With the Qubit, Unparallel has developed a new high-performance climbing shoe that really shines on steep and overhanging terrain. We set out with the new wonder weapon and tested it in its usual habitat.
When we arrive at the climbing garden, one strong gust of wind follows the other. The treetops sway back and forth as if they wanted to welcome us with a joyful nod. The roaring wind seems a bit expansive on the one hand, but also fresh on the other. And fresh suits the climbing shoes we have in our luggage quite well: qubit, the new high-performance climbing shoe from unparallel.
Qubit: Climbing shoe for overhangs and challenging indoor routes
Once we reach the base of the wall, the wind is almost non-existent and we can take a closer look at the new climbing shoe from Unparallel in the sunshine dimmed by the Sahara dust. The look of the Qubit says a lot about its character: the slightly asymmetrical ledge with aggressive downturn practically begs for you to bite into fine ledges.
The Qubit is made from a mix of high-quality microfiber and synthetics, making it lightweight and durable. The fit is surprisingly comfortable for a performance climbing shoe. The Velcro strap allows you to secure it to your foot with the right amount of force.
Like the Souped Up and the Flagship, the Qubit is also suitable for people with wider forefoot (at least the men's model)
Friction and precision
The first few meters of the route lead over sloping terrain and offer a good opportunity to test the friction of the Qubit. Although the smearing in the Spider from Unparallel is described as "only" mediocre, the shoe with its 4,2mm sole made of RH rubber holds up well.
The imposing wall rises up more and more and the friction steps give way to small ledges. Now the Qubit's downturn comes into play, which helps the foot to apply precise pressure to the small steps.
What is also striking about the Qubit is its generous toe patch made of RS rubber and the edge area with a slightly harder rubber mixture. This means that toe hooks that are loaded from the front hold extremely well. But even if the shoe is pressed more sideways against the rock, the friction and feedback are very pleasing.
Recommendation for environmentally conscious people
We actually wanted to end the day of climbing with a cozy barbecue session up at the car park. But since we didn't bring a lighter or matches with us and the wind is still blowing at full speed, there's no way we can have a barbecue.
And this unexpected turn of events also fits the Qubit quite well, as the climbing shoe is 100% vegan. And so we end the session on the rock with beer and chips and are happy that at least we didn't have to make any compromises when it came to the climbing shoes.
Qubit: Our conclusion
With the Qubit, Unparallel is expanding its climbing shoe range with another wonder weapon. Anyone looking for a performance-oriented climbing shoe for steep routes will definitely enjoy the Qubit.
Although it is clearly positioned in the high-performance range, the shoe is surprisingly comfortable and you don't need dozens of sessions before you can climb in it without pain. We were also impressed by the combination of different types of rubber that Unparallel used on the Qubit. A successful mix that facilitates precise steps on small ledges as well as tricky toe hooks.
As far as choosing the size goes, we feel that you can go for a slightly smaller model with the Qubit. For example, if you have a 41.5 with the Souped Up, you can go for size 41 here.
qubit by Unparallel: The most important things at a glance
- Weight: 540 grams
- Application: Overhang, Vertical
- Bar: Slightly asymmetrical
- Downturn: Aggressive
- Sole: 4,2mm RH rubber
- Toe patch: RS rubber
- Midsole stiffness: hard
- Material: Microfiber & Synthetic
- Closure: Velcro fastener