The Arrowhead uses what Five Ten calls the “next generation Anasazi last.” This translates to a more aggressive and downturned toe and high arch for a more snug and precise fit. It has a similar asymmetrical (pointy toe) shape as the Anasazi VCS that focuses edging power into a small point on the tip of the toes. The difference is that the Arrowhead has a more down-turned arch which makes it more suited for short burns on steeper terrain and less suited for all day, slabs, smearing, and cracks.
These shoes excel on steep rock with small footholds where precise toe placement on tiny edges, knobs or pockets is a must. The aggressive downturned toe is for pulling on holds on very steep angles and for getting the power down on the toe even when the body weight is hanging back away from the wall.
True to legend, the rubber is super sticky. It uses Five Ten Onyxx for the sole and Mystique rubber for the rand. The idea is the Onyxx is better but truth be told, we like all the Five Ten rubber and have a hard time choosing a favorite.
The first dislike is trivial: we don't love the color. The orange/red mixture seems a bit bright. That said, it is personal preference and you may be saying to yourself, “Finally, a shoe that is really bright and expressive!” If you don't like the colors, it only takes a few weeks outside for the brightness to settle down with dirt and scuffing. A more major dislike: Since this shoe is designed for steep rock, it is a bummer Five Ten didn't put rubber on top of the toe as La Sportiva did on the Solution. This omission meant we often reached for the Solutions over the Arrowheads on those long roof projects and steep problems where we wanted to toe hook. If you are going to make the ultimate technical shoe for steep rock, it should have rubber on top of the toe.
A last dislike is the same for all aggressive down-turned toes: They are not that comfortable to stand around in. To get the most performance, you need to size them tight. And when they are tight, you can't leave them on for hours. Luckily, the Velcro makes them quick to get on and off fast.
Like all shoes with this shape, they are great for tiny edges but don't give you the most comfortable stance on medium and large edges. They often don't smear comfortably or as well because the tight pointy toe tip keeps the ball of your foot from touching the rock.
These shoes are ideal for standing on small footholds that require precise toe placements. Unleash them on your projects with tiny edges, knobs, and pockets. This is a great shoe for extremely thin vertical rock to about 45 degrees, steeper sport climbs, and boulder problems. They are a bit too expensive for average gym climbing and a bit too specialized with a tight-fitting toe for general all day face routes or trad climbs.
