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La Sportiva TC Pro Review

Designed for big days on big walls, this shoe is nearly perfect for long traditional climbs
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La Sportiva TC Pro Review (The TC Pro provides excellent support that's most noticeable when using standing on small edges.)
The TC Pro provides excellent support that's most noticeable when using standing on small edges.
Credit: Jack Cramer
Price:  $219 List
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Manufacturer:   La Sportiva
By Jack Cramer ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Jan 2, 2024
78
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#2 of 28
  • Comfort - 20% 9.0
  • Smearing - 20% 8.0
  • Edging - 20% 8.0
  • Pulling - 20% 4.0
  • Cracks - 20% 10.0

Our Verdict

The updated La Sportiva TC Pro comes close to living up to the climb-anything-anywhere hype surrounding it. It features phenomenal edging, a flat toe, ankle protection for cracks, decent smearing ability, and an ultra-supportive, semi-stiff sole that will keep your feet feeling strong pitch after pitch. This makes this shoe a top contender for the ultimate, single-quiver shoe title. The latest version of this shoe also addresses some complaints about durability and Achilles pain that were raised with the original version. As with any jack-of-all-trades, the TC Pro falls behind some specialized shoes in their respective niches. It doesn't excel in the steep and gymnastic world of high-end sport climbing or bouldering but is an ideal choice for almost any type of trad climbing. See how it measures up versus the competition in our best climbing shoes review.
REASONS TO BUY
Great edging
Solid crack climbing
Good all-around shoe
REASONS TO AVOID
Expensive
Limited sport/bouldering use
Editor's Note: This review was updated on January 2, 2024, to reflect changes to our testing metrics.

Compare to Similar Products

 
la sportiva tc pro
This Product
La Sportiva TC Pro
Awards Editors' Choice Award
Best Shoe for Trad and Crack Climbing
Editors' Choice Award
Best Overall Climbing Shoe
Best Buy Award
Best Value for a Trad Shoe
Best Buy Award
Best Value for a Well-Rounded Climbing Shoe
Best Buy Award
Best for Beginners and Tight Budgets
Price $219.00 at REI
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$163.97 at Public Lands
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$121.45 at Amazon
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$129.00 at REI
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$89.00 at REI
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Overall Score Sort Icon
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Bottom Line With this shoe, you can climb pitch after pitch without painAn awesome shoe for long climbs requiring a variety of crack climbing and edging techniquesA simple shoe with solid performance for trad climbingA bargain price for a climbing shoe with respectable performanceA great deal for an adequate climbing shoe
Rating Categories La Sportiva TC Pro La Sportiva Katana... Black Diamond Aspect La Sportiva Finale La Sportiva Tarantu...
Comfort (20%)
9.0
9.0
8.0
8.0
8.0
Smearing (20%)
8.0
9.0
8.0
7.0
6.0
Edging (20%)
8.0
8.0
8.0
7.0
6.0
Pulling (20%)
4.0
6.0
4.0
5.0
5.0
Cracks (20%)
10.0
7.0
8.0
7.0
7.0
Specs La Sportiva TC Pro La Sportiva Katana... Black Diamond Aspect La Sportiva Finale La Sportiva Tarantu...
Style Lace Lace Lace Lace Lace
Upper Leather Leather / Microfiber Leather Eco Leather / Microfiber Leather / Synthetic
Width Options Regular Regular Regular Regular Regular
Lining Sentex / PU Foam Pacific (in forefoot and back) Hemp Unlined None
Rubber Type Vibram XS Edge Vibram XS Edge NeoFriction Force Vibram XS Edge FriXion RS
Rubber Thickness 4 mm 4 mm 4.3 mm 5 mm 5 mm

Our Analysis and Test Results

The “TC” in the TC Pro name stands for Tommy Caldwell, an American professional climber who helped design these exceedingly popular shoes. Caldwell has a long list of climbing accomplishments, but he's probably most known for his free climbing prowess on Yosemite's El Capitan. These shoes are built for this purpose with a stiff sole and high-top upper that supply excellent edging performance and extra padding for all-day crack jamming. Although they're exceptional for granite cracks, they're also a solid choice for trad climbing on almost any rock type. That's why these shoes have gained devoted fans all around the world.

The rand on the side of the original TC Pro (right) was prone to...
The rand on the side of the original TC Pro (right) was prone to peeling. The new version (left) features a continuous rand to solve this problem.
We occasionally heard complaints about the original TC Pro (right)...
We occasionally heard complaints about the original TC Pro (right) causing Achilles pain. In the latest version (left) they eliminated the hem on the heel and this reduced pressure and discomfort.

The classic TC Pro received a slew of updates with the new version released in 2021. Past TC Pro fans will be happy to hear that almost all of these changes seem to be for the better. Perhaps the most appreciated change is a redesign of the rand. The sides of the shoe now feature a continuous rand that's far less prone to delaminating or peeling. The laces are also a little burlier, so there is less fear about shredding them while crack jamming on coarse rock. La Sportiva removed a small hem on the heel of this shoe. This subtle change helps alleviate pressure and reduce Achilles pain. On the other hand, we were disappointed to discover that the new TC Pro feels ever so slightly less sensitive. This is especially disappointing because these shoes weren't particularly sensitive to begin with. Aside from this difference, though, we're thrilled with most of the changes to this already fantastic shoe.

