Thick soled approach shoes with reinforced uppers are great for protecting your feet in talus, but they can be heavy and take up a lot of space in your pack on a long climb. For mos tof the summer rock season, lighter, more compact approach shoes, like the La Sportiva TX2 EVO fit the bill.
The Vibram sticky rubber Idrogrip is especially great for climbing and scrambling, with its low 3 mm lugs and Climbing Zone flat, high-friction toe area. The C2 Combo Cord keeps the shoes compact and close together in your pack during a climb. The shoe is also built to be resoled, unlike many approach shoes.
The one-piece, highly breathable knit upper fits closely around the foot to give confidence on technical terrain. The Mythos lacing system adds to the snug, rock shoe feel. The upper is also made of recycled materials.
Although these won’t be the first choice in conditions involving snow, due to the light, breathable upper, they’re the perfect choice for most summer scrambles and rock route approaches. It hits the market this summer, visit here to stay up to date on availability.
