A Comparison guide to the Tarantula and Scarpa Origin Climbing Shoes
Climbing shoes are an essential tool for professional climbers and recreational enthusiasts alike. Choosing the right climbing shoes for your feet and climbing style is an important decision that can make or break your climbing experience. In this guide, we will be comparing two popular climbing shoes – the Tarantula and the Scarpa Origin – to help you make the right decision.
| Tarantula | Scarpa Origin | |
|---|---|---|
| Fit | Aggressive | Comfort |
| Type of Climbing | Sport, Trad, and Bouldering | Sport, Trad, and Bouldering |
| Sole Stiffness | Medium-Stiff | Soft |
| Shape | Asymmetrical | Symmetrical |
| Closure System | Velcro | Lace-Up |
| Materials | Leather | Suede |
| Price | $$ | $$$ |
Fit
The Tarantula is designed for an aggressive fit, meaning that it is designed to hug your feet and provide maximum control and edging power. The Scarpa Origin is designed for a comfort fit, providing greater freedom of movement and comfort to the wearer.
The shape of the Tarantula is asymmetrical, meaning that the left and right shoes have different shapes and sizes to better match the unique shape of your feet. The Scarpa Origin, on the other hand, is symmetrical, meaning that both shoes are the same size and shape.
The Tarantula offers a Velcro closure system, allowing you to quickly and easily adjust the tightness of the shoes. The Scarpa Origin offers a lace-up closure system, allowing you to make fine-tuned adjustments to the tightness of the shoes.
Type of Climbing
Both shoes are suitable for sport, trad, and bouldering climbing. The Tarantula’s aggressive fit and asymmetrical shape make it a great choice for climbers who need maximum control and edging power. The Scarpa Origin’s comfort fit and symmetrical shape make it a great choice for climbers who need greater freedom of movement.
Sole Stiffness
The Tarantula has a medium-stiff sole, providing enough stiffness for edging without sacrificing too much in terms of comfort. The Scarpa Origin has a soft sole, providing greater foot comfort but less support for edging.
Shape
As mentioned above, the Tarantula is asymmetrical, meaning that the left and right shoes have different shapes and sizes to better match the unique shape of your feet. The Scarpa Origin is symmetrical, meaning that both shoes are the same size and shape.
Closure System
The Tarantula offers a Velcro closure system, allowing you to quickly and easily adjust the tightness of the shoes. The Scarpa Origin offers a lace-up closure system, allowing you to make fine-tuned adjustments to the tightness of the shoes.
Materials
The Tarantula is made of a leather upper, providing durability and flexibility. The Scarpa Origin is made of a suede upper, providing greater breathability and comfort.
Price
The Tarantula is more affordable than the Scarpa Origin and is usually priced at $$. The Scarpa Origin is usually priced at $$$.Personal Preference
Ultimately, the decision of which climbing shoes to buy comes down to personal preference. Consider the type of climbing you will be doing and the fit, shape, sole stiffness, closure system, and materials that best suit your needs and preferences.
Toe Box Shape
The toe box shape of the Tarantula is fairly shallow, allowing you to flex your toes more easily. The toe box shape of the Scarpa Origin is slightly deeper, providing greater protection for your toes.
Heel Cup
The heel cup of the Tarantula is mid-height, providing moderate support for your heels. The heel cup of the Scarpa Origin is slightly lower, providing greater freedom of movement.
Weight
The Tarantula is lightweight and weighs approximately 8.5 ounces (241 g). The Scarpa Origin is slightly heavier and weighs approximately 9.3 ounces (264 g).
Level of Ventilation
The leather upper of the Tarantula provides good ventilation, allowing your feet to breathe more easily. The suede upper of the Scarpa Origin provides excellent ventilation, allowing your feet to remain cool and comfortable.
Finally, it’s important to remember that choosing the right climbing shoes is a personal decision and that there is no “right” or “wrong” answer. Consider the fit, shape, sole stiffness, closure system, materials, and price that best suit your needs and preferences.
At the end of the day, the Tarantula and the Scarpa Origin are both quality climbing shoes that provide excellent performance. So, whether you choose the Tarantula or the Scarpa Origin, you can rest assured that you have made a great choice.