If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. And while the Anasazi Moccasym wasn’t perfect, Five Ten had damn well better make the update — the NIAD Moccasym — better.
The original Five Ten Anasazi Moccasym grew to be one of the most popular slippers since its release in 1992, adored by rock climbers across all disciplines. Climbers had to earn the fit, but the natural leather upper stretched to become a second skin.
The first-ever asymmetrical shape moved the tip of the shoe to the big toe for more power. The sensitivity placated the most critical boulderer, and the thin profile fit well into cracks. And it was the first shoe to use the now-legendary Stealth C4 rubber. They never edged well, but it was a slipper, and rock jocks understood.
When Five Ten announced a rework of the staple slipper in the form of the NIAD (Nose In A Day) Moccasym, I was skeptical. They became available in April, and when I first put them on, the warning lights flickered — they were noticeably stiffer than the originals. But with time, I realized the added stiffness addressed a primary weakness of the original Mocc to produce a better tool.
The Five Ten NIAD Moccasym may give up some of the original sensitivity and softness, but the shoe provided better edging, and the trade-offs were minimal. Other nuanced improvements were added to the package, making the NIAD Moccasym a better weapon overall.
Five Ten NIAD Moccasym Review: Added Edging Power, but Still a Slipper
Out of the box, the new Moccasym was much stiffer, but over a 4-month testing period on boulders, gym walls, and boards, multiple times a week, the shoes softened significantly. Not quite to the softness and sensitivity of the originals, but close. Much of this is due to the 4.2mm C4 outsole (versus 3.5 mm of other NIAD Anasazi shoes) and a 1.0mm full-length Bontex midsole.
The good news is the leather upper conformed to my foot and continues to do so, delivering that oh-so-nice painted-on fit. The leather is a new HT (high-tear strength) version, directly addressing the blowout issue for well-worn original Moccs, which I assumed was the opportunity cost for leather that formed to the foot.
Other Updates on the NIAD Moccasym
NIAD Moccasym Fit
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New Mocc Performance
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