La Sportiva Testarossa review: fit, sizing and what climbers say
A highly asymmetric, downturned lace-up on La Sportiva's PD 85 last, with lacing that runs to the toe and a rubber-covered heel that was rebuilt in 2019. Made for hard sport routes and bouldering on small edges and pockets. It is hard to buy now: the US maker store only sells replacement laces.
- Advanced
- Sport
- Bouldering
- Steep
- Outdoor
Size down about one size from your street shoe
For a snug all-round fit, a street UK 9 (EU 43) is a UK 8 (EU 42) in the Testarossa. Go half a size smaller for hard bouldering, or bigger for long days. It's a starting point: feet differ, so try them on if you can.
Your size in the Testarossa
Your street shoe size
Aggressive
Tight, hard bouldering
Recommended
Snug all-rounder
Relaxed
Long sessions
Comfort
Beginners, multi-pitch
How the Testarossa fits
- Heel
- Solid, fully rubbered heel cup (2019 update) that resists bagging out; reviewers found it secure, if not very sensitive.
- Toe box
- Stiff, highly tensioned, downturned toe box; lacing runs to the toe so it cinches tight, but toe-top rubber is limited.
- Suits
- Lacing lets it fit a range of widths; reviewers describe it as roomy enough for some wide feet yet secure on narrow ones. Best for feet that like a pointed, big-toe-focused shape.
What climbers say
From independent reviews and buyers' feedback; each point is backed by at least two sources.
Strengths
- Excellent precision on tiny edges and pockets
- Lace-to-toe fit is very custom with little dead space
- 2019 heel is far more secure for heel hooks than the original
- Solid build quality that holds up and can be resoled
Watch out for
- Limited toe-top rubber, so toe hooks are weaker than on Velcro rivals
- Heel is stiff and not very sensitive
- Hard to find: no longer sold on La Sportiva's US store
La Sportiva Testarossa size chart
Your street size, then the size to get for each fit. From La Sportiva's size chart and how this model runs.
| Street | Aggressive | Recommended | Relaxed | Comfort |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK 4EU 37 | – | UK 3EU 35½ | UK 3½EU 36 | UK 4EU 37 |
| UK 4½EU 37½ | UK 3EU 35½ | UK 3½EU 36 | UK 4EU 37 | UK 4½EU 37½ |
| UK 5EU 38 | UK 3½EU 36 | UK 4EU 37 | UK 4½EU 37½ | UK 5EU 38 |
| UK 5½EU 38½ | UK 4EU 37 | UK 4½EU 37½ | UK 5EU 38 | UK 5½EU 38½ |
| UK 6EU 39½ | UK 4½EU 37½ | UK 5EU 38 | UK 5½EU 38½ | UK 6EU 39 |
| UK 6½EU 40 | UK 5EU 38 | UK 5½EU 38½ | UK 6EU 39 | UK 6½EU 39½ |
| UK 7EU 40½ | UK 5½EU 38½ | UK 6EU 39 | UK 6½EU 39½ | UK 7EU 40½ |
| UK 7½EU 41½ | UK 6EU 39 | UK 6½EU 39½ | UK 7EU 40½ | UK 7½EU 41 |
| UK 8EU 42 | UK 6½EU 39½ | UK 7EU 40½ | UK 7½EU 41 | UK 8EU 42 |
| UK 8½EU 42½ | UK 7EU 40½ | UK 7½EU 41 | UK 8EU 42 | UK 8½EU 42½ |
| UK 9EU 43 | UK 7½EU 41 | UK 8EU 42 | UK 8½EU 42½ | UK 9EU 43 |
| UK 9½EU 44 | UK 8EU 42 | UK 8½EU 42½ | UK 9EU 43 | UK 9½EU 43½ |
| UK 10EU 44½ | UK 8½EU 42½ | UK 9EU 43 | UK 9½EU 43½ | – |
| UK 10½EU 45 | UK 9EU 43 | UK 9½EU 43½ | – | – |
| UK 11EU 45½ | UK 9½EU 43½ | – | – | – |
– means past the end of the La Sportiva size chart we have.
Specs
- Rubber
- Vibram XS Grip2, 3.5 mm
- Version
- unisex
- Upper
- Leather + Lorica
- Lining
- Pacific lining in toe and heel, Dry-Best tongue, unlined midfoot
- Weight
- 225 g (per shoe, from La Sportiva spec data republished by WeighMyRack (size not stated))
- Resoleable
- Yes
- Released
- 2003 (redesigned 2019)
Compare with
Sources
- La Sportiva USA search (only Testarossa laces listed)
- Rock+Run review (2020)
- WeighMyRack: Testarossa (specs + media review excerpts incl. UKClimbing and Climbing)
- WeighMyRack: UKClimbing review excerpt (Oct 2020)
Checked 8 October 2026 (Testarossa (2019 redesign, a.k.a. Testarossa 2.0); no longer listed on La Sportiva's US store). Gear Loop isn't affiliated with the maker and earns nothing from these links.
More La Sportiva shoes
La Sportiva sizing →Estimates. Fit depends on foot shape and preference.