Well it appears that La Sportiva has quietly decided to do away with the Barracuda. We’re not too happy about that here at SplitterChoss.com, as this is the best high end trad shoe I have ever owned. I’ve looked for a long time for something that can climb cracks well yet still perform when some face climbing is involved on long routes. I absolutely fell in love with these shoes during a four day trip in the Black Canyon last fall, but now it looks like I’ll have to keep resoling my pair until they fall apart. Why La Sportiva, why?

Apparently, they are replacing it with the TC Pro, an even higher-end trad shoe designed by (for?) Tommy Caldwell. We had a chance to check these things out at last summer’s Outdoor Retailer show, and hopefully will have a pair to test soon. They look really nice, but I have to wonder how many people are going to kick down $170 for a pair of shoes, especially these days. Still, it looks like a solid shoe, and if it performs like they say it will, then I suppose it’ll be worth the small investment.

UPDATE: I’ve been told by a reliable source that Vibram is no longer making the webbed rubber that covers the top of the Barracuda (and Venom) which is why those shoes are not being made any longer. Bummer.