Tenaya Mundaka is good at sport climbing
As some of you already know, I've been publishing in-depth information about climbing shoes for years now.
I thought that a post devoted specifically to Oasi vs Mundaka would be helpful for most of you.
Before you start to read anything about these shoes, I'd highly recommend you to check out my Scarpa Origin vs Force V and La Sportiva Tarantulace vs Finale posts if you're a newbie.
But, if you're climbing for a long time and looking for performance-based climbing shoes, then go on.
Overview
Tenaya is a well-known and respected brand in the climbing shoe market. They have a reputation for high-quality, performance-oriented shoes that are favored by experienced climbers.
Both shoes are known for their aggressive design and precise fit but they do have some differences that make them better suited for different types of climbing.
In short, the Mundaka is an excellent choice with its aggressive shape and powerful edging capabilities for sport and steep bouldering climbers, BUT If you prefer a more versatile climbing shoe that can handle different types of climbing, I'd recommend you to go with The Oasi.
Mundaka is more likely for wider feet.
Oasi is better at heel hooking.
- Differences:
- The front of the Mundaka does feel slightly wider than the Oasi.
- The Mundaka is definitely the widest-fitting climbing shoe in Tenaya's Aerial Plus Line.
- The Mundaka is more sensitive than the Oasi.
- The toe box of Mundaka is wider than the Oasi's.
- The heel of Mundaka is a bit sloppy than the Oasi.
- The Mundaka has more rubber on top of the toe box.
- The Oasi is a bit softer than the Mundaka.
- The Mundaka edging is better than the Oasi.
- Recommended use:
- Tenaya Mundaka is a great choice if you're going to plan to go to overhanging walls and routes that require delicate moves and great sensitivity.
- Tenaya Oasi is perfect to go if you're generally doing gym bouldering, overhanging and vertical routes.
- PS: Alex Megos did his (and the world's) first 9a onsight with Tenaya Oasi!
Before comparing them in detail, you might also want to check Tenaya's own sizing guide.
Let's dive into it.
RUBBER
Tenaya Oasi is ready to go.
One of the key features that sets these shoes apart is the use of a 3.5 mm Vibram's XS Grip rubber. It is one of the most popular rubbers in the climbing industry which is known for their high-performing rubber compounds that are durable and provide excellent grip.
The Vibram XS Grip rubber is the predecessor to Vibram's more popular XS Grip 2 and XS Edge rubbers which are commonly used in many modern climbing shoes.
Tenaya Mundaka and Oasi utilize it to its full potential. The Vibram XS Grip rubber offers a unique balance of stickiness and firmness which provides climbers with a level of traction that is not found in other rubbers.
The Vibram XS Grip is noticeably stickier and softer than the Vibram XS Edge but a little firmer than the Vibram XS Grip 2.
The use of Vibram XS Grip rubber for both shoes, combined with their soft and downturned shape provides a level of performance that is not found in other climbing shoes.
The Vibram XS Grip rubber provides a unique balance of stickiness and firmness that making it a perfect fit for the downturned and soft Tenaya Mundaka and Tenaya Oasi climbing shoes.
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 made by one of the best climbers of our age talking about the alchemy of climbing shoes.
TOE BOX
Tenaya Mundaka is good at edging.
The Tenaya Oasi is designed with comfort in mind and is one of the key features that contribute to this roomy toe box. The toe box is the front part of the shoe that surrounds and protects the toes.
When climbing, having a toe box that is too small can cause discomfort as it can make the toes feel cramped and scrunched up. This can lead to pain and difficulty in maintaining proper technique on the climb.
The Tenaya Oasi's toe box is designed to provide ample room for the toes to flex out that allowing for greater flexibility and reducing discomfort.
On the other hand, the Tenaya Mundaka is designed to provide support in addition to comfort. The Mundaka has a pretty good downturn and most of its support is derived from the forced curve of the shoe while also providing a really solid toe box that can give added support.
