La Sportiva TX4 EVO ST

I have owned original TX4, TX Guide Leather, TX4 Retro, TX4 Evo, and now just picked up the TX4 Evo ST for curiosity. I have wide (primarily tailors bunion), high volume (top of foot above arch) feet.

Original Tx4 - so comfortable, loved to hike in them and smear, but couldn’t edge at all. I thought the toe box was too wide and sole too soft. They didn’t climb well for me, and I’d feel rocks jabbing my feet. Sold them.

TX4 Guide Leather - Climb amazing, love the sole, support and traction. My bunion hurt until they stretched, then it wore a hole in the side of the shoe. The toebox was uncomfortable after a while, particularly on the top of my toes. I did try on the synthetic guides originally, but they just hurt everything on my feet. Narrow and pokey.

TX4 Retro/Now Evo - fit is in between the guide and original. For me, perfect balance of snug and climbable but can hike for hours. I can edge as good as my Guides, same underfoot support as the guides, nice and protective but not too stiff. The laces are a bit too short for my high volume, so I’m tying very small bows.

TX4 Evo ST. Just picked up and only a few days on them.  Feels identical in every way to the Evos as far as fit, sole, etc. can barely tell the difference with and Evo on one foot, and an ST on the other. 40g per shoe lighter. You can feel the increased vent on the cooler days now. I’m sure it will be quite welcome in the summer, and the 80g less total weight will be appreciated on my harness. 

Does anyone know how they perform trail running?   I wear LaSpo Mutants on 5.easy flatiron running/scrambling terrain, but many times (specifically slabby down climbs) find myself wishing I had different shoes. 

I tried on a pair of TX4 ST and they fit like a glove. Just looking for someone's first hand experience first. Thanks!

I do not enjoy running in TX4s. The TX2 EVO Leather is probably the best current La Sportiva shoe option for someone who wants to both run and scramble low fifth class terrain in the same shoes.

Disclosure: After many years using a single shoe for both running and scrambling in the Flatirons, I decided usually prefer to use two separate separate shoes for running and scrambling.  I use a running vest to carry the second pair of shoes.

Karl Henize wrote:

Disclosure: After many years using a single shoe for both running and scrambling, I decided usually prefer using two separate shoes for running and scrambling in the Flatirons.

Yup. 

The problem is -- and I'm sure I've stated this opinion many times as this or similar topic comes up over the years -- is that what makes a confident shoe for scrambling/easy climbing is going to be in opposition of what makes a performant shoe for running. Barring any revolution in design or materials, nothing is ever going to change in this front.

Long Ranger wrote:

Yup. 

The problem is -- and I'm sure I've stated this opinion many times as this or similar topic comes up over the years -- is that what makes a confident shoe for scrambling/easy climbing is going to be in opposition of what makes a performant shoe for running. Barring any revolution in design or materials, nothing is ever going to change in this front.

Sizing is also an issue.  To get the best climbing performance out of approach shoes, you want the shoes to be sized so the toes are touching the front of the shoe.  For running performance, you want the shoes to have some space for your feet to toes move / splay without being jammed in the toe box.  

Yup, exactly -- just pick what you want to compromise with. I put a video on Youtube like 5 years ago trying to explain this. It's still one of my most popular videos, so it's no wonder this topic comes up again and again on MP.

Andy Ban wrote:

Does anyone know how they perform trail running? 

Sorry but no. Approach shoes only for hiking, scrambling and climbing if you are a competent climber. Too heavy and clumsy for proper running. 

Try the Bushido 2/3 if you feel down climbing with the Mutant is too spicy for you. 

giraud b wrote:

Sorry but no. Approach shoes only for hiking, scrambling and climbing if you are a competent climber. Too heavy and clumsy for proper running. 

Try the Bushido 2/3 if you feel down climbing with the Mutant is too spicy for you. 

Second this, I’ve done some 20+ mile alpine days running to and from and climbing in approach shoes and the run always blows. I generally wear mutants now if it’s 5.7 or under as they are surprisingly decent for scrambling 

Long Ranger wrote:

Yup. 

The problem is -- and I'm sure I've stated this opinion many times as this or similar topic comes up over the years -- is that what makes a confident shoe for scrambling/easy climbing is going to be in opposition of what makes a performant shoe for running. Barring any revolution in design or materials, nothing is ever going to change in this front.

I did pick up a pair of TX4 st.  They climb great. Felt very secure doing a bunch of linkups in the flatirons. I can attest that the the running performance does indeed blow. Very clunky and awkward feeling. 

I appreciate your videos on the topic. I guess there is no perfect shoe and will probably bring two pairs for more challenging objectives. 

Approach shoes were never intended/designed for running. There are some trail runners that come close but the edging capacity is where they all fall short. Maybe someone comes with an idea how to fix this issue and then we'll close the gap between the two. 

Just picked up a pair as my pre-Evo Tx2s are on life support and I wanted something that could hike a little better without too much added weight on the harness. 

The leather Tx4 Evo and Tx2 Evos are both too tight for me in the pinky side in a size that works for scrambling, but the STs were pretty much perfect. To me, they're like a midpoint between the old tx4 and tx2 with a much-appreciated increase in stiffness.

Only downside for me is that the arch is a bit more rigid and tall for my flat feet out of the box - we'll see how they break in. Probably testing them out this weekend on some decently long approaches. Will report back.

The only other shoe I tried that fits my wide toes is the new Scarpa Rapid XT but those were heavy by comparison. Probably a good Tx4 replacement but a bit heavy for clipping to the harness or throwing in the follower's pack.

So do i have the OG?  And if i buy the evo st the same size I'll expect a narrower toebox but buy the same size as my OG?

RWPT wrote:

So do i have the OG?  And if i buy the evo st the same size I'll expect a narrower toebox but buy the same size as my OG?

OG.
FWIW, The evo breaks in excellent. No noticeable difference in comfort for me between the 2 in the same size.....I still wear an OG version and new Evo version so side by side I am quite confident in this. And I actually prefer the new Evo TBH.