Performance Comparison


la sportiva tc pro - for maximum edging performance, our testers usually prefer a lace-up...
For maximum edging performance, our testers usually prefer a lace-up closure. This design allows for the most secure fit to eliminate any foot slippage inside a shoe.
Credit: Jack Cramer

Comfort


After enough pitches, any climbing shoe will make you miserable. How long that takes is the measure of how comfortable a shoe is. The TC Pro doesn't baby your foot like some flat shoes. The toe is molded into an asymmetrical point, and if you size it too tight, your toes will curl over slightly. Our lead tester wears a euro 44.5 street shoe but sized down to a 43.5 for a performance fit in TC Pro. At this size, he finds it possible to wear them during massive days with minimal pain.


The sole offers tons of support to stave off fatigue, and the high-top upper protects your foot amazingly in cracks. Both of these aspects of its performance are more important than its comfort out of the box. And out of the box, it can feel rather uncomfortable until the stiff leather uppers have been properly broken in with a few days of climbing. The TC Pro isn't perfect for everyone, especially those with wide or high-volume feet.

la sportiva tc pro - here the author attempts to bend the tc pro in his hands. you can...
Here the author attempts to bend the TC pro in his hands. You can see significant stiffness across the forefoot yet some flex in the midfoot.
Credit: Jack Cramer

Smearing


This hard man's shoe is extremely supportive, but it still manages to provide some sensitivity. Its 4 millimeters of Vibram XS Edge rubber is slightly more than average but actually pretty modest for a specialized crack shoe. This compromise between protection and performance means that the TC Pro actually offers impressive smearing capabilities for such a stiff shoe. The flat shape allows you to cover small features with rubber, and its rigidity allows you to transfer power and stand for extended periods of time on thin smears.


Shoes with softer midsoles can still provide much higher levels of sensitivity, but after you get accustomed to the stiffness of the TC Pro, it's possible to detect tiny rock features. You might not be able to feel absolutely everything, but with careful technique, you can learn to trust them.

la sportiva tc pro - although these shoes don't offer outstanding sensitivity, they're...
Although these shoes don't offer outstanding sensitivity, they're still one of our favorites for granite climbing.
Credit: Jack Cramer

Edging


The XS Edge rubber used on the TC Pro is, as the name implies, designed for edging. It works phenomenally for this purpose. The pointed toe stands on extremely microscopic features with ease, and both the inside and outside edges feel precise enough for hard face climbing.


Like many top-rated La Sportiva shoes, the TC Pro employs its P3 technology to add support. This design employs a tensioned rand across the heel that runs inside the shoe all the way to the forefoot. The result is a stable platform with considerable stiffness all the way from heel to toe. The downside to this design is additional material between your foot that harms sensitivity. Despite this limited tactile feedback, if you place your feet precisely, the edging performance can be outstanding.

la sportiva tc pro - the tc pro provides excellent support that's most noticeable when...
The TC Pro provides excellent support that's most noticeable when using standing on small edges.
Credit: Jack Cramer

Pulling


Just looking at the pointed toe of the TC Pro suggests that it will do well in pockets at some angle. The steeper you get, however, the worse it performs. That's partially due to the flat toe, which is so amazing on edges and in cracks, but it's an ineffective design for pulling your lower body in on overhanging terrain.


The heel cup is also bulky with a hard rubber spine that reduces sensitivity for heel hooks. The TC Pro is still great for vertical terrain, but for steep cranking or pocketed limestone, we recommend a shoe with a pointier toe and a more aggressive downturn.

la sportiva tc pro - according to our testers, who compared all the best climbing shoes...
According to our testers, who compared all the best climbing shoes, the TC Pro's biggest weakness is the performance on overhanging terrain. The burlier heel cup, in particular, offers limited sensitivity when heel hooking.
Credit: Jack Cramer

Crack Climbing


Fish do well in water, and the TC Pro does well in cracks for the same reason: they are meant to be there. The virtually flat toe fits pretty well into cracks, allowing you to crank and jam in all directions with impunity. The forefoot is surprisingly stiff for how sensitive the shoe feels and holds its shape no matter how hard you try to mangle your foot in the wide stuff. With these shoes, your hands will beg for a break long before your feet.


Unfortunately, the toe box is rather tall, which means you can't slide a ton of material into thin cracks. Most people will probably prefer a shoe with a slimmer toe profile to charge up cracks that are thin hands or smaller. For anything wider than thin hands, however, the TC Pro is extremely capable.

la sportiva tc pro - the tc pro is most at home when crack climbing. the stiff sole and...
The TC Pro is most at home when crack climbing. The stiff sole and high-top design greatly improve comfort during painful jams.
Credit: Jack Cramer

Should You Buy the La Sportiva TC Pro?


The TC Pro is easily one of the most popular shoes in the granite climbing areas of the American West, and it's easy to understand why. Its excellent balance of comfort, edging performance, and sensitivity remain unmatched by its rivals. Of course, there are also a few detractors to any fan club. Some of these detractors are just grumpy contrarians, but criticism about limited sensitivity and poor performance on overhanging terrain seem warranted. And of course, to get your hands on a pair you'll have to fork over some serious cash. But the TC Pro is a shoe that's worth saving up your lunch money for, considering the additional value in its versatility and improved durability. We're confident you'll be pleased with what we believe is the best shoe for trad and crack climbing.

What Other Rock Climbing Shoes Should You Consider?


There are a few other slightly less expensive high-top shoes that are marketed for crack and traditional climbing. Among them, the Black Diamond Aspect Pro stands out as a comparable shoe that will save you a few bucks. But for the relative price difference, the TC Pro seems like the better buy for its versatility. Of course, if you're moving more in vertical to over-hanging, you'll be happier with a shoe like the La Sportiva Katana Lace of the Solution Comp, the latter especially if you're climbing mostly indoors.

Jack Cramer