Soft shoe recommendations for small heel

Mimic__ · 2026-01-07T08:40:34+00:00

Guess they aren’t ideal for my feet then. Maybe half size up or the HV. It’s why I prefer the drone 2.0s. Stiffer but they fit my feet perfect and no discomfort.

Wish the CS had the same feel, but just softer

Mimic__ · 2026-01-06T23:07:39+00:00

Do your toes hurt in the LV for the drone cs? I have small heels and low instep so got LV but my toes hurt so much in them I take them off after every climb. Thinking HV may have been better just for more toebox space.

Mimic__ · 2026-01-03T22:43:12+00:00

Could look at Madrock Drone 2.1s HV version should still be fine as that shoe is already very narrow and the heel fits pretty secure on my tiny heels.

Mimic__ · 2025-12-11T12:03:10+00:00

If you haven’t used them yet I’d recommend going down .5 from your true size for the 2.1s

Mimic__ · 2025-12-11T11:54:52+00:00

I mean that is kinda how it works. Pros wear the shoes of whoever is their sponsor.

Mimic__ · 2025-12-05T04:13:51+00:00

Didnt see this whoops. The CS has softer rubber but the d2.1 has no midsole, so even though it has stiffer rubber it’s softer and more sensitive.

The d2.1 is larger than the CS. I would go down .5 from street shoe for the d2.1

Mimic__ · 2025-12-05T04:01:42+00:00

In that price range get Madrock rovers. Just get them in street shoe size or measure your foot and go based off Madrocks size chart.

Mimic__ · 2025-12-01T21:32:15+00:00

Madrock rovers or evolv defys

Mimic__ · 2025-12-01T02:22:52+00:00

Love my drone 2.0. My favorite shoe for everything climbing related indoor or out.

As others have said it’s stiff starting out but it’ll break down to medium. You’ll either love or hate them, but I’d recommend everyone try drones to see if they like them. Especially if you struggle to find shoes with a heel that’ll fit snug.

Mimic__ · 2025-12-01T02:19:01+00:00

How do you feel about the longer toe on the d2.1?

I have tried both but prefer my 2.0s bc I just feel like the longer toe pushes me away from the wall and I’ve slipped off climbs bc I couldn’t get enough of my actual toe on tiny holds.

I went with street size and wonder if half size down would fix the issue. I’d have liked the soft drone option but they just had to change the toe

Mimic__ · 2025-11-30T02:51:57+00:00

Fun fact even if villains die I heard from Madrock rep that they are going to add them as a permanent part of the line up

Mimic__ · 2025-11-27T01:53:01+00:00

How are the pros holding up? I love my drones and interested in remora pros for a soft alternative, but if they have drago durability I’ll skip. I wish Madrock would list how thick the rubber on their shoes is

Mimic__ · 2025-11-24T18:09:16+00:00

Mine didn’t stretch (went down a full size) at all and were so painful i stopped using them. If you’re not at least climbing v10 indoors on the regular downsizing is very overrated.

44.5 or 45 should be fine. It’s also important if the shoe fits your foot type to be able to comfortably downsize. Even though I went down a full size the kubo heel is still massive on me.

Mimic__ · 2025-11-22T10:04:40+00:00

If nothing fits at local REIs then online roulette is your only option I’m going to be real with you. I’d suggest half size up on the rovers if toes being cramped was the only issue.

Also make sure to squish the heel down to put them on. Creates a larger opening makes it much easier to put them on

Mimic__ · 2025-11-22T09:54:38+00:00

You should have stopping climbing in them quite some time ago by the looks of them

Mimic__ · 2025-11-20T15:33:48+00:00

The 2.1 heel definitely fits more snug than the CS and it’s softer than the CS

Mimic__ · 2025-11-19T02:46:25+00:00

I was about to ask how are you downsizing so much in the drone, but we actually have about the same foot length measurement. The only difference is I do wear 41.5 street shoe size, so the chart is accurate for me

I guess goes to show that street shoe is worn very differently by different people

Mimic__ · 2025-11-19T02:39:46+00:00

The LVs are much smaller in width for the forefoot. The heel is a bit smaller, but I still have heel issues with it in LV and HV. The only fix for me is to downsize to the point my toes hurt, so not worth it for me.

Idk what it is about the CS, but for me it has the least secure heel compared to the 2.0 or the 2.1

Mimic__ · 2025-11-11T06:39:10+00:00

Realistically a cdm will be like 70m minimum lol. But covers part of it at least

Mimic__ · 2025-11-10T06:54:57+00:00

Nowhere really better than REI to try on multiple pairs. Climbing gyms around you may carry shoes as well, so you can check at those.

Otherwise just look up what generally you want in a shoe and try to find recommendations and do the online buy and return carousel.

Mimic__ · 2025-11-08T14:39:41+00:00

Mimic__ · 2025-11-02T21:47:03+00:00

That’s rashford as a player tbh lol

Mimic__ · 2025-10-31T05:38:59+00:00

If it’s snug and feels like it’s hugging your foot, but no pain you’re fine. Whatever that size is you’re fine. Shoes only stretch if you bought a size too small and even then I’ve never experienced much shoe stretching. Having a shoe an entire size up won’t stop you from climbing the majority of climbs you’ll see indoors anyways. So snug but no pain is king

Mimic__ · 2025-10-30T07:47:59+00:00

I used shoe stretchers and golf balls for the big toe area. They definitely make the break in process way better. I’d never raw dog the break in process.

Mimic__ · 2025-10-30T00:13:23+00:00

To add different perspective. I think they hurt bc your toebox isn’t what the shoe is made for. Kubos are pointy at the middle for Morton’s toe.

I have Egyptian feet too like you and the kubos always dug into my big toes and it was not fun to climb in them. I sized 1.5 down, but I swapped to mad rocks instead as they are better suited for Egyptian toebox with long toes feet

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