La Sportiva Testarossa offers better sensitivity
As some of you know, I've been publishing in-depth information around La Sportiva's climbing shoes for months now.
I thought that a post devoted specifically to La Sportiva Testarossa vs Solution would be helpful for most of you.
Both shoes have become highly popular since they were introduced in the market among climbers. But, they have a different function for different routes and styles of climbing.
Overview
If you're a beginner, I'd recommend you stop reading this post and visit my La Sportiva Finale vs Tarantulace and La Sportiva Tarantula vs Tarantulace posts.
BUT, if you're at least intermediate, then read on.
In short, if you're planning to do sport climbing, vertical edges routes, or multi-pitch pretty much all the time, I'd recommend the Testarossa. Because the Testarossa is one of the most sensitively designed, performance-focused pair in La Sportiva' line up. But, if you're mostly doing bouldering, gym climbing, short routes, then I'd recommend the Solution.
- Solution is more durable, powerful, and offers more smearing capability.
- Testarossa is more versatile, sensitive, and offers more edging capability.
- I'd recommend basing your decision primarily on your answer to the following question: What kind of climbing are you planning to do mostly?
- If your answer is hard bouldering, gym climbing or steep climbing, go with Solution.
- If you're doing multi-pitch, sport climbing, or routes that need a lof edging, go with Testarossa.
- Quick differences:
- Solution is more durable than the Testarossa owing to its thicker rubber.
- Testarossa has a lace-up whereas Solution has a velcro closure system.
- Testarossa is more sensitive than the Solution.
- Solution's heel cup is bulkier than Testarossa.
- Testarossa is more downturned than the Solution.
- Because of the closure system, Testarossa has a more adjustable fit than the Solution. Also, Solution's velcro makes it faster to put on/take off shoes.
- Testarossa is better at edging whereas Solution is better at smearing.
- Solution has better ability of heel-hooking than the Testarossa.
- Best uses:
- Testarossa is versatile climbing shoes.
- Solution is more suitable for competitive uses.
Before comparing them in detail, you might want to check La Sportiva Climbing Shoe Comparison Chart.
Let's dive into it.
Rubber
La Sportiva Solution offers better smearing capability
As some of you know, I've been always talking about how important a rubber of climbing shoe is.
Because it's one of the main things that determine the quality of shoes.
Although the type of rubber of these shoes is identical at Vibram XS Grip2, the other equally important rubber parameter, the rubber thicknesses they have, is different.
The Solution has 4 mm of rubber thicknesses whereas the Testarossa has 3.5 mm.
The difference between rubbers causes two main things. Durability and sensitivity.
La Sportiva Solution is more durable but the Testarossa is more sensitive owing to their thicknesses.
The P3 (Permanent Power Platform) midsole is a technology that is developed to deliver power to the sole and to maintain the downturned shape of the shoe which means that even after you smear so many times, the shape of the downturn will lose very little.
Volume
The Testarossa is higher volume than the Solution, if you wonder how La Sportiva compare between these shoes and other shoes, you might want to check La Sportiva Climbing Shoe Quick Comparison Graph.
Finding perfect climbing shoes that perform easily in every territory or every style of climbing is impossible. We have to find out and analyze the shoes that we want to use.
Even the best climbers have more than one pair of shoes for different routes and types of rocks. Of course, they have a favorite one.
You can check the video below that made by one of the best climbers on our age talking about the alchemy of climbing shoes.
Lining
The other difference between these shoes is the lining. The lining effect stretching of the climbing shoes, and it gives a breathability to the shoes.
La Sportiva Solution is equipped with partially lined leather whereas the Testarossa is equipped with lined leather. It means that the Solution offers better breathability than the Testarossa but much more stretching.
Conclusion
Let's lay out their summarized reviews, tech specs, and pros & cons.
Testarossa
- Weight: 8.90 oz (225g)
- Last: PD 85
- Fit: Performance w/ very high asymmetry
- Upper: Leather / Lorica®
- Lining: Pacific (toe and heel) / Dry-Best® (tongue) Unlined in the middle.
- Midsole: 3D Hytrel Anatomical Insert (under toes) with P3®
- Sole: 3.5 mm Vibram® XS Grip 2™
One of the first aggressive rock shoes is La Sportiva Testarossa. The first time that La Sportiva introduced the Testarossa in 2003. After many years, La Sportiva Testarossa has become one of the most desired climbing shoes for advanced climbers. La Sportiva Testarossa is aggressively downturned with high asymmetry (higher volume) climbing shoe is designed for high-performance.
Pros
Cons
Solution
- Weight: 8.89 oz (258 g)
- Last: PD 75
- Fit: Performance w/ high asymmetry
- Upper: Leather/ Lorica®
- Lining: HF (toe-box and arch area only)
- Midsole: 1.1 mm LaspoFlex (forefoot only)
- Sole: 4mm Vibram® XS Grip 2™
The La Sportiva Solution is aggressively downturned with high asymmetry (medium volume) climbing shoes which are designed for high-performance. Having a fast lacing system and additional rubber on the toe box gives a great fit and makes us do edging easily.
