Our verdict
Comfort-wise, the Iati from Tenaya is a great form of investment. This amazingly grippy climbing piece also shines in the areas of smearing and edging. That being said, the shoe is marred by a few criticisms, the least flattering of which has to be its allegedly complex lockdown system. Overall, the Iati is a promising Tenaya rock shoe—one that offers a blend of comfort and climbing performance on demanding routes.
Pros
- Comfortable interior
- Deep heel cup
- Ideal for smearing
- Sticky outsole
- Super sensitive
- Short break-in period
Cons
- Challenging to configure
- Deep heel cup
- Expensive
Short break-in period
The Tenaya Iati inherits most of the Oasi’s beneficial aspects but to an improved degree, rendering the shoe capable of taking on challenging ascents. It is ideal for those who are:
- indoor climbing shoes.
- looking for a stiff beak-like toe zone for pin-point precision on micro-edges and tricky footholds.
- Tenaya Iatis long-wearing rubber outsole.
Tenaya Iati’s long-wearing rubber outsole
The Iati helps the foot stay latched on to different types of surfaces with its long-wearing rubber outsole, called Vibram XS Grip. It is 3.5 mm in thickness.
It covers the entirety of the shoe’s underside, making it a full-length component. Its rear extension delivers sufficient grip in heel-hooking situations.
Iati’s underfoot performance
For underfoot support and protection, Iati is armed with a two-part midsole—GI and TST 150. The former comes at a thickness of 1.8 mm. Atop this supportive unit is a multi-layer insole called Stretchtex which gives senders extra comfort.
Iati from Tenaya boasts a heavy-duty upper
The low-cut upper of the Tenaya Iati is a combination of microfiber (synthetic) and genuine leather. It has a liner made of TXT-treated cotton.
The lower perimeter of its front half has a heavy-duty rand, lending climbers lateral surface traction and protection from abrasive elements. This protective covering seamlessly transitions to the Iati’s toe patch which enhances the user’s toe-hooking grip.
Randing is also present around the upper’s heel and arch zones, giving wearers improved rearfoot control and security.
Stitched to its heel are two synthetic pull loops for on-and-off assistance.
Its Velcro closure consists of two straps linked together with a fastening tab. These adjustable straps are set through reinforced buckles.
