Undoubtedly Alex Honnold is amongst the most famous climbers.
He got the coveted Oscar-winning documentary “Free Solo” because of his fearless solo ascents.
He enjoys unlimited sponsorship opportunities and has a highly inspiring climbing resume.
Alex Honnold may not have stuck dynos like Sharma or climbed the amazing grades of Ondra.
Still, he has projected rock climbing sports into the global spotlight.
If you are curious about what climbing shoes does Alex Honnold wear, you will get all the details here.
We scoured Alex’s all climbing records.
We even made a sincere effort to look back into his splendid career.
Finally, we managed to maintain the most accurate records of his climbing kicks.
An Italian company La Sportiva sponsors all of Alex’s events.
For the last 15 years, this company has been designing every shoe worn by him. His choice of shoes depends on what he is climbing.
Like every serious climber, several factors influence his choice.
The rock type, size, and climbing style determine which specific shoe model he will choose.
He has used quite a lot of different shoes.
We have shortlisted a few of our favorite Alex Honnold climbing shoes with famous ascents where he used them.
List of the 4 Climbing Shoes that Alex Honnold Wears
Alex Honnold’s four favorite climbing shoes are listed below.
- La Sportiva TC Pro
- La Sportiva Miura
- La Sportiva Solution
- La Sportiva Skwama
1. FOR BIG WALLS Alex Honnold Wears La Sportiva TC Pro
Last update on 2023-09-26 // Source: Amazon Affiliates
Alex used TC Pro shoes for the Nose speed record, Fitzroy Traverse, and Freerider Free Solo.
Let’s hope you remember his crazy free solo of El Capitan.
In case you have a keen sense of observation, you might have noticed the make of his shoes.
He extensively used these shoes for his training.
He was also wearing the pair in the final Freerider ascent in solo style.
These are also the signature shoes of Tommy Caldwell.
Yosemite climbers prefer TC Pro to tackle the treacherous world of vertical granites.
You can find endless micro edges, slabs (what is slab climbing?), and cracks on El Cap.
These climbing shoes feature a super stiff and comfortable design, perfect to wear them while rappelling.
La Sportiva TC Pro has an ideal design to excel on the relentless terrain of this ascent, they are part of the best crack climbing shoes list.
Alex did not use these shoes only once. Alex wore TC Pro for several Big Wall adventures.
Both Tommy and Alex relied on TC Pro to complete the Fitzroy Traverse, break the speed record on The Nose, and many more.
2. TOP ALL-AROUNDER for Alex Honnold is La Sportiva Miura
- Slingshot rand connected to the powerhinge under the shoe to keep you on edges
- Speed lacing system for quick lace-ups
- 8-panel directional lining for channeling stretch
Last update on 2023-09-27 // Source: Amazon Affiliates
Alex used the La Sportive Miura shoes for The Moonlight Buttress solo, Too Big to Flail, and Half Dome solo.
Miura helped Honnold scale some of the big ascents.
It is the second most used shoe after the TC Pro.
Miura is amongst the most versatile climbing shoes available out there.
It is the top all-around climbing shoe that everybody loves.
Miura shoes use the Vibram XS Edge technology for downturn performance.
It creates still shoes that can perform equally well on edges as well as overhangs.
That is why Honnold became a big fan of La Sportiva Miura shoes.
Throughout his career, he has used both the Velcro and the Lace versions for his noteworthy ascents.
Alex Honnold started his career in 2008 with his solo on Half Dome.
He used Miura lace to conquer his first ascent.
Some of his other ascents worth mentioning are El Sendero Luminoso and Wet Lycra Nightmare.
In these two ascents also, he trusted the Miura climbing shoes.
He also donned the Miura shoes for his notable boulder issues at the Too Big to Flail and The Mandala.
There is enough proof of his trust in Miura. You can even find Honnold tackling the Yosemite boulders.
3. FOR BOULDERING Alex Honnold Wears La Sportiva Solution
- Marbled P3 rands - each pair is unique!
- Ideal terrain: Overhanging sport routes, bouldering, gym climbing and technical face climbing
- AWARDS: Climbing Magazine - Editors' Choice, Climbing Magazine - Editors' Chouce 2014, Rock and Ice - Best in Gear, Gear Institute - Best in Class 2014, IF Product Design Award 2006
Last update on 2023-09-27 // Source: Amazon Affiliates
Alex used the La Sportiva Solution climbing shoes for The Arrested Development.
The Solution shoes are perfect for overhung climbing.
It is the only shoe in the La Sportiva range that is a clear choice for many for this purpose.
La Sportiva was amongst the first ones to bring shoes like Solution for modern performance.
It ranks among the best aggressive shoes ever made.
The Solution with menacing looks still maintains this position with several innovative features.
The Solution climbing shoes remain one of the favorite Alex Honnold climbing shoes since the beginning of his career.
It is his preferred choice for bouldering.
Recently, he used the Solution for his first-ever ascent of Arrested Development.
Alex mentions that the Solution is ideal for both heel and toe hooking.
It is rare for a shoe to be good at both types of hooking.
Honnold used these shoes for almost every style except tread climbing.
You can see Honnold on Instagram taking the Solution Comp for a spin.
We are looking forward to seeing him doing something more spectacular with these pairs in the future.
In the meantime, you can read our guide on the best bouldering shoes for beginners.
4. FOR INDOOR CLIMBING Alex Honnold Wears La Sportiva Skwama
- P3 technology coupled with the new innovative sole construction allows the sole to spread when weighted, reducing edge deformation
- S-heel construction for the best fit and powerful heel hooks
- Sticky rubber toe patch for toe hooks and scums
Last update on 2023-09-27 // Source: Amazon Affiliates
Alex uses La Sportiva Skwama shoes frequently but not as much as the others.
Still, it is not rare to catch him with these.
According to my opinion, La Sportiva Skwama has a super soft profile.
That is why Honnold primarily uses these climbing shoes for gym climbing.
For records, we have some photos of Alex using the Skwama climbing shoes for a little soloing in The Red Rock.
We are yet to spot him with these shoes in a mega event. Perhaps we may never spot him with Skwama.
The reason is that TC Pro inspires more confidence due to its uncompromising stiffness than softer shoes like Skwama.
What Is the Size of Alex Honnold’s Climbing Shoes?
He prefers the size 8.5 US (46 inches) in the Solution and TC Pro models.
He wears a size of half-inch more than his EU sizes for longer climbs to ensure additional comfort.
What Are Alex Honnold’s Approach Shoes?
- A comfortable and durable womens hiking shoe designed for long approaches on rugged terrain, the La Sportiva Womens TX4 offers excellent support and traction with leather durability.
- The leather upper material increases abrasion resistance, foot protection and stability. Leather looks good both on and off the trail. Full surround rubber rand protects the lower foot from sharp trail hazards.
- True to size length with a wide forefoot fit for all day comfort and stability.
Last update on 2023-09-27 // Source: Amazon Affiliates
His approach shoes are TX2 from La Sportiva.
They are breathable and lightweight shoes, offering the famous Vibram mega grip.
They are a favorite of several climbers because of their resilience and reliability.
Read our two guides about the best approach shoes.
Final Thoughts on What Climbing Shoes Does Alex Honnold Wear
We spent quite a few days looking back on Honnol’s career and his preferences. We have
noticed that he has used about every performance shoe made by La Sportiva.
He has a diverse collection ranging from super soft no edge shoes to super stiff ones.
He seems to like super soft Futura and Genius a lot. Still, it is rare to spot Alex with Kataki, Otaki, or Katana shoes.
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Last Updated on April 3, 2023 by Roger
