SCARPA Instinct VS WMN is a women's climbing shoe. A major innovation for 2019 is the women's version of the famous Instinct VSR. Suitable for all types of climbing, Instinct VS WMN is both aggressive and very comfortable.The fit, thanks to the elastic band present on the ankle, is very enveloping and it will feel like you are wearing a sock. It is not overly painful; the not excessively asymmetric shape increases comfort inside. Additionally, being designed specifically for the female foot, the last has reduced volumes and the heel is thinner to wrap it perfectly.A shoe suitable for all needs, it adapts optimally for indoor climbing thanks to the enveloping heel and the toe covered by a layer of three-dimensional rubber to facilitate hooks, but also for crag climbing. It is a super high-performance shoe wherever you are! The compound is a Vibram XS Grip 2 that offers support while also providing sensitivity. It is not an overly stiff compound but rather the right balance that allows you to do everything!
SCARPA Instinct VS WMN is a women's climbing shoe. A major innovation for 2019 is the women's version of the famous Instinct VSR. Suitable for all types of climbing, Instinct VS WMN is both aggressive and very comfortable.The fit, thanks to the elastic band present on the ankle, is very enveloping and it will feel like you are wearing a sock. It is not overly painful; the not excessively asymmetric shape increases comfort inside. Additionally, being designed specifically for the female foot, the last has reduced volumes and the heel is thinner to wrap it perfectly.A shoe suitable for all needs, it adapts optimally for indoor climbing thanks to the enveloping heel and the toe covered by a layer of three-dimensional rubber to facilitate hooks, but also for crag climbing. It is a super high-performance shoe wherever you are! The compound is a Vibram XS Grip 2 that offers support while also providing sensitivity. It is not an overly stiff compound but rather the right balance that allows you to do everything!
SCARPA Instinct VS WMN is a women's climbing shoe. A major innovation for 2019 is the women's version of the famous Instinct VSR. Suitable for all types of climbing, Instinct VS WMN is both aggressive and very comfortable.The fit, thanks to the elastic band present on the ankle, is very enveloping and it will feel like you are wearing a sock. It is not overly painful; the not excessively asymmetric shape increases comfort inside. Additionally, being designed specifically for the female foot, the last has reduced volumes and the heel is thinner to wrap it perfectly.A shoe suitable for all needs, it adapts optimally for indoor climbing thanks to the enveloping heel and the toe covered by a layer of three-dimensional rubber to facilitate hooks, but also for crag climbing. It is a super high-performance shoe wherever you are! The compound is a Vibram XS Grip 2 that offers support while also providing sensitivity. It is not an overly stiff compound but rather the right balance that allows you to do everything!
SCARPA Instinct VS WMN is a women's climbing shoe. A major innovation for 2019 is the women's version of the famous Instinct VSR. Suitable for all types of climbing, Instinct VS WMN is both aggressive and very comfortable.The fit, thanks to the elastic band present on the ankle, is very enveloping and it will feel like you are wearing a sock. It is not overly painful; the not excessively asymmetric shape increases comfort inside. Additionally, being designed specifically for the female foot, the last has reduced volumes and the heel is thinner to wrap it perfectly.A shoe suitable for all needs, it adapts optimally for indoor climbing thanks to the enveloping heel and the toe covered by a layer of three-dimensional rubber to facilitate hooks, but also for crag climbing. It is a super high-performance shoe wherever you are! The compound is a Vibram XS Grip 2 that offers support while also providing sensitivity. It is not an overly stiff compound but rather the right balance that allows you to do everything!
Last updated at 05/14/2026 07:25:54
Scarpa Instinct VS Women Black-Aqua 42 EUR (8 UK) | Women buy
Delivery between 21–27 May $137.69
Scarpa Womens Instinct Velcro Rockshoe | Womens Climbing Shoes NZ EU 42
Delivery $28.62
Scarpa Instinct VS Womens 42
Free delivery
Scarpa Instinct VS Climbing Shoe Women's EU 42 / Black/Aqua
Free delivery
Scarpa Instinct VS Women's Climbing Shoe (EU Size: 42.0)
Free delivery between 15–22 May
originally posted on mec.ca
These have been game changer for my climbing. I love how the heel cup fits smaller Asian heels - these are one of the first pairs of shoes I have found where my foot doesn't just pop out of the shoe entirely. They are great at heel hooking, toe hooking, tiny edges, huge overhangs. I use them for all of my bouldering projects.I typically wear Scarpa approach shoes in 38.5, La Sportiva climbing shoes in 38, and I wear the instincts in 39. The break in period was rough - I could barely keep them on for a single boulder problem, and putting them on / taking them off scratched up the top of my foot. That being said, they definitely have molded to my foot and feel so perfect on. I'm dreading the break in period for my next pair, but it is worth it.
