You might not be surprised to find that with a brand name like ClimbX that these guys specialise in climbing gear. With an appreciation for the great outdoors, they try to help preserve it with ethical choices like using sustainable organic hemp to line their shoes, and good quality reusable shoe-boxes. In addition to this, they look out for the climbing community by supporting search and rescue volunteer organisations, helping low-income young climbers and third world countries discover the pursuit of climbing.

The ClimbX Rave shoe has been designed to be a good all-rounder with a comfortable and precise fit suitable for your next gym session. These shoes have a double-stitch construction for durability over time, with a padded collar and heel to help to prevent rubbing and pressure points. The shoes also feature a polypropylene midsole and one-piece binding. First impressions were that these are low-range shoes - they look as I would expect them to look at this price range: there are tatty edges and they look rather misshapen before you get them on. However, once on, they are comfortable; perhaps a little heavier than what I would normally use, but once you are up on the wall the performance is okay.

The toe could be pointier to really get a good grip on tricky holds, but the Rave’s are more than capable of handling ‘beginner’ and ‘intermediate’ routes. After a few months they were still holding up well - they won’t be able to compete with the big boys like Scarpa in terms of resilience, but they are tougher than they look. The Rave come pre-downsized: there is a handy size-guide on the website to make sure you get the right fit for your climbing preference, whether that is snug, tight, very tight or competition (I can only imagine this is so tight and curled over that your big toe touches your heel?!).

If you are looking to get into climbing or need some new shoes whilst on a budget, these are a good choice: they perform well, are reasonably comfortable and won’t break the bank! RRP $69.95

4 out of 5

Buy now

Pros

Low cost

Reasonably comfortable

Organic hemp footbed

Padded ankle

Durable

Cons

Not as comfortable as more expensive shoes