Lighter, softer, more supple, more sensitive. These words describe either the revolution of high-performance climbing shoes, or the war against toxic masculinity—perhaps both, I’m not sure.
The Furia Air meets those descriptions in spades. I received a pair of these impossibly light shoes a few weeks ago and have been tentatively carrying them to the crags in a hard-sided Pelican case lest I degrade any of its scant and precious rubber in transit.
Of course I’m kidding. But, holy hell, these shoes really feel like nothing—in a good, but almost too extreme way.
Specifications
Slightly downturned and gently asymmetrical last
Shockingly light at 5.3 oz
3.5 mm of Vibram XS Grip 2
Z strap closure cinches shoe down on foot
$198
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Furia Air Review
The Furia Air weigh just over 5 ounces, a significant reduction in weight compared to other sport climbing shoes. They’re quite literally rubber socks. The sensation of climbing in them brings you as close to climbing barefoot as possible—for those who wish to go as hard as Charles Albert, but aren’t quite comfortable with getting toe grease on all the footholds.
What’s been mind-bending about the Furia Air thus far is how this supple rubber slipper is maintaining its shape. If climbing shoes had skeletons, this one seems as if it has no bones at all. And yet it maintains its downturned structure. How?
So far, I’ve been happy with the performance of the Furia Air, but I must say, there are situations in which I actually do want a little more support. These shoes are not made for any kind of vertical edging unless you have bionic feet.
So far I’ve tested the Furia Air on some of the most slippery rock I can find: water polished cobble sandstone and greasy Rifle limestone. Where this shoe comes up short of being a solid edger, it really excels on slippery smears. I’d use this shoe for anything that requires blank, slippery smearing. The fact that you can really press all of the rubber onto the rock gives you purchase that you can’t get in shoes with traditional soles.
But does this make the Furia Air too specialized? Perhaps. I think this shoe has a place in my gym bag, but I’m not sure I’ll be bringing it to the crags or boulders anytime soon.
Pros
Easily the softest shoe on the market. The closest thing you can get to climbing in bare feet.
Extremely comfortable with no break-in period
Likely the best gym / training shoe, but not ideal for outdoor climbing.
Cons
Requires having really strong toes
Almost too soft to use outdoors.
Expensive
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