UnParallel Up Mocc

Can I get through a shoe review from a company called UnParallel without saying you know what?  You know…the most obvious compliment.  The meatball down the middle of the plate.  The pun that suggests that Unparallel shoes are you know.

I think I can.

Let’s start with a little backstory.  

In 2011 Adidas bought shoe company Five Ten for twenty-five million dollars.  Five Ten was a company that specialized in outdoors sports such a mountain biking and rock climbing.  My first pair of climbing shoes were actually made by Five Ten.  Once Adidas took over Five Ten climbing they moved production from Redland, California to China.  Although I didn’t stick with Five Ten after my inaugural purchase, many noticed some slight modifications to the Five Ten classics, such as the vibrant red Moccasym.  These climbers would remain dejected, sad, and longing for the days when their beloved Moccasym might return to its original form.  Sadly, the days of putting on those bright red shoes that would dye your entire foot red each time you wore them were gone forever.

But that doesn’t mean better days could not lie ahead.

In 2017, Sang Lee, former development and production head at Five Ten, along with his crack team of former Five Ten employees, started UnParallel Climbing.  Lee and his newly found company even took over Five Ten’s shoe manufacturing facility in Redlands, California.  They began production based on over 20 years of experience.  Their shoes are unmatched (I almost said you know what).

UnParallel offers a range of shoes for everyone, from beginners to elite climbers.  They have all-day lace-ups as well as highly aggressive “go” shoes, and everything in between!

For my money I had to go with the Up Mocc.  It’s like the Five Ten Moccasym, only better, and it comes in both yellow and green!  Speaking of money, the price of climbing shoes is getting outrageous, and UnParallel maintains competitive pricing with several different models coming in at under $150.

I love the Up Moccs.  They are (I’m not going to say it) in a league of their own.  I’ve never worn a slip-on climbing shoe before, as I have always been skeptical of their ability to offer the support needed for specific moves such as toe hooks and heel hooks.  Well, I was wrong.  The Unparallle Moccs have never once felt like they were going to slip.  I now use them on everything from slab to overhanging roofs, and from granite dimples to sandstone off-width.

I recently sent out to set an endurance record climbing 251 routes in 6 hours and the Moccs were with me the whole time.

This shoe is versatile, good looking, affordable, and environmentally friendly, dare I say that the UnParallel Moccs are un..(I’m not going to say it) the perfect shoe for any climber no matter what the style or ability.  

I love them and I will be hard pressed to jump into another climbing shoe anytime soon!

Recommendation: High Performance

Specs: 4.2mm RH rubber, Midsole stiffness: Soft, VD rubber toe patch, Approx. weight: 539 g (per pair), Size: US 3-14 / EU 34.5-48.5, Fit: Moderate-Asymmetric.

MSPR: $126.20

Web-Site: UnParallel Climbing