Stepping into a pair of Momentums may be your first step toward a lifetime of climbing. Built with a combination of materials—a knit tongue, micro suede upper, and a remarkably sticky Black Label rubber sole, the Momentum is comfortable, thoughtfully designed, and performs great out of the box.
With an engineered knit tongue and a micro suede upper, the Momentum provides stretch where you need it, support where it matters and all-around exceptional breathability for long gym sessions or all-day multi-pitch endeavors. The neutral last provides comfort and performance on a wide range of climbing styles, making this a great one-shoe-quiver as you hone in on your preferred style of climbing.
Sizing notes: The sizing of these climbing shoes is based on the actual dimensions of the last, unlike street shoes that often have space built in for comfort. Your size will be smaller than your street shoe size; snug- to tight-fitting climbing shoes will allow you to get the best connection between your feet and the rock.
We trust what we make because we use what we make. All Black Diamond products are covered by a two year warranty policy.
From clean climbing, to conservation, Black Diamond is committed to protecting the people and places we love.
Learn More
Your first step into a lifetime of climbing. Featuring an engineered knit tongue and micro suede upper, our Momentum climbing shoes provide stretch where you need it, support where it matters and all-around exceptional breathability. Built for everything from long gym sessions or all-day multi-pitch endeavors, the neutral last blends comfort and performance for a wide range of climbing styles, making the Momentum a great one-shoe-quiver.
At BD, our passion for innovation is only matched by our desire to use our equipment and experience the success it was designed for. From the world’s first wire-gate carabiner to our cornerstone Camalots, we have always designed gear that enables climbers to push the limits of our sport.
Overall rating: 4.571429 / 5 from 7 reviews.
Review topics: ["rubber","shoes","climbing","option","choice","hooks","routes","heel"].
"Great beginner shoe!"
"The show was pretty comfortable straight out of the box and felt more comfortable as it broke in, the differnt ways to velcro it shut made it feel more simular to a laced shoe. The shoe was more on the narrow side. EU 38 was a little bigger than the same size in La Sportiva, you may wanna size down 1/4 or 1/2 from La Sportiva to BD. I wear a street size womens 8. 5 or 9 The rubber was quiet durable but not as sticky as other brands. I think these shoes would suit me well for longer outdoor climbs. Black Diamond gave me this free product to try."
"Black Diamond gave me this free product to try. I’ve been using these climbing shoes for sometime now, both in the gym and outside on rock, and overall I think they’re an excellent option for beginners. Right out of the box, they felt comfortable — much more so than other starter shoes I tried — and the velcro straps make it really easy to dial in a snug but not painful fit. They’re a little tight at first, so I definitely recommend sizing up about half a size to get the best balance of comfort and performance without cutting off circulation. What really stands out about these shoes is how forgiving they are without feeling overly soft or clumsy. They have enough support and precision to tackle more technical footwork as you get better, but they don't punish mistakes like a stiffer, aggressive shoe might. I could see these being perfect for newer climbers who want something they can grow into without having to upgrade right away. They also make a great option for experienced climbers looking for a more relaxed shoe for long gym sessions, multipitch routes, or casual climbing days when comfort is the priority. Whether you’re just starting out or you’re a seasoned climber who wants something you can wear for hours without thinking about your feet, these shoes strike a really nice balance between comfort, capability, and versatility."
"Black Diamond gave me this free product to try, and I've been using the Momentum shoes for indoor bouldering and top-roping over the last few weeks (about 8 sessions, total). The feature that stood out to me immediately was the shoes' comfort. I found them super comfy right out of the box — which, in my experience, is rare with climbing shoes! A big part of that is the soft knit upper. I’ve never used a climbing shoe with a knit upper before, and I loved how it hugged my foot without feeling restrictive. Even after extended gym sessions, I didn’t experience any hotspots or discomfort. I could also see the upper's breathability being a plus for climbers who deal with overheating or sweaty feet. While the shoe is a bit softer than what I normally climb in, it still has enough stiffness for decent edging (and way better edging than a typical beginner shoe, in my opinion) — and I very much appreciated the slightly pointed toe and very slight downturn shape, which also helped with precision and made this shoe feel like more than just an entry-level option. My qualm with many "beginner" climbing shoes is they're too soft and too neutral, so it's hard to progress in them as your skills grow. The Momentum shoes are different. They're forgiving and comfortable, but also capable. I could see these being ideal for new climbers who want a shoe that can grow with them and won't hold them back as they advance their technique, as well as more experienced climbers who need a comfort-focused shoe (like for foot issues or long multi-pitches) but don't want to completely sacrifice performance and precision. They also seem pretty versatile, and I think they'd be useful for climbers who are figuring out their strengths and what types of climbing or routes they prefer. I did find the sizing to run bigger than other climbing shoes I've tried. I wear a size 7 in regular shoes and got a 6 in these (which is what I wear in more neutral La Sportiva shoes). As someone who prefers a snugger, more performance-oriented fit, I probably should've gone with a 5. 5 or even a 5. However, if you have wider feet, you might find that sizing just one size down (like I did) to be comfortable!"