The flat-toe box allows the toes to flatten out and get a good purchase on the rock face. This added flatness is not commonly found in most climbing shoes, which only rely on the rigidity of the climbing shoe to give support on small edges.
This unique feature of the Tenaya Mundaka allows better control and precision on small edges and provides added support for the toes.
In conclusion, both the Tenaya Oasi and Tenaya Mundaka climbing shoes are designed with specific features providing to the needs and preferences of different climbers.
The Tenaya Oasi has a roomy toe box that allows for greater flexibility and reduces discomfort whereas the Tenaya Mundaka has a flat toe box that provides added support and precision with small edges.
Tenaya Mundaka has an extra rubber over toe.
Also, the Tenaya Mundaka climbing shoe is designed to enhance the performance of the toe hooking technique. It features an extended rubber coverage over the toes which serves to provide additional grip and support for this movement.
The added rubber coverage on the toes increases the surface area for the toes to hook onto the climbing surface which results in more control and stability for the climber.
This design feature allows the climber to perform the toe hooking technique more effectively that giving them an advantage when climbing challenging routes.
The extended rubber coverage over toes is a great feature for climbers who rely on toe hooking techniques for certain moves or to reach certain holds.
HEEL
Good session with my Tenaya Oasi
The Tenaya Oasi is designed with a low heel which provides a number of benefits for the wearer. One of the main benefits is that it allows for a better fit due to the lower volume of the heel.
When the heel is lower, there is less material for the foot to slip around in which results in a more secure and comfortable fit. This is important for climbers as ill-fitting shoes can often lead to discomfort which can affect performance and make climbing more difficult.
The lower heel of the Tenaya Oasi also allows for greater precision and control when performing certain techniques, such as heel hooking.
On the other hand, the Tenaya Mundaka is not as well suited for heel hooking as the Oasi. The heel of the Mundaka is relatively soft and not very rigid which may cause slipping around in the heel. This can affect the shoe's ability to perform heel hooking.
Additionally, the angle of the heel on the Mundaka is a little awkward, which makes it less conducive to heel hooking.
This might be a problem for some climbers who rely on heel hooking to perform certain moves or to reach certain holds. The softness of the heel might provide more comfort but it might affect the performance of heel hooking.
Tenaya Mundaka Sizing
The Tenaya Mundaka climbing shoe is designed with a level of stiffness that allows for maximum performance while climbing.
However, to enhance the performance even further, it's recommended to downsize the shoe slightly. This may result in a reduction of comfort, but an increase in performance may be worth the trade-off.
My street shoe size is EU 44 and I tried the Mundaka a size EU 42, and I can say that it was comfortable.
Tenaya Oasi Sizing
As I said about my street shoe above, I tried also the Oasi a size EU42, and it was not too comfortable but also it was not too tight.
Conclusion
Let's lay out their summarized review, tech specs, and pros & cons.
Oasi
Tenaya Oasi is designed with an aggressive downturned and asymmetrical toe box, and having XS Grip makes it better at smearing.
You can use the Oasi for various types of climbing. It also allows you to do precise footwork, smearing, and slightly high performance with great comfort.
Pros
Cons
Mundaka
- Upper: Microfibre
- Closure System: Velcro, patented Draxtor system
- Tongue: Two-layer bellows with perforations
- Lining: TXT treated cotton
- Insole: 2D multi-layer Stretchtex
- Midsole: Double midsole GI 1.8 & TST 150
- Sole: Vibram XS Grip 3.5 mm
- Weight: 340 gr.
Tenaya Mundaka is designed to provide a high level of sensitivity and comfort for the climber. This combination of sensitivity and comfort enhances the overall performance of the shoe on the rock making it a great option for climbers of all levels.
It's also designed to provide exceptional support when climbing on difficult surfaces. The Mundaka's downturned design allows for a greater amount of power to be directed towards the big toe providing the climber with more control and stability while edging.
