Tenaya Araí
Tenaya
Tenaya's entry into the Step Up line, blending a gently curved shape with a padded bellows tongue for wide-opening comfort. The reinforced rubber toe box borrows from Tenaya's performance range, giving beginners genuine edging capability. Four-layer midsole distributes force evenly, making it forgiving on longer gym sessions and outdoor training days.
Best For
Best for sport climbing and bouldering on slab and vertical terrain. Aimed at beginner to intermediate climbers.
Strengths & Trade-offs
Strengths
- Wide opening tongue - easy on and off between burns
- Adapts well to different foot widths
- Rubber toe reinforcement improves edging for a beginner shoe
- Full midsole supports developing footwork
- Solid value at the price point
Trade-offs
- Proprietary rubber lacks the grip of Vibram XS compounds
- Not enough downturn for steep climbing
- Static fit that doesn't adapt with wear
Sizing & Fit
True to size. Wide foot adaptability (5/5 rating). Padded tongue for comfort.
Fit profile: wide width, standard forefoot volume, medium heel, suits egyptian toe shapes.
No stretch expected; minimal break-in.
Stiffness
Measured stiffness: 0.42 on our 0-1 scale (0 = softest). Among slightly downturned shoes it sits between the Andrea Boldrini Spider (0.36, softer) and the Ocun Ozone HV (0.50, stiffer).
Specifications
| Brand | Tenaya |
| Model | Araí |
| Closure | Velcro |
| Feel | Stiff-Moderate |
| Downturn | Slight |
| Asymmetry | Slight |
| Rubber | Tenaya proprietary rubber |
| Rubber Thickness | 4mm |
| Weight (pair) | 640g |
| Vegan | Yes |
| Kids | No |