La Sportiva TX3 Approach Shoe Brown Size:

Product Information

The “climbing zone” toe, featuring Vibram® Mega-Grip™ Traverse rubber, coupled with the burly Trail Bite™ Heel Platform provides maximum grip in scree and mud. Unfortunately, our favorite approach shoe for narrow feet, the La Sportiva TX Guide, showed some poor construction quality during our test period. For whatever reason, the TX3’s outsole hangs farther than its upper – probably for stability, and the TX Guide Leather does not. Additionally, the tight fit of the heel and midsole on the TX3 provides the snug security needed on technical rock. Further, the leather upper is snugger-fitting than the mesh of the TX3, meaning you get more precision and security while climbing technical rock.

Hi, I'm Michael Lanza, creator of The Big Outside and former Northwest Editor at Backpacker magazine. The Idrogrip is the black compound on the forefoot and the Megagrip is the red compound on the heel. Even though we hiked Telescope Peak at a strong pace—up seven miles and 3,000 feet in under three hours, and down in a bit over two hours—my feet stayed dry. Climbers today are asking more of their approach shoes than ever before, especially when it comes to fifth-class climbing ability. We use these shoes for short approaches to difficult climbs where weight savings are important, and the approach and descent are trivial.

It climbs well, has plenty of support for long days in the aiders, and offers quality comfort for longer hikes. The toes are also protected by a Vibram rubber toe box, which does a good job of preventing stubbed toes. The most intense wear on the lacing system did occurred in narrow slot canyons in Utah, which are much harder on footwear, so this weakness is less likely to be an issue in more open Australian-style canyons.

For this rating metric, we looked at how well the shoe protected us from the elements and kept our feet happy. The downside to all of this protection is that the TX Guide runs very hot and doesn’t breathe very well. I haven’t found this to be a problem, including on multi-day canyoning trips when carrying a full overnight pack, but some people might find this an issue. While it is beaten out by the mega-lightweight TX2 but about two ounces, this shoe is more supportive. They include both technical models recommended for approach and via ferratas and more versatile models oriented toward hiking and lifestyle.Whatever the precise rubber is, I found the TX3 to provide extremely good grip, particular on wet rock. The La Sportiva TX2 Evo performs nearly as well on the rock, offering excellent sensitivity on slabs and tiny holds thanks to its relatively thin sole. Not until the last few hours of that 32-mile dayhike, on rocky trails that were slick from rain for hours, did I actually slip on loose stones and land (softly) on my butt.

And if technical roped pitches aren't part of the day, a heavier shoe will slow us down over the course of an objective, which could lead to less fun, longer recovery times, and, in extreme cases, potential injury. 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. To simplify, I would describe the Ultra Raptor as great for someone who wants a light hiking shoe or trail running shoe that performs both jobs well.I suffered no more than one hot spot and one blister on the side of a toe that I think had nothing to do with the shoe’s fit. Toebox: The TX3 has a wide foot-shaped toebox that fits me better than any other La Sportiva shoe that I own. The TX3 lies in the middle in terms of weight and durability, with a lightweight synthetic upper similar to the TX2, but the stable sole and Impact Brake System of the TX4, providing stability and comfort on the trail. If that is your primary focus, then the La Sportiva TX Guide offers a much better balance of weight and climbing performance.

I walked confidently on both wet and dry slab and on steep snow in these shoes, very rarely slipping. 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. After trying on a couple of other options, none of which fitted me well, the La Sportiva TX3 was suggested. While we concluded that the lighter TX2 easily meets the needs of the average climber, we just couldn't deny the TX3's performance in rough terrain. The TX3 is an approach shoe from La Sportiva that rides like a trail runner, yet provides the protection of a light hiker.Because the TX3’s uppers are made of mesh, they will not hold water and thus will not take on weight. They fit nicely, are breathable, have a nice grippy Vibram sole, and I love the bright orange color. When standing in slings and aiders for hours on end, you'll want a stiff and supportive outsole to prevent the sling from pinching your feet all day.