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Climbing shoes are a bit like climbing partners: the right one makes everything feel smoother, more fun, and way more secure. Over time you learn how to trust your feet and holds. Over the past 4 to 5 seasons, I’ve spent a lot of time climbing in three models from Tenaya. I also have a pair of Ocun’s shoes, which I use only in very precision problems on a slab, those kind of where your knees are shaking and your life flashes pass your eyes as you trust some millimeters wide foot holds up in the wall and you do your “leap of faiths”. This post is not a hyper-technical breakdown — it’s my experience, from sweaty bouldering problems to head-scratching slab problems. Whether you’re picking your first shoe upgrade or just curious about Tenaya’s lineup, I’ll walk you through how each model feels on the wall and when I’d reach for it.
Each these shoes has its own personality:
🐍 Tenaya Indalo – One’s the powerhouse that digs into overhangs, also precision and stiffness
🌿 Tenaya Mundaka – One’s the comfy friend that keeps you smiling during long sessions
🦅 Tenaya Tarifa – One’s the technical all-rounder that quietly boosts your precision
As someone with slightly different-sized feet (my left foot is a bit smaller than my right), finding a “perfect” fit has been… well, an adventure. With Mundaka and Tarifa it has not been that difficult, because they are both very “soft” shoes to wear, with Indalo, as they are more aggressive and stiffer, I feel the air on my left heel. If I was a rich girl, I would buy two pairs of Indalo, size 37,5 and 37 and swap a smaller one to my left foot and bigger one for my right foot. 😊 Now, I’m thinking about a small heal patch to put on the left shoe. I don’t know yet how it would affect climbing, but I need to try it! And the shoes are “farting” as I walk around the gym because of the air on the heel 😀 My close climbing friends knows that but sometimes I wonder what others think!
My feet measurements:
Left: 23 cm (9.1″) × 10 cm (3.9″)
Right: 23.9 cm (9.4″) × 10 cm (3.9″)
🐍 Tenaya Indalo – Power Meets Comfort
🦶 Fit:
A slightly more aggressive fit that wraps around the foot beautifully. The toe box points down just enough to feel powerful without crushing your toes. My smaller left foot leaves a bit of air in the heel — not a dealbreaker, but something to note if your feet are uneven like mine. Surprisingly comfortable, as I have tried their competitors such as La Sportiva’s more aggressive shoes, and they don’t fit my foot at all. ☹ Half size smaller than my Mundakas!
🧗 Feel on the wall:
Fantastic on overhangs and steep problems where you need to hook in and trust your toes. It feels stable on edges but surprisingly sensitive, so I can read the holds well. Heel and toe hooks feel secure — even with that tiny bit of space on my left foot. On slab and on a very bad, small foot holds the shoe is stiff enough to keep my feet exactly where it should be and I feel like I can relay on the shoe 100%. I will see overtime, if this pair overruns my Ocun’s slab shoes. Toe hooks work well without causing too much pain even when you are placing all your weight on a one foot. Even on boxes I trust them even though they are a bit aggressive and stiff.
🧭 Best for:
• Steep routes and overhangs
• Precise toe work and technical boulders
• From intermediate to advanced climbers
✨ Personal note:
Indalo is my go-to when I want to push a bit harder. It makes me feel confident on more aggressive problems but still doesn’t punish my feet during longer sessions. The Tenaya’s Velcro system is comfortable and adjustable enough.
🌿 Tenaya Mundaka – Soft, Sensitive & Forgiving
🦶 Fit:
Softer and less aggressive than Indalo. This is the kind of shoe that hugs your foot like a comfy slipper. Easy to slip on and off, making it a solid option for long indoor sessions. This can be even your first pair of shoes IF you want to make an investment (I believe it would be worth it)! In my use (3-4x per week over 2h sessions each) I was able to climb with them 3-4 years, and they were resoled 2 or 3 times. Now, they are already too “soft”, they have lost a little bit their stiffness, but I still can use them, but not on a slab or vertical routes on a small footholds.
🧗 Feel on the wall:
Mundaka are good on slabs and verticals where precision and sensitivity matter more than raw power as well as other walls. Hard, heavy toe hooks were not as comfy with these than with Indalos, but they got the job done. Heel hooks are decent, but not quite as locked in as Indalo. These are very nice on the boxes and slopers due to their nature to be a bit softer than Indalos.
🧭 Best for:
• Slabs and vertical problems
• Long gym sessions and warm-ups
• Beginners to intermediates who value comfort (I value comfort still nowadays even I’m a bit more advanced climber)
✨ Personal note:
This was one of my first “real” climbing shoes, and it made me fall in love with feeling the wall beneath my feet. Still one of my favorites for flowy, balance-based climbs. I love their comfort as I tend to climb long sessions, all I need to do in the middle of training is just open the Velcro for better blood circulation and that’s it, no need to take them off completely.
🦅 Tenaya Tarifa – Reliable All-Terrain Partner
🦶 Fit:
A balanced, slightly downturned shoe that sits somewhere between Mundaka and Indalo. Snug without being painful, with a more structured feel than Mundaka but less aggressive than Indalo. These comes with laces so you can adjust the shoes better to fit on your feet. The shoelaces are somewhat long, so it might be good to change them to shorter ones.
🧗 Feel on the wall:
Tarifa feels precise on technical routes — excellent edging and smearing and good support on smaller footholds. These are very nice on boxes and slopers too! It’s the kind of shoe that feels like an extension of your foot once broken in (which was very easy and fast!). A very versatile option. BUT! I cannot give 100% accurate feedback on this pair because the pair I have is half-size too big! My best friend climbs with these shoes, and she can do a precision footwork on tiny holds which I cannot do because of the wrong shoe size.
🧭 Best for:
• Technical edging and vertical to slightly overhanging routes
• All-round gym and outdoor climbing
• Climbers who want one shoe that does (almost) everything
✨ Personal note:
Tarifa is my all-around shoe if my first-to-go pair is in resoling. But because of the size, I’m not doing vertical or slab walls with tiny holds with these. I like how they adjust on the feet because of the laces; I believe it is better than just the Velcro, but of course Velcro saves some time and nerves, if you need to take the shoes off during the sessions, the laces are a bit annoying.
🧠 Final Thoughts: Which One’s for You?
Indalo if you love steep walls, toe hooks, and want power without giving up comfort.
Mundaka if you prioritize comfort, long sessions, and feeling every feature of the wall.
Tarifa if you want one versatile shoe that adapts to nearly everything.
Whether you’re working your first V3 or projecting something spicy on an overhang, the right shoe gives you that extra confidence boost.