originally posted on mec.ca
Not sure why MEC says to size down because that is a bad idea. I got my street shoe size (or maybe was 0.5 down) and they were still so painfully tight that after 5 months of wearing them, I decided to sell them. They will NOT stretch so don't buy them thinking they will. Agreed also with other reviewers that the rubber wears fast (because it is soft and thin rubber) - but why would you not resole the shoe? I needed a resole after 5 months. Once resoled with regular rubber, they will last as normal. I don't buy based on the rubber because I always resole and all climbing shoe rubber lasts a year TOPS.Otherwise, these are "comfortable" for a performance shoe and excellent snug heel as well. I just wish I had gotten a slightly larger size.
originally posted on mec.ca
A coach at the climbing gym recommended these shoes to me, and they are incredible. I returned to climbing after a year-long pause due to injury and none of my old shoes fit. Over the last decade I have climbed in Muira, Kubo, and others… I wanted a shoe that was stiff the Muira, but more comfortable because I have a wide toe box. It needed to be soft enough to smear, have rubber on toes for hangs, and ankles. This shoe helps me climb at a higher grade than without. I have been using them indoors for light bouldering and mostly route climbing. Great for stems, smears, and standing on little edges.
| Upper | Microfibre |
| Material characteristics | breathable |
| Outer fabric | Microfiber |
Scarpa Instinct VS Women Black-Aqua 42 EUR (8 UK) | Women buy
Delivery between 21–27 May $137.69
Scarpa Womens Instinct Velcro Rockshoe | Womens Climbing Shoes NZ EU 42
Delivery $28.62
Scarpa Instinct VS Womens 42
Free delivery
Scarpa Instinct VS Climbing Shoe Women's EU 42 / Black/Aqua
Free delivery
Scarpa Instinct VS Women's Climbing Shoe (EU Size: 42.0)
Free delivery between 15–22 May
These have been game changer for my climbing. I love how the heel cup fits smaller Asian heels - these are one of the first pairs of shoes I have found where my foot doesn't just pop out of the shoe entirely. They are great at heel hooking, toe hooking, tiny edges, huge overhangs. I use them for all of my bouldering projects.I typically wear Scarpa approach shoes in 38.5, La Sportiva climbing shoes in 38, and I wear the instincts in 39. The break in period was rough - I could barely keep them on for a single boulder problem, and putting them on / taking them off scratched up the top of my foot. That being said, they definitely have molded to my foot and feel so perfect on. I'm dreading the break in period for my next pair, but it is worth it.
Not sure why MEC says to size down because that is a bad idea. I got my street shoe size (or maybe was 0.5 down) and they were still so painfully tight that after 5 months of wearing them, I decided to sell them. They will NOT stretch so don't buy them thinking they will. Agreed also with other reviewers that the rubber wears fast (because it is soft and thin rubber) - but why would you not resole the shoe? I needed a resole after 5 months. Once resoled with regular rubber, they will last as normal. I don't buy based on the rubber because I always resole and all climbing shoe rubber lasts a year TOPS.Otherwise, these are "comfortable" for a performance shoe and excellent snug heel as well. I just wish I had gotten a slightly larger size.
A coach at the climbing gym recommended these shoes to me, and they are incredible. I returned to climbing after a year-long pause due to injury and none of my old shoes fit. Over the last decade I have climbed in Muira, Kubo, and others… I wanted a shoe that was stiff the Muira, but more comfortable because I have a wide toe box. It needed to be soft enough to smear, have rubber on toes for hangs, and ankles. This shoe helps me climb at a higher grade than without. I have been using them indoors for light bouldering and mostly route climbing. Great for stems, smears, and standing on little edges.
