure to stand on small holds without your foot…

What to know

• –Butora's NEO Fuse rubber is the weakest link
• –Butora is a small brand, so you'll have a hard time finding a pair to try on in person, which is unfortunate for a shoe whose…