I really haven't been too thrilled with this shoe. It is really durable, though, and I've gotten quite a few re-soles out of it.

The problem with the shoe is that it has the price of a high performance shoe, but the thickness and stiffness of the sole makes it less sensitive than most beginner shoes. Should expect this from a board lasted shoe, but the Ace is really a clunker. It is great for edging, but don't expect to feel the hold under your toe. The heel tends to pinch me, which is a common complaint with these.

I'd recommend buying these shoes a bit loose and plan on using them for long day multi-pitch.

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Scarpa Edge
Scarpa Dominator
LS Mythos
LS Kaukulator
5.10 Hueco

A great all around shoe from beginner to advanced. Great edging and smearing but poor feel as expected from a board lasted shoe. It's the perfect first shoe. I've been climbing for 11 years, had a pair when I started and recently went back to them as a everyday all condition trad shoe to give my feet a break from the torture of slip lasted advanced shoes. Only major downside is those with wide toes may feel cramped.

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Boreal Laser, 5.10 Summit & Moccasym, La Sportiva

I have been through a lot of climbing shoes but the Ace's are the only shoe that I had experience with three different pairs of. I love this sheo, the versitlity, the support, and the rubber.
Although there is one little drawback to this fine shoe-of coars the price, and the toe box needs to be a little wider. I have many times been drawn to the Scarpa's because they are wonderful for their comfortable toe fitting.

good for a beginner shoe. many people seem to have problems with how the heel fits. it seems to dig in. it lacks performance on overhanging terrane. i feel its best purpose is for slab climbing, with its performance being okay for edging and cracks.

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have tried mythos, stingers, moccasyms, minimas

Great shoes for beginner and I would think for long multi-pitch routes. The shoe has a very stiff sole making edging easy. Don't expect good sensitivity. The point of the shoe is not where your big toe is, but as a beginner, you won't mind. The last quite long and don't stretch too much.

I won't buy them again. Mainly because they are too stiff and give too little 'feel'. Better buy the laser once you know a bit more about climbing.

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a.o. boreal leaser, ninja & la sportiva

This was the first shoe I've ever bought, and I still use it. If you are climbing indoors, or short pitches, you might go with a slipper or something more aggressive. But if you want a shoe that you can keep on all day long, this is the shoe for you. I would say this is best all around shoe on the market.

Customer Service

It will stretch a bit, anywhere from 1/4 of a size to 1/2 a size up. So if you like a snug fit, be forewarned.

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Boreal Stingers

I love them now, hated them until I made some mods. The Ace has an aggressive slingshot rand, too aggressive for my toes I found out. The shoe fit well from toe to heel cup, but the slingshot rand was driving the toes into the toes box and creating a small gap behind the heel. The result was unnecessary pain. I took a grinder and thinned the slingshot rand to increase its compliance, and now I can wear them all day with no loss in performance.

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None

If you can endure the hellish six month break-in period, these shoes are fantastic. They hold thin granite edges like boards, have padding to let you crank foot jams comfortably, and -- eventually -- will flex enough to let you climb slabs with confidence. Buy them the right size and they are comfortable enough to spend the day in. They last forever -- I own three pairs, and my first and second pair have four and five resoles apiece. But make no mistake, this is not a shoe that climbs well out of the box. At first they are so clunky you'll skate on the easiest of moves. I've reduced the break-in to three months with the following steps: (1) wear them repeatedly in a warm shower; (2) sand the soles till the entire first layer of rubber is gone; (3) as soon as the first soles are gone, resole them with Stealth rubber. That said, if you plan on climbing traditional granite routes, there are few better all-around shoes.

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None

I SHOPED FOR A COMFORTABLE AND PRICEWISELY ROCK SHOE FOR A COUPLE MONTHS WITHOUT MUCH SUCCESS TIL I HAPPENED UPON THE ACE AND HAVE HAD A BLAST CLIMBING WITH IT EVER SINCE. I AM QUITE HAPPY WITH MY PURCHASE AND ITS PERFORMENCE.

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None

If you get the right fit, these shoes will really perform. I wore them around at work a bit to get through the break-in period (ouch). I've had them resoled twice, and they are still in good shape. They edge well, have a pointy toe for cracks, and with C4 they walk right up a slab. Some shoes probably perform better in specific instances (front pointing or heel hooking), but I've never felt limited by these shoes.

Customer Service

never needed it

Similar Products Used:

Boreal Vector, Five-Ten Summit, Scarpa Brio