La Sportiva Men’s Cobra Climbing Shoe Review

The La Sportiva Men’s Cobra is a climbing shoe designed for high-performance climbing on overhanging sport routes, bouldering, gym climbing, and technical face climbing. 

La Sportiva Men’s Cobra Climbing Shoe Structure

The La Sportiva Men’s Cobrahas is a lightweight shoe weighing only 213g with an unlined leather upper giving a simple, clean design with power and sensitivity. The LaspoFlex midsole of the Cobra Climbing shoe is 0.8mm thin helping climbers to take precise and controlled small steps. The shoe becomes more comfortable and grippy with its mouldable XS Grip2 sole. This mouldable and down-turned shape of Cobra is ideal for climbing through steep and overhanging routes by giving necessary support to feet. This shoe reduces fatigue during long climbing sessions. The best part of the shoe is its asymmetry, providing a performance oriented fit to maximize power and precision.

La Sportiva Men’s Cobra Specs

• Manufacturer: La Sportiva
• Weight: 7.5 oz (213 g)
• Upper Material: Leather (Unlined)
• Midsole: 0.8mm LaspoFlex
• Sole: 3.5mm Vibram XS Grip2
• Sizes: Available in sizes 32 to 46, including half sizes
• Color: Orange (Color code: 976)
• Construction: Slip lasted
• Closure: Slip-on
• Fit: Comfort fit
• Downturn: Moderate
• Environment: Indoor, Outdoor
• Level: Intermediate
• Stiffness: Soft
• Use: Bouldering, Slab, Crack, Face, All around
• Features: Lightweight | Tongue Pull Loop

Size and fit measurements

The La Sportiva Men’s Cobra climbing shoe is available in various sizes.

Sizing Options:

The Men’s Cobra climbing shoe size ranges from EU 35 to EU 46, including half sizes.

Fit:

The Cobra climbing shoe has a High Asymmetry” fit. The design provides a  tight and precise fit for better performance during climbing. 

Who should get the La Sportiva Cobra?

The La Sportiva Cobra is a good choice for climbers who want a climbing shoe that helps them in quick and precise movements with excellent grip on different surfaces.

Who Should not get La Sportiva Men’s Cobra?

La Sportiva Men’s Cobra is not recommended for the person having Morton’s toe, because they have a lopsided shape. Morton’s Toe is when your second toe is longer than your big toe. This can cause too much pressure on the ball of your foot behind the second toe, which can lead to pain in your metatarsals.

La Sportiva Men’s Upper Specifications

The La Sportiva Men’s Cobra has an upper made from unlined leather, a key component of its design. The upper is made using calf leather. Calf leather is durable and provides a comfortable fit. It molds according to the shape of the foot and creates a good balance between flexibility and support. The unlined upper means it does not have an additional lining layer on the inside. This enhances sensitivity and contributes to a tight and precise fit. The clean and Minimalist Design of the upper eliminates unnecessary bulk and the shoe remains lightweight and responsive. Performance Fit with high asymmetry provides fit, especially in the toe area ultimately enhancing the shoe’s performance.

La Sportiva Men’s Cobra Sole Structure

The sole of the climbing shoe is a critical component in providing grip, stability, and durability for climbers.  The sole of the La Sportiva Men’s Cobra has Vibram XS Grip2 rubber, Vibram is a well-known brand in the outdoor industry, and their rubber compounds for traction on various surfaces. Rubber thickness is 3.5 millimeters, for a balance between sensitivity and durability. Thinner soles help small holds, providing the necessary feedback for precise foot placements. However, thicker soles ensure longevity and protection for the shoe. The aggressive Shape is ideal for overhanging routes, steep bouldering, and technical face climbing.

La Sportiva Men’s Cobra Elastic Panel

The La Sportiva Men’s Cobra has an elastic panel which is helpful in shoe size and fit precision covering shoes from inside completely.

La Sportiva Men’s Cobra Wearing Assistance

The Men’s Cobra shoe has a lower-cut upper made of calf leather which is unlined, slipping feet inside or outside the shoe is easy because of the pair of pull loops.

Maximum Shock Absorption of La Sportiva Men’s Cobra

The La Sportiva Cobra shoe sole is made up of Vibram XS Grip2 sole. The Vibram sole rubber is well-known for its excellent shock absorption through different climbing surfaces.

La Sportiva Men’s Cobra Underfoot Support

The midsole of the La Sportiva Men’s Cobra also called Laspoflex is the key component in providing underfoot support. The Laspoflex midsole is placed near the forefoot with a thickness of 0.8mm.

La Sportiva Men’s Cobra Closure System

The Men’s Cobra has a slip-on shoe closure system. Because of stretchness it stays on the foot and holds your foot in place. This type of closure system is easy and time-saving.

La Sportiva Men’s Cobra Shoes Comparison

La Sportiva Men’s Cobra Shoes Comparison Table is given below

Characteristics / Shoe	La Sportiva Men’s Cobra	Scarpa Instinct S	Scarpa Quantix SF
Core Score	91%	81%	80%
Usage Rating	4.6/5	4.3/5	4.6/5
Experts	100/100	90/100	82/100
Downturn	Moderate	Moderate	Moderate
Weight	Lightweight	Lightweight	Lightweight
Midsole	Partial Midsole	With Midsole	Partial Midsole
Level	Intermediate	Advance Intermediate	Intermediate
Construction	Slip-last	lace-to-toe	N/A
Stiffness	Soft	Soft	Medium Stiff
Closure	Slip-on	Slip-on	Velcro
Environment	Indoor/Outdoor	Indoor/Outdoor	Indoor/Outdoor
Fit	Comfort Fit	Performance Fit	Comfort Fit
Material	Leather Vibram	Fabric/ Textile Synthetic Vibram	Textile/Synthetic Fiber
Linning	Unlined	N/A	N/A
Thickness	3.5mm	3.5mm	3.5mm
Tongue Pull Loop	Yes	Yes	–
Weight	213g	240g	235g
Price	$139.00 – $150.00	$208.95	$198.95
Use	All round Bouldering Shoes	BoulderingSportsOverhanging	All-rounder Sports

Conclusion

Finally the La Sportiva Men’s Cobra climbing shoe is a high-performance option for climbers covering overhanging sport routes, bouldering, gym climbing, and technical face climbing. It has durability, versatility, great fit, and excellent grip, thanks to its Vibram XS Grip2 sole. The shoe’s asymmetrical design enhances power and precision during climbs. However, individuals with Morton’s toe should consider alternative options due to the shoe’s asymmetrical shape.