La Sportiva TX3 Approach Shoe Brown Size:

Product Information

There’s no explanation given for that difference, although they don’t outline which size of each was weighed. I usually only get about a year or two out of my Wildcats before the tread is chewed up and the mesh torn by off-trail scrambling, scree, granite, and bushwhacking.

Idrogrip is designed for use on wet and slippery surfaces, and Megagrip is designed for all-terrain use with great durability.

The TX Guide is a durable, stable, and comfortable trail shoe that combines the best of La Sportiva’s expertise in mountain running, approach, and hiking footwear. As soon as I put the Canyoneer 3 on I could feel numbness down the little toe side of my foot, which persisted no matter what socks I wore. I’ve worn this shoe on countless Flatiron scrambling missions climbing moderate, less-than-vertical routes. Like many of the best approach shoes, it has sole made from rubber that is very sticky and grippy on rocks, has the kind of close fit that rock climbers like, and a longer run of laces than a typical hiking shoe that helps them fit almost "like a glove.

However, these shoes are still worth the DIY shoe care that might be required because of their jaw-dropping climbing performance, which can eliminate the need to bring climbing shoes for many objectives.I worry a bit about the eyelets at the front of the shoe that are constructed solely with cord, as they could quickly wear away the more I jam my feet into cracks. I actually warrantied two pairs of these, for one had a heel delamination where there is a softer foam, and the other had lug delamination on the midsole. They are one of the lightest models on the market, and have a thoughtful elastic cord on each heel that can wrap around the nestled pair to create a tight package for hanging on the harness or stuffing into a pack for carrying up a multi-pitch route. Earning our highest praise for climbing ability, we find the La Sportiva TX Guide to be the best shoe for smearing, edging, and crack climbing due to its precise, narrow fit and stiff midsole.

I like the more generous forefoot flex of the TX3, whereas the Acrux FL is slightly stiffer and thus more supportive (but that’s on a scale of low-cut hiking shoes, not “stiff” like you’d see in boots).The sole boasts a smooth area of sticky rubber under the toes for smearing on rock, and the wide base that slightly protrudes from the mesh upper allows for very solid edging. Just like any other running shoe, when you take it into vertical and technical terrain of consequence, you might wish you were wearing a more technical approach shoe like the Scarpa Crux.