La Sportiva TX3 Approach Shoe Brown Size:

Product Information

The upper on the La Sportiva TX Guide is constructed using a thick jacquard ultra-weave that provides phenomenal support and protection.

That said, the TX3’s leather counterpart, La Sportiva's TX4 is adept at holding its shape when wet and will be a better fit for most climbers headed to the mountains.For these objectives, an approach shoe that hikes comfortably might be more important than a shoe that can climb well. The one thing they all share is the goal of blending the traits of both hiking and climbing shoes, but most tend to lean toward one end of that spectrum. After using my first pair of TX3s for around 20 canyoning days, they were completely fine other than the lacing system. As an internationally-licensed Mountain Guide, Jeff leads climbing trips around the world, always packing a trusty pair of approach shoes for hiking, climbing, and just walking around the streets of mountain towns everywhere.

As I mentioned before, I don’t use these shoes for climbing, but the lacing customization has been fantastic for hiking and backpacking. On the flipside, the TX4 is the burliest of the bunch, with a durable leather upper and a beefy outsole (for more, see our in-depth TX4 review). The regular version is marginally heavier, contains less recycled material, but includes Scarpa's "Super Gum" rubber; otherwise the two shoes are identical.

After a few trudges up and off some Sierra peaks, we never experienced a grain of the kitty-litter-like dirt the Sierra is known for making its way into our shoes. That said, there are deals to be had, and some less-expensive options perform nearly as well as much more expensive shoes. Hiking into the Bugaboos, I carried a 60-pound pack and found the cushioning and support of the TX3 more than sufficient under a large load. They are torqued into cracks, bent into crevices in talus fields, and dragged up chimneys while clipped to the back of a harness. It should be said that I do tend to gravitate towards more supportive footwear as opposed to minimalist offerings (I’m a big Hoka fan for trail running for instance).

My question for you is, do you feel as though these shoes would be able to withstand the 65 mile trek with chances of possible downpours (when paired with a good pair of hiking socks), or should I be investing in a different shoe?The La Sportiva TX4 is a fantastic choice for big wall climbing or when you need to carry big loads. I believe the uppers of the Acrux FL will survive more abuse than the lighter mesh of the TX3; look at pictures of both shoes and you’ll see the difference in the materials of the uppers.

The TX3 is an approach shoe from La Sportiva that rides like a trail runner, yet provides the protection of a light hiker. Approach shoes take a beating, whether they're crushing miles on backcountry trails, smearing up sharp granite slabs, or scraping against rock while you stand in aiders on a big wall. In the age of fast and light, more and more climbers are bringing lightweight shoes into the alpine, employing the approach shoe/aluminum crampon combination for snow and glacier travel.The TX Guide has decent flex at toe off like a mountain running shoe, but retains the torsional rigidity of an approach or hiking shoe. We compare and contrast each model to the most similar products to help you make an informed decision. to be the ideal fit for the TX Guide, and I probably could have sized up to a 47 (13) due to the low volume toe box.