Rock Shoes: Mammut Karma
1st Mar 2006
£59.00 | Slipper | size reviewed 10 (foot size 10) | weight 480g | low asymmetry
Probably the most striking and stylish of the shoes on test, the Mammut slipper has a white synthetic suede material with a red “fire/tree” emblem on the sides. And why shouldn’t something that costs as much as good rock shoes have a bit of class! In terms of functional features the shoe has a heavily down pointed toe, extra rubber over the top of the toes, features on the heel (grip for descending dubious grass slopes, and “hooks” on the back for greater versatility) and an aggressive slingshot rand. These shoes look like they mean business. They feel like it too! For a size 10 they really do cram your toes to the front. Entry was fairly easy as they were relatively broad for narrow feet, although still felt secure due to the tight lengthwise fit. They have the frustrating Five Ten pull on tab arrangement with one at the back and one on the inside. In use these slippers are obviously not designed with smearing in mind and with the fit as tight as it is feet you’d struggle to smear up the wheelchair access ramp to the local wall. However, you find yourself using them differently. As soon as there is the slightest hint of a hold they are wrapping around, hooking over or edging to keep you on. When it gets steep they act a bit like another pair of hands and the heel holds surprisingly well for a slipper when hooking. The Mammut rubber is certainly a good product with little to call between it and the other big names. If you like steep terrain and fancy something with a little “je ne sais quoi” these are well worth considering.
This review was carried out as part of a massive comparative review of 25 pairs of Performance Rock Shoes. We think that this could be the biggest review of such shoes ever undertaken. You can read the whole review here.