This is something of a hybrid crossover between a Classic and a Technical shoe. A bit like a slightly less techy Anasazi: more comfortable, although arguably with a better heel. It’s certainly an excellent all rounder, equally at home on the climbing wall or out on the crags.

The sole is quite stiff giving good edging performance; also, the slightly pointed profile means that standing in shallow pockets is a doddle. There is a gentle downturn too, which helps to get that crucial inwards pull on steeper ground.

The triple strap fasteners give a neat, foot hugging feel and sense of security. Plus they are much quicker to get in and out of than lace ups.

The shoe has been fitted with a variable thickness rand, with extra thickness around the toe box area where most wear and tear occurs. This greatly improves the durability of the shoe, albeit with slight loss of ‘feel’ when the shoes are new.

Rubber: 4.2mm TRAX® XT-5 + 2.2 mm TRAX® duro-rand

Fit advice:

The Bandit SC has quite a narrow fit with a medium volume toe box. The lined, synthetic uppers will help to reduce stretch.

We would advise fitting the same as your normal shoe size for an ‘all day’ comfort fit, or half/one UK size down if you want a more technical fit.

For information on rock shoe fit check out our Rock Shoe guide.