Posted by Maya Silver: Editor-in-chief of Outside Climbing Magazine on Aug 3rd 2026
"My experience with the world’s first barefoot climbing shoes"
(Photos: Katelynd Duncan)
At EnjoyWinter, we understand that our time on snow is only realistically a few months out of the year. Most of our athletes are not only skiers, but cyclists, runners, climbers and so much more. Which is why Enjoy Summer (our summer store for EnjoyWinter athletes), tries to provide gear for athletes to pursue their summer adventures.
Introducing: Saltic Climbing Shoes
Hand-crafting footwear in the Czech Republic since 1990, Saltic blends precise wall performance with exceptional comfort. The brand focuses on anatomical designs and ultra-sticky rubber to give climbers maximum grip and feel. Their specialized lineup features advanced, high-performance shoes engineered for precise vertical edges alongside innovative barefoot climbing slippers designed to maximize natural foot movement. It is the ultimate choice for reliable, handmade grip on indoor walls and technical outdoor routes.
The Saltic Eliot shoes feature a minimalist, "barefoot" design.
For extra insights into their performance read this review for Outside Climbing Magazine Editor in Chief:
"Made in the Czech Republic by a family-owned footwear company, the Eliot shoes are a wild departure from what most climbers have come to expect from performance rock climbing shoes.
Stiff soles for power and support? No.
Defined edges for, well, edging? Not a sharp edge in sight.
Downturned for performance in the steeps? These shoes are as flat as Nebraska.
Instead, the Saltic Eliots allow you to come as close as possible to climbing barefoot—without actually climbing barefoot. With a soft, flat, and thin sole, the minimalist design gives your feet greater sensitivity to whatever’s underfoot. Isn’t a lack of sensitivity one of the main reasons climbers ditched socks a couple decades ago? Could these Czech shoemakers be onto something?"