Vapor V Climbing Shoe (Women's)

The SCARPA Vapor V is a bestselling all-around climbing shoe with a women's-specific fit, which means it's shaped for a typically lower-volume foot so it hugs snugly without slipping. It's a great gift for a climber who's past the total-beginner stage and wants one shoe that does it all.

This pick suits an intermediate climber who's getting into both bouldering (short walls climbed without ropes, over a crash pad) and sport climbing (longer roped routes). It has a moderate shape, which is the comfortable middle ground between flat beginner shoes and the extreme curved "aggressive" shoes, so it performs well without being punishing to wear.

It does a good job on edging (standing on tiny footholds), on smearing (pressing the shoe flat against the wall for grip), and on steep terrain, and the low-volume heel locks in securely. As a Bestseller around $189, the Vapor V is a reliable rock climbing gift she can grow into and will reach for all project season.