La Sportiva Katana
La Sportiva
The Katana is a firm, moderately downturned velcro shoe from La Sportiva for sport climbing and bouldering. Typically sized 1 EU size below street size. Of 18 user reports, 13 rate the toes perfect and 13 rate the forefoot perfect. In stock at 44 shops from 74.90 EUR.
One of La Sportiva's most popular all-rounders. Velcro closure, XS Edge rubber, full midsole with P3 System. Moderate downturn handles slab through vertical with confidence. A proven choice for intermediate to advanced climbers who want one shoe for gym and crag.
Best For
Best for sport climbing and bouldering on slab, vertical and overhang terrain. Aimed at hobby to advanced climbers.
Among the 469 adult climbing shoes we track, the Katana ranks in the top 5% for edging, the top 13% for support and the top 42% for pocket climbing.
Strengths & Trade-offs
Katana strengths
- Versatile moderate downturn
- P3 System maintains shape over time
- Quick velcro on-off
- Full midsole supports on longer routes
- Enough aggression for hard moves, enough comfort for the rest
Katana trade-offs
- Not aggressive enough for steep overhangs
- Can feel stiff when new
- Velcro wears over time
How the Katana fits
Typically sized 1 EU size below street size.
Leather will stretch roughly 0.5 EU.
Fit profile: medium width, standard forefoot volume, medium heel, suits egyptian, roman and greek toe shapes.
Expect roughly half a size of stretch; moderate break-in.
How it fit climbers with your foot shape: fit reports from feet like yours.
Katana fit reports
Based on fit feedback from 18 owners who measured their feet with the climbing-gear.com foot scanner and rated this shoe at the toes, forefoot and heel (tight, perfect or loose).
Typical downsize: -1.0 EU from street size (n=18).
- Fits best for: egyptian toe shape, greek toe shape, long toes, medium toe length, no hallux valgus, shallow heel
- Runs tight for: narrow forefoot, high instep, medium heel width, wide heel, medium heel depth, deep heel
- Runs loose for: narrow heel
- Toes: 72% perfect (n=18) - 13 perfect, 3 tight, 2 loose. Fits well for egyptian toe shape, greek toe shape, long toes…
- Forefoot: 72% perfect (n=18) - 13 perfect, 4 tight, 1 loose. Mixed signals across foot types.
- Heel: 50% perfect (n=18) - 9 perfect, 3 tight, 6 loose. Fits well for medium heel width, shallow heel
Stiffness
Measured stiffness: 0.67 on our 0-1 scale (0 = softest). Among moderately downturned shoes it sits between the Scarpa Quantix SF (0.58, softer) and the Evolv Geshido (0.70, stiffer).
Katana specifications
| Brand | La Sportiva |
| Model | Katana |
| Closure | Velcro |
| Downturn | Moderate |
| Asymmetry | Moderate |
| Toe Patch | Medium |
| Heel Rubber | Partial |
| Ankle Protection | None |
| Midsole | Full |
| Midsole Stiffness | Medium hard |
| Rand | Tensioned |
| Upper Material | Leather |
| Weight (pair) | 490 g (17.3 oz) |
| Break-in | Moderate |
| Rubber | Vibram XS Edge |
| Rubber Thickness | 4mm |
| Rubber Hardness | Hard |
| Durability | Moderate, High |
| Vegan | No |
| Resoleable | Yes |
| Kids | No |
What the Katana costs
Prices checked 15 Oct 2026 across 44 shops that currently stock it (74.90 to 155.00 EUR). Cheapest current offer: 74.90 EUR at verticalextreme.de, 53% below the 159.00 EUR list price.
| Retailer | Price |
|---|---|
| verticalextreme.de | 74.90 EUR |
| oliunid.de | 101.90 EUR |
| epictv.com | 101.90 EUR |
| skalnik.pl | 103.07 EUR |
| sportbuck.com | 104.95 EUR |
| engelhorn.de | 110.25 EUR |
| veronaverticale.it | 110.66 EUR |
| outdoortrends.de | 111.76 EUR |
| bergfreunde.de | 112.46 EUR |
| funktionelles.de | 112.99 EUR |
| + 34 more shops | |
Prices by size
Cheapest in-stock price per EU size and how many shops list that size, from the EU pool. Updated daily.
| EU size | From | Shops |
|---|---|---|
| 33 | 166.00 EUR | 1 |
| 33.5 | 166.00 EUR | 1 |
| 34 | 101.90 EUR | 4 |
| 34.5 | 119.95 EUR | 3 |
| 35 | 101.90 EUR | 12 |
| 35.5 | 112.46 EUR | 12 |
| 36 | 112.46 EUR | 15 |
| 36.5 | 112.46 EUR | 15 |
| 37 | 109.25 EUR | 19 |
| 37.5 | 109.25 EUR | 21 |
| 38 | 103.07 EUR | 28 |
| 38.5 | 103.07 EUR | 26 |
| 39 | 103.07 EUR | 30 |
| 39.5 | 103.07 EUR | 32 |
| 40 | 103.07 EUR | 34 |
| 40.5 | 109.25 EUR | 33 |
| 41 | 109.25 EUR | 33 |
| 41.5 | 109.25 EUR | 33 |
| 42 | 109.25 EUR | 36 |
| 42.5 | 109.25 EUR | 32 |
| 43 | 110.66 EUR | 34 |
| 43.5 | 110.66 EUR | 37 |
| 44 | 103.07 EUR | 36 |
| 44.5 | 104.95 EUR | 31 |
| 45 | 110.66 EUR | 31 |
| 45.5 | 74.90 EUR | 22 |
| 46 | 104.95 EUR | 25 |
| 46.5 | 119.90 EUR | 8 |
| 47 | 119.90 EUR | 7 |
Similar Climbing Shoes
- Scarpa Quantix SF
- Evolv Geshido
- La Sportiva Katana Women's
- La Sportiva Otaki
- La Sportiva Otaki Women's
- Five Ten NIAD VCS
Prices, stock and owner fit data on this page update daily. You are welcome to cite these figures if you name climbing-gear.com and link to this page - see our data terms.