Scarpa Origin Review (2023): Top Pick For Beginners?

Published on: 01/18/2023

Bottom Line

Introduction

If you are looking for beginner shoes that will wear well as you improve your footwork, the Origin is a good first pair of climbing shoes. Chances are you won’t need the performance or precision offered by shoes with a sharp downturn yet, and letting your feet breathe will allow you to work on the basics of body position and technique.

Even though the Scarpa Vision rubber isn’t the stickiest on the market, it still offers plenty of grip and will help you learn how to place your toe on smaller holds.

The Origin is not exclusively a beginner shoe, and more experienced climbers have plenty of reasons to consider picking up a pair. Especially if you climb lots of moderate routes (while guiding or with friends and family), it makes sense to have a comfortable shoe that you can slip on without worrying about pain on the wall later on. Because of their remarkable durability, these also make good scrambling and gym shoes.

Scarpa Origin: Men’s vs Women’s

Like many other climbing shoes, the Origin comes in two flavors: the men’s and the women’s version (formerly known as Scarpa Origin LV for “ladies’ version”). Really, the shoe that works the best for you will depend more on the size and shape of your foot than on your gender. The women’s model is simply a narrower version of the original, built with the same midsole and toe box.

Men with thin feet will actually be better off with the women’s, and women with wider feet should opt for the men’s. Apart from the fit, the only difference between the men’s and women’s versions is the color scheme, with men’s featuring iron gray and women a slightly more eye-catching turquoise.

How Does the Scarpa Origin Perform?

Even though it is not a “performance climbing shoe,” the Origin holds up pretty well in different aspects. Here’s how it performs on the wall:

Edging

Because the midsole and rand are relatively flexible, edging is not this shoe’s strongest suit. Other stiffer shoes will allow greater purchase on micro edges where the shoe’s structure helps you stick to the hold. That said, these shoes still edge decently well, better than any slipper will. Unless you find yourself climbing granite slab often, you will probably be ok with their performance here.

Smearing

The Scarpa Origin climbing shoe is in the middle of the pack for smearing on featureless rock. Because it is relatively flat and flexible, it is easy to push the front part of the shoe into the wall and get plenty of surface contact. The Vision sole is not as sticky as the Vibram compound (a sacrifice that makes it more durable), and the feel is not entirely as secure as other shoes with a tackier sole. If you find yourself climbing on high-friction granite slab often, you probably won’t notice the difference. However, the average smearing performance level will be noticeable if you are climbing on sandstone or limestone slab.

Hooking

The Origin delivers surprisingly solid performance for hooking. Despite the neutral midsole, Scarpa’s PAF heel system does a good job of conforming to the shape of your foot and staying in place when pulling hard on the heel. Toe hooking in the Origin means that you will be placing the leather upper on the rock instead of the sole. Despite this, it still feels secure.

Jamming

For crack climbers, the ideal climbing shoe is something that is both comfortable and provides ample friction on the top of the foot for times when heel-toe cams and foot jams come into play. Even though the Origin is a supremely comfortable pair of shoes, it’s not the best choice for those who will be jamming often. The toe rand ends right above where your toenails would be inside the shoe. Even though the leather upper has great durability, it’s better to have a shoe with a rand that wraps around the top of the foot.

Who And What Are These Shoes For?

The Scarpa Origin climbing shoes are apt for those who have just started climbing and want a shoe they can learn in. New climbers will appreciate the price, comfort fit, quality material, and ergonomic velcro closure straps. Some advanced climbers might also enjoy the Origins as a gym shoe or something comfortable for all-day moderate climbs. They are not optimal for hard bouldering or sport climbing as they don’t deliver the technical performance that many other climbing shoes do. Still, they offer a better value than most climbing shoes and are a top pick for beginners.

Facts

Technical Specs

Use

Technologies

Reference: Scarpa‘s official website

Technical Specs

Where to Buy It?

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