"I have taken these shoes out bouldering a few times and they have been awesome to use as a warmup shoe. These shoes are very comfortable, and seem quite durable. They even have enough angle for any beginners who want to focus on footwork. I plan to use these for longer sport climb routes this summer as well. Awesome shoe! :)"
"First pair of Velcro shoes. I love the Velcro and it’s nice and wide. I understand what the designers were trying to do with the tongue, having a bit of overlap but if you aren’t careful with the Velcro tension it can pinch and if you are too loose with Velcro tension it tends to bunch up on the fixed side of the tongue. I did a couple of warm-up bouldering problems. The heel part of the shoe where it hits the ankle feels like it comes up too high, though the heel cup is nearly perfect. The top of the heel tends to jam into the back of my Achilles, which might wear in after a few more days of climbing, however, after the first couple of times was still quite stiff. The toe portion of the shoe was much more comfortable than other shoes I have tried. I felt very good about my toe holds. I really like how the single piece of rubber running from toe up to the ankle gives a nice strong heel hook. At the same time, I felt like there was a lot of play in the top of the toes, both making the shoes more comfortable—gone is the horrible scrunched toe feel, but I don’t totally trust it yet. On the second day the heel cup continued to smart. Again I liked the way it cupped the bottom of my heel but the top was still too stiff, with the rubber at the top of the ankle being the main culprit. I bet if they just removed about a quarter inch of the rubber it would fully resolve and then the shoes would be nearly perfect. Even after a few hours of climbing, the rubber still felt like it needed to be a bit rougher to stick to some of the holds that tend to get a bit slimy. I think wearing it a bit more would work. Overall, an excellent shoe with just the ankle rubbing being the one flaw."
"Thank you Expertvoice and Black Diamond for this free product to test and review. I had some fun. I don’t climb in climbing gyms, no need…. I live in Bishop Ca and have quality rock surrounding me. So my review is solely based on outdoor climbing. I love testing and reviewing products so consumers can make an informed choice. I wear a size 7 1/2 in street shoes and I was given the new Women’s Momentum climbing shoe in a Euro size 38( size 7. 5 in US sizing). I could have gone down another 1/2 size but still did well in this shoe. It felt great while climbing, I could get on a foot hold and stay there. Heel hooking was decent as well. The rubber was sticky and stayed in the rock especially in colder weather. I used these shoes on volcanic tuff and granite, held up well to the use and rock I put them on. This is perfect for beginners or intermediate climbers. I’m not an aggressive climber so this was perfect shoe for me. I enjoy the movement and this climbing shoe let me get after it. I love the Velcro closure for quick on and off or quick adjustment. This is a great and affordable choice for women who want to climb."
| EU | US Men's | US Women's | Mondo | Foot Measurement (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35 | 3.5 | 4.5 | 221 | 21.72 |
| 35.5 | 4 | 5 | 224 | 22.05 |
| 36 | 4.5 | 5.5 | 227 | 22.38 |
| 36.5 | 4.5+ | 5.5+ | 230 | 22.71 |
| 37 | 5 | 6 | 234 | 23.04 |
| 37.5 | 5.5 | 6.5 | 237 | 23.37 |
| 38 | 6 | 7 | 240 | 23.7 |
| 38.5 | 6.5 | 7.5 | 244 | 24.03 |
| 39 | 6.5+ | 7.5+ | 247 | 24.36 |
| 39.5 | 7 | 8 | 250 | 24.69 |
| 40 | 7.5 | 8.5 | 254 | 25.02 |
| 40.5 | 8 | 9 | 257 | 25.35 |
| 41 | 8.5 | 9.5 | 260 | 25.68 |
| 41.5 | 8.5+ | 9.5+ | 263 | 26.01 |
| 42 | 9 | 10 | 267 | 26.34 |
| 42.5 | 9.5 | 10.5 | 270 | 26.67 |
| 43 | 10 | 11 | 273 | 27 |
| 43.5 | 10.5 | 11.5 | 277 | 27.33 |
| 44 | 10.5+ | 11.5+ | 280 | 27.66 |
| 44.5 | 11 | 12 | 283 | 27.99 |
| 45 | 11.5 | 12.5 | 287 | 28.32 |
| 45.5 | 12 | 13 | 290 | 28.65 |
| 46 | 12.5 | 13.5 | 293 | 28.98 |
| 46.5 | 12.5+ | 13.5+ | 296 | 29.31 |
| 47 | 13 | 14 | 299 | 29.64 |
The sizing of Black Diamond climbing shoes is based on the actual dimensions of the last, unlike street shoes that often have space built in for comfort. That’s why you’ll find your size in Black Diamond climbing shoes will be smaller than your street shoe size. Snug fitting climbing shoes will allow you to get the best connection between your feet and the rock.
Highest Performance Fit: subtract 2 EU sizes from Brannock measure
All Day Performance Fit: subtract 1 EU size from Brannock measure
All Day Comfort Fit: subtract 0 to .5 EU size from Brannock measure