I bought a pair of these 1.5 years ago. Size 41.5. They were an excellent fit, and I really liked them.I bought a new pair of these 4 months ago, same size. They were too loose for me. The toebox was way too wide and there was a lot of dead space in my shoes. I was so confused about why the shoes felt like a different size with the same size, and scarpa told me that they hand make them, so the size isn’t standardized. I bought a new pair recently: 40.5. They were too tight and it made my ankle hurt. I exchanged them for 41, and the 41 was LOOSER than my first pair of 41.5s. I’m so annoyed with these shoes. They’re a good pair of shoes, but the sizing just didn’t work out for me. The toebox is wide so maybe it would fit someone whose feet were wider. I’m just so ... MoreI bought a pair of these 1.5 years ago. Size 41.5. They were an excellent fit, and I really liked them.I bought a new pair of these 4 months ago, same size. They were too loose for me. The toebox was way too wide and there was a lot of dead space in my shoes. I was so confused about why the shoes felt like a different size with the same size, and scarpa told me that they hand make them, so the size isn’t standardized. I bought a new pair recently: 40.5. They were too tight and it made my ankle hurt. I exchanged them for 41, and the 41 was LOOSER than my first pair of 41.5s. I’m so annoyed with these shoes. They’re a good pair of shoes, but the sizing just didn’t work out for me. The toebox is wide so maybe it would fit someone whose feet were wider. I’m just so confused as to why 40.5 and 41 felt one full size different… it’s so annoying!!!I already returned the 40.5 so I can’t get it back…. and I feel bad returning 41 to get a new 40.5….
As with all of my climbing shoe reviews, I want to start off by noting that climbing shoes are incredibly subjective on the basis of fit, comfort, climbing style, and climbing shoe needs.I have a wide forefront and narrow heel, so I was thrilled when I discovered that Scarpa makes shoes like these that offer a HV forefront and LV heel. In terms of the width, I would agree that Scarpa's claims on the fit are relatively accurate, although I do think they could have gone even smaller with the heel.In terms of features and functionality, the rubber on the top of the toe is excellent for toe hooks, the fitted heel fits infinitely better than molded heel cups, and the stiffness of the shoe allows for excellent edging. HOWEVER, my issue with this shoe was with the ... MoreAs with all of my climbing shoe reviews, I want to start off by noting that climbing shoes are incredibly subjective on the basis of fit, comfort, climbing style, and climbing shoe needs.I have a wide forefront and narrow heel, so I was thrilled when I discovered that Scarpa makes shoes like these that offer a HV forefront and LV heel. In terms of the width, I would agree that Scarpa's claims on the fit are relatively accurate, although I do think they could have gone even smaller with the heel.In terms of features and functionality, the rubber on the top of the toe is excellent for toe hooks, the fitted heel fits infinitely better than molded heel cups, and the stiffness of the shoe allows for excellent edging. HOWEVER, my issue with this shoe was with the comfort. When I first tried these on, the tip of the toe box caused me a little pain, but since climbing shoes break-in over time, I kept them in the hopes of it stretching and the pain going away. By my 3rd day of climbing in these, I could no longer comfortably stand on holds with them and had to throw on my beater Black Diamond Momentums for the rest of my climbing session. I do think this is in part to me having a wide toe box. However, I believe the rigidity of the shoe is also part of the issue, in addition to the fact that the toe seemed to be constructed in a way that causes your big toe to pronate into a little pocket of hard rubber.With that all being said, had it not been for the discomfort, I did really like this shoe. In fact, I really liked the rigidity of the sole providing added support on moves that require strong feet/toes. Fortunately, REI's return policy allowed me to return these shoes after several wears with no issues whatsoever. For that reason, I only buy my climbing shoes at REI because you never know how your feet will respond to them after a few wears:)
I got the instincts recently in both the men’s and women’s versions (I wanted the men’s for outdoors because they have the harder XS Edge rubber and the women’s for indoor because of the softer XS Grip 2 rubber).I wear a size 8 (41) street shoe and got the men’s in 41 and the women’s in 41.5 since they’re lower volume (and in case anyone is interested in sizing between men’s and women’s, that half size difference seems to make them fit very similarly). The fit is pretty good, though definitely snug, and there is some pain through the break in period.So far, they seem like a good shoe, but the break in period is long. After probably 5-7 indoor climbing days, I still get pain on my big toes and have to tape them to be able to wear the shoes with reasonable comfort. ... MoreI got the instincts recently in both the men’s and women’s versions (I wanted the men’s for outdoors because they have the harder XS Edge rubber and the women’s for indoor because of the softer XS Grip 2 rubber).I wear a size 8 (41) street shoe and got the men’s in 41 and the women’s in 41.5 since they’re lower volume (and in case anyone is interested in sizing between men’s and women’s, that half size difference seems to make them fit very similarly). The fit is pretty good, though definitely snug, and there is some pain through the break in period.So far, they seem like a good shoe, but the break in period is long. After probably 5-7 indoor climbing days, I still get pain on my big toes and have to tape them to be able to wear the shoes with reasonable comfort. From the reviews I’ve read online, apparently it will get better, but some people said it takes as many as 20 wears to get a true break in.Other than that, I find I get pretty good performance from the shoe. Good edging and pretty good grip (probably slightly better with the women’s version), thought my feet feel a little clumsy as I wait for the shoes to break in more. Smearing isn’t great, but I suppose that’s expected in a shoe that is a bit more aggressive.Overall, I’m pretty happy with the shoe, and hoping they break in a bit better.
