[lagerstarfish]

I tried my new pair of Miuras out at Rubicon on Friday. Didn't do a lot - just the sub 7A problems. I was climbing in control and don't remember sketching/flailing on anything (I was looking after my fingers).

This is what happened



Is this to be expected from La Sportiva's rubber? I haven't used Sportivas this century, but don't remember anyone else complaining.

I might weigh a few kilos more than the average limestone abuser, but haven't had problems with Boosters or Anasazi Velcros.

Have I been using a Ferrari to tow a caravan and am getting what I deserve?

Have I caught Shoe Leprosy?

Worth taking back to Go Outdoors? I got them in the half price sale, so might only get a refund instead of a replacement pair and I do like their comfort to performance ratio.

Any thoughts?

[Stu Littlefair]

I'd take them back; boots shouldn't do that, and it's probably because the rubber has perished.

Something very similar happened to me way back when Boreal brought out new rubber for the first time. I was trying to climb marrowbone jelly at the time and I thought my foot had skidded off the pebble, only to find a perfect square chunk of rubber missing from the sole. I took those back...

[grumpycrumpy]

  ...... I had the same problem with a pair of Mad Rock Frenzies , strangely enough also bought from Go Outdoors ...... The manager was very hesitant about returning them , claiming that 'that's what climbing did to rubber ' , but after I insisted  sent them off anyway ...... Mad Rock replaced the shoes and wrote me a letter saying that their  test's had found  the soles to be substandard ......

[webbo]

My local wall Rockcity had a problem like that with a batch of red chillies.You could stick your thumb nail in the rubber and it would leave a permanant dint.
They sent them all back.
I've been wearing Sportivas now for several years and I haven't had a problem like that.

[tomtom]

I'd carry on climbing in them for another month or two to get some mileage before sending them back. but remember to leave your name as mr StarfishLager when returning them just in case they read ukb... See what I've done there.. Clever huh! Eh!