Review: Testing La Sportiva's New Skwama Lite
Released in 2026, the Skwama Lite is a new addition to the La Sportiva climbing shoes, designed to offer an intermediate alternative to the traditional Skwama, rather than to replace the much-loved model.
The shoe sits somewhere between the Tarantula and the Skwama, filling a gap for climbers who are progressing in the sport, especially indoors, but don’t yet need the fit and aggressiveness of a more technical shoe.
Here is an outline of the content in this review.
Table of Contents:
Gym bouldering is growing at an incredible rate, so it makes sense to offer climbers an option to level up, with a friendlier price tag and a more comfortable fit for longer sessions.
My usual climbing shoe of choice is the original Skwama so I was keen to test the Skwama Lite and feel the difference.
Released in 2026, the Skwama Lite is a new addition to the La Sportiva climbing shoes, designed to offer an intermediate alternative to the traditional Skwama, rather than to replace the much-loved model.
The shoe sits somewhere between the Tarantula and the Skwama, filling a gap for climbers who are progressing in the sport, especially indoors, but don’t yet need the fit and aggressiveness of a more technical shoe.
Here is an outline of the content in this review.
Table of Contents:
Gym bouldering is growing at an incredible rate, so it makes sense to offer climbers an option to level up, with a friendlier price tag and a more comfortable fit for longer sessions.
My usual climbing shoe of choice is the original Skwama so I was keen to test the Skwama Lite and feel the difference.
What’s different about the Skwama Lite?
The first thing I noticed is that these shoes are super soft. You can practically fold them in half in every direction. The softness makes them really easy to slide on and helps them mould perfectly to your feet. They feature the same single velcro strap as the original Skwama, but with a deeper cut out at the end that stops it pulling all the way through – a nice touch.
With a less aggressive downturn and a wider toe box, the Lite is well-suited to feet of all shapes and sizes. It also doesn’t use the original Skwama’s signature S-Heel, a feature loved by many climbers (me included), but which can create discomfort in the heel for some.
The Lite also has different rubber, 4mm FriXion Black instead of the Vibram XS Grip 2. It’s soft and malleable, making it perfect for smearing and standing on volumes indoors, but sacrifices some of the sturdiness and balance harder rubber has on small footholds.
Should I size up or down in the Skwama Lite?
In the original Skwama, I wear a 38.5 which is the same as my usual shoe size. For the Skwama Lite I went with the same size which made for a really comfortable fit, but if you want your shoes to be a little bit more snug, I’d recommend going half a size down, especially with that bit of stretch you typically get in a climbing shoe.
What else do I need to know about the Skwama Lite?
The Skwama Lite is an entirely synthetic shoe, with an unlined microfiber insole, making it vegan and washable in a regular machine (cold wash only). Any climber knows that’s a pretty nice feature if you’re doing long hours in the gym, especially during Summer in Queensland.
They’re also resoleable, through authorised La Sportiva resoler Sticky Rubber Resoles, who’ve advised they’re getting the materials in to resole Skwama Lites with FriXion Black rubber.
How does the Skwama Lite feel on the wall?
I took the Skwama Lites down to Nine Degrees Enoggera and tried them out on a range of different climbing styles. Given how soft the shoe is, it’s well-suited to the new style of indoor climbing and is particularly sensitive for standing on volumes and smearing small, slopey footholds. If you’re getting more into slab and learning the technique required, this is a great shoe for ensuring you can feel every part of the hold and get the maximum amount of rubber on a volume.
After many years spent in Miuras, my feet are well-accustomed to stiff climbing shoes, so roaming around in the Skwama Lites was a nice change. They also fit comfortably straight off the shelf, with no need to grow calluses to get through a session.
The only issue I experienced was missing the faith I have in the original Skwama’s S-Heel, particularly on technical, hard heel hooks, but given that the Skwama Lite is designed specifically to be an intermediate shoe, I don’t think this is something the typical user would miss.
Key Differences Between the Skwama and Skwama Lite
| Features | Original Skwama | Skwama Lite |
|---|---|---|
| Midsole | Mix of leather and synthetic microfiber | Synthetic microfiber |
| Heel | S-Heel | Regular heel |
| Rubber | 4mm Vibram XS Grip 2 | 4mm FriXion Black |
| Machine washable | No | Yes |
| Vegan | No | Yes |
| Best for | Technicality, heel hooking | Comfort, sensitivity |
| Not so good for | Comfort depending on your foot | Technical heel hooks |
Key Differences Between the Skwama and Skwama Lite
Features
Original Skwama
Skwama Lite
Midsole
Mix of leather and synthetic microfiber
Synthetic microfiber
Heel
S-Heel
Regular heel
Rubber
4mm Vibram XS Grip 2
4mm FriXion Black
Machine washable
No
Yes
Vegan
No
Yes
Best for
Technicality, heel hooking
Comfort, sensitivity
Not so good for
Comfort depending on your foot
Technical heel hooks
Who is the Skwama Lite a good shoe for?
If a climber bought a first pair of shoes – maybe Tarantulas or Finales – a couple of months ago but are now feeling those shoes aren’t helping them progress, the Skwama Lite would be a good next step. This is especially true for climbers who either don’t want to spend more than $300 on a pair of shoes, or still want a really comfortable fit, without sacrificing too much on technicality.
They’re a versatile shoe which can be used both indoors and outdoors but are designed with modern gym setting in mind so are probably better for those who favour indoor climbing – whether that’s boulder or lead.
With that in mind, I think this is a great shoe for anyone looking to take their climbing to the next level but wants to hold onto the comfort for a little bit longer.
The Skwama Lite is available now online and in store at K2.