This is a good shoe for bouldering. It has lower sensitivity than other shoes I’ve used in the past, but the edging is still pretty good. I think because I am heavier (~180 pounds) the rubber can feel really soft when I’m edging. The shoes are breaking in well. I could barely get my feet in them at the start but now they’re fairly easy to get on and off. I’d like these more if they were a harder rubber.I went with these over the men’s because I have a small heel and men’s shoes often are baggy in the heel as a result. The heel on this is perfect.
These are my 3rd pair of Instinct Scarpa climbing shoes. I really like the style and the quality. I would recommend these shoes for wider feet. They are similar to Vapor Scarpa in their style but have more rubber on the top. My favorite shoes for climbing indoor. I like them for crag climbing as well, but they are my preferred for indoor gym. Highly recommend!
I loved my Vapor V’s, and I ended up loving these Instinct VS’s too. I am a U.S. women’s 6 in street shoe size ( such as Vans, Nike, Under Armour, etc.) and bought these in one full size up, which is a 38.5. This is the exact same size I have the Vapor V’s in. As some others mentioned, the heel area is slightly wider than the Vapor V’s (as you can see in my photo). This didn’t affect me personally, but everyone’s feet are different.I require a wider toe box because I have bunions, so I was worried at first because the toe box felt very stiff and too narrow, but turned out to stretch out enough that it wasn’t a problem. At rest, my toes are curled just the right amount to be able to stick onto the tiniest holds when climbing.For me, there was little to no ... MoreI loved my Vapor V’s, and I ended up loving these Instinct VS’s too. I am a U.S. women’s 6 in street shoe size ( such as Vans, Nike, Under Armour, etc.) and bought these in one full size up, which is a 38.5. This is the exact same size I have the Vapor V’s in. As some others mentioned, the heel area is slightly wider than the Vapor V’s (as you can see in my photo). This didn’t affect me personally, but everyone’s feet are different.I require a wider toe box because I have bunions, so I was worried at first because the toe box felt very stiff and too narrow, but turned out to stretch out enough that it wasn’t a problem. At rest, my toes are curled just the right amount to be able to stick onto the tiniest holds when climbing.For me, there was little to no break-in period. I was able to climb for 2-3 hrs my first time wearing them, and I was impressed that I was able to complete routes with them that I didn’t think I could before. At first, I was wary because they were slightly slippery at first, but that comes with every new pair typically. They started to feel stickier after several climbs.
For whatever reason, I decided to try a different shoe…maybe I wasn’t totally thrilled with either my muiras or solutions. Did some research and these seemed like the best thing for technical sport climbing and bouldering.I LOVE THEM.They fit super well, and comfortable while performing strongly, and have already changed my climbing.If you are wondering about size: I wear a 39 in LS muiras, a 39.5 in LS solutions, and a 40.5 in Scarpa vs Instincts. Maybe could have gotten away with a half size down, but these fit super snug and perform well (I’m over the days of cramped feet).
| Upper | Microfibre |
| Material characteristics | breathable |
| Outer fabric | Microfiber |
