REASONS TO BUY
Relatively inexpensive
Sticky rubber soles
Comfortable
REASONS TO AVOID
Less durable than other Sportiva models
La Sportiva Finale - Women's Review
For an introductory shoe, the Finale provides sticky rubber sole and a comfortable, leather design
Credit: La Sportiva
Our Verdict
The La Sportiva Finale is La Sportiva's introductory climbing shoe. These shoes are unlined and made up of a leather and microfiber upper. They are designed to focus on comfort above all else since new climbers will undoubtedly be turned off by tight-fitting uncomfortable shoes right off the bat. That said, the Finale still totes some of the best features that La Sportiva has to offer. They lack the craftsmanship of the more expensive Sportiva shoes, but still have the same sticky rubber soles, which is a plus. Overall, we were slightly let down by the Finale, though the shoes do have their place as a relatively inexpensive beginner shoe.
Our Analysis and Test Results
The La Sportiva Finale is marketed as a beginner shoe for those just getting into climbing. This contender is comfortable, soft, and versatile. This versatility makes them a decent introductory shoe, as you can use them on a variety of climbing styles before settling on something more specific.
Performance Comparison
The Finale are a beginner shoe, with exceptional rubber, making them a good option for the all-around climber.
Credit: Eric Bissell
Comfort
This metric is where the Finale shines, as they are designed to be worn for long periods of time, whether in the gym or outdoors on long moderate routes. The Finale was the most comfortable lace-up shoe we tested this time around. The Finale does seem to fit better on a narrower foot, so those with wider feet may not feel the same level of comfort that the Finale is meant to achieve.
Working our way up some slabs in the Sportiva Finale.
Credit: Eric Bissell
Sensitivity
The shape of the toe box and sole make the Finale a decent shoe for small footholds, but the shoe overall lacks the precision of more shaped shoes. We found that the Vibram XS Edge 5mm rubber on these shoes is as sticky and trustworthy as some of our award winners. We did note that out of the box, the rubber was less crisp than the other new shoes in this review, and made them seem less sensitive overall.
Edging
The Finale performed surprisingly well as an edging shoe. Though they are not stiff at all, they hold their own on small edges and holds. The Finale has a tensioned heel rand and a Powerhinge that provides support underfoot, improving edging performance.
The Finale perform best on vertical terrain with small footholds, much like their more expensive and advanced cousin the Miura.
Credit: Eric Bissell
Cracks
As a crack climbing shoe, the Finale performs fairly well thanks to their flat sole and soft midsole. The leather and microfiber upper provides padding and will take the brunt of the wear when jamming these shoes into cracks. The shape is similar to our trad climbing go-to the Scarpa Maestro Mid Eco - Women's. Overall, the Finale is a decent option for moderate trad climbing.
Jammed into cracks, the Finale are soft and flexible enough to feel comfortable.
Credit: Eric Bissell
Pockets
Pockets may not be the Finale's forte, since the shoe is not designed to aggressively toe into pockets or small holds, per se. The toe box is fairly symmetrical, and lacking the talon-like shape of shoes more aggressive shoes in this review. This makes the Finale less of a precision tool than these aggressive models, though each of those models costs substantially more.
Ease of Use
For a lace-up shoe, the Finale is a high scorer in the ease of use department. The laces are easy to undo and do not get stuck in the leather eyelets. Another positive feature of the Finale is the fact that it is straightforward to loosen the laces all the way down into the toe box, making them adjustable and easy to get on and off.
Trusting our feet in the Finale was a little scary, but the XS Edge rubber soles are confidence inspiring.
Credit: Eric Bissell
Value
The Finale is one of the most budget-friendly shoes in this category. That makes the Finale a good option for an introductory shoe. We appreciated that these shoes have the sticky XS Edge rubber found on some of the more technical shoes in this review.
Though they are not downturned or aggressively shaped, the Finale make a fairly good shoe for vertical to slightly overhung terrain.
Credit: Eric Bissell
Conclusion
The La Sportiva Finale is most notable for their all-day comfort and ease of use. These are designed for climbers who are looking for a comfortable shoe above all else. That said, the sticky rubber soles make the Finale a shoe that will still stick to small holds and edges. They are well-made and have a durable design to boot.
—Jane Jackson
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