La Sportiva Oxygym Review – Climbed & Tested

Today we’ll look at one of my favorite models: La Sportiva Oxygym

The La Sportiva Oxygym is the perfect beginner's climbing shoe because it provides optimal comfort and support -  something that many beginning climbers need, whether their bouldering or going on much longer climbs.

Let’s get into the La Sportiva Oxygym review…

La Sportiva Oxygym Review - A Complete Climbing Shoe Review

The La Sportiva Oxygym not only has a clever name and bright colors but it is also made of breathable and fully washable materials - something that other climbing shoes lack. After being worn for long periods of time, most climbing shoes start to become really smelly; however, with the La Sportiva Oxygym, you won't have to worry about that!

The shoes' durability and ability to be both hand-washed and machine-washed come from the three layers of Washtex fabric: external washable fabric, structural microfiber, and breathable inner fabric. However, if you put them in water that's too hot, the glue will melt.

The name ‘Oxygym’ indicates what La Sportiva designed the shoe for. It is also apparent this shoe focuses on comfort over performance. So, if you are a beginner looking to improve your skills in the gym – these might be the shoes for you.

This shoe is perfect for beginner climbers because it has a flat last and low asymmetry. These features make it so your weight is evenly distributed throughout your foot and toes, which makes it simpler to learn essential skills such as edging and smearing.

The La Sportiva Oxygym Toe Box

Loads of consideration has been put into fashioning an effective toe box for beginner climbers. It's wide and flat, making the shoe great for smearing and balancing on large foot holds. Despite this design, the shoe does have difficulty with delicate foot placements and overhangs.

Although don't be deterred by this, as it most likely won't create a big problem for many beginners.

The toe rand is made from rubber that is similar to what the sole is made of, except it may be a bit more durable. To be honest, it’s not the best toe rand you will ever try, so don’t expect to stick many bat hangs.

Again, this isn’t a huge deal breaker for beginners, so don’t let this stop you from considering these shoes.

The La Sportiva Oxygym Heel

The La Sportiva Oxygym has an impressive heel, with sticky rubber that extends a good distance up the back of the heel. This gives you confidence on small hooks too.

Not only do the circular indents on the bottom and sides of the shoe look great, but they also provide extra grip.

The La Sportiva Oxygym Rubber

While the rubber is definitely more suited to a session in the gym, these shoes can hold their own outdoors too.

The Oxygym is designed with the La Sportiva FriXion, which extends up the back of the shoe for extra friction. This makes it ideal for heel hooking and beginners who want to perfect their skills in a gym setting. La Sportiva's Oxygym shoes are some of the most inexpensive on the market, so don't expect top-of-the-line materials like Vibram rubber.

Although it is not the best quality, FriXion budget rubbers are still good enough for beginners and offers more than just satisfaction. Unlike most beginner-budget climbing shoes, the rubber on the sole isn’t flat. The spoon-dipped shape provides more grip on pockets than less shaped counterparts.

The central yellow (or turquoise on the womens version) branding is a feature you will find on many La Sportiva models. This design not only helps maintain the shape of the shoe throughout its life but also stiffens the sole. This is a brilliant feature that helps beginners become more confident in their footwork.

La Sportiva Oxygym- How They Fit

The Oxygym is the perfect beginner's climbing shoe because it provides optimal comfort and support. This is essential for beginners for a few reasons:

• If you force someone to wear uncomfortable bouldering shoes during their first experience climbing, they're unlikely to come back.
• It's crucial for beginners to have supportive shoes because they are not accustomed to the strain and weight that climbing puts on their feet and toes. A stiff shoe is key in order to distribute their weight evenly across the foot.
• La Sportiva's 'Fast Lacing System' is not only useful for getting the shoes on and off quickly but also provides a great fit. The two velcro straps create a tight enough hold that it feels as if the upper is wrapping around your foot snugly.

All in all, La Sportiva's Oxygym shoes are perfect for beginner climbers who want to get their feet wet in a gym setting. Not only are they affordable and comfortable, but they have a great design that will help you learn the basics of climbing.

La Sportiva Oxygym's Value For Money

The La Sportiva Oxygym is an excellent budget shoe that provides great value for money. It's flat, supportive sole and wide toe box make it a great all-round trainer. The rubber might not be the best on the market but it still performs well and will last a good while.

Overall, these shoes are perfect for anyone looking to start climbing, indoors or outdoors. While they may not be the most technical shoe on the market, they provide great value for money and are sure to serve you well during your first few months of bouldering.

Just remember that they’re best suited for gym settings and won’t perform as well in outdoor terrain. So if you’re looking to take the next step in your climbing journey, the La Sportiva Oxygym is certainly worth considering.

La Sportiva Oxygym vs Tarantula

The La Sportiva Oxygym and Tarantula are both great beginner climbing shoes. The two share many of the same features such as their fast lacing systems, flat soles, and wide-toe boxes.

That said, there are a few key differences between them that make them more suitable for different types of climbers. The Oxygen is better suited for gym settings, while the Tarantula is a great all-around shoe that can handle both indoor and outdoor climbing.

Furthermore, the Tarantula features Vibram rubber which provides excellent grip on rock faces. This makes it more suitable than the Oxygym for experienced climbers who are looking to take their skills outdoors.

In conclusion, both shoes offer great value for money and are sure to serve you well in the gym. Ultimately, it's up to you to decide which is best suited to your needs, but we believe that the La Sportiva Oxygym is a fantastic, affordable choice for beginner climbers.

The Verdict

I would recommend the Oxygym to beginners who want to advance their skills in the gym. The material is unique and allows you to wash the shoe, while also being light. The low asymmetry, natural last and stiff sole are great features for someone just starting out.

With all of these features, this is easily one of the best beginner shoes you can buy without spending a fortune.

The following post La Sportiva Oxygym Review – Climbed & Tested was originally published to RCL Blog

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