Mad Rock - Drone CS HV - Climbing Shoes

• Best for:
  • Bouldering
  • Indoor climbing
  • Sport climbing

Why we love it

The Drone CS is Mad Rock's competition-focused shoe, engineered around their softest, stickiest rubber formula – Xtreme Friction. It turns contact into control: the soft, flexible XF rubber grips and holds its memory across volumes, smears, and dynamic footwork, while the Compression Molded Toe Box and anatomically correct 3D midsole bring the power when you need to pull, press, or hook. A dedicated tension system drives precision and support without forcing you to downsize, and the patented concave sole gives structure to an otherwise soft, sensitive shoe. The 3D molded heel cup with its fin design locks in for confident heel hooks. This HV version is built for wider feet with a bigger heel cup and boxier profile.

Tech Specs

• Weight: ~470g (pair, EU 42)
• Profile: Aggressive downturn – significant asymmetry, balanced stiffness
• Volume: High volume (HV) – wider feet, bigger heel cup, boxier profile
• Upper: SynFlex synthetic – 3D mesh tongue
• Midsole: 1.8 mm polycarbonate – anatomically correct 3D molded
• Outsole: Xtreme Friction (XF) – 4.2 mm
• Heel rand: Science Friction R2
• Toe box: Compression molded, Xtreme Friction rubber
• Closure: Hook-and-loop

Features

• Xtreme Friction (XF) Rubber: Mad Rock's softest, stickiest rubber compound – engineered for maximum friction on holds, with soft and flexible characteristics that grip and retain memory across a wide variety of surfaces. Applied across the sole, compression-molded toe box, and 3D heel.
• Compression Molded Toe Box: Molded toe construction in Xtreme Friction rubber – maximises toe hook grip and durability while maintaining sensitivity.
• 3D Molded Hooking Heel: Patented heel cup with molded grooves and a fin design – bites into hooks, smears, and jams without shifting, and allows the heel to be used effectively as a crimp.
• Patented Concave Sole: Concave sole geometry gives structure and precision to an otherwise soft, sensitive shoe – optimising power transfer on steep terrain.
• Anatomically Correct Midsole: 3D molded to mirror the natural contours of the foot – more comfort under pressure and better performance where it counts.
• ArchFlex System: Secures the fit and activates the foot's arch muscles – improving climbing efficiency and power delivery.
• Performance Tension System: Engineered tensioning that boosts power and precision where soft shoes usually give out – delivering a performance fit without the need to downsize.
• Science Friction R2 Rand: High-elasticity rand rubber providing give without loss of performance – for a comfortable, glove-like fit.
• Vegan-friendly: Built entirely from high-performance synthetic materials – no animal-derived components.