adidas Outdoor Approach Shoes Initial Impressions

Had the chance to try out some of the approach shoes being made by adidas Outdoor. Check out my thoughts here:

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I'm confused. Didn't Adidas buy 5.10? Why make their own brand shoes when they already have an established, respected brand under their wing? It looks like they're taking advantage of the sale to use Stealth rubber, but it's weird that they would essentially try to compete with themselves.

Adidas (Outdoor) is a wordwide established outdoor brand with huge market presence, 5.10 is an obscure niche brand for rock climbers.

Right, but these are approach shoes marketed for...climbers.

Ted Pinson wrote:Right, but these are approach shoes marketed for...climbers.

Who possibly think 5.10 suck? 5.10 is not exactly a big player in Europe, Adidas is.

Right, but the most important part of the shoe is proprietary 5.10, so I guess I still don't get it. For me, Adidas is a very strongly negative brand association; they make running and soccer shoes and are a big corporation, with absolutely zero street cred when it comes to climbing gear. If I don't like 5.10, I might look at Scarpa, Evolv, or La Sportiva approach shoes, but I wouldn't look to see what Nike has to offer.

I have last years Solo's and really like them as approach shows and even on very easy climbs.

Depends how you use your "approach" shoes. I overwhelmingly will use trail runners as hiking shoes to/from climbing areas, and legitimate approach shoes for routesetting and bolting.

If Adidas running shoes fit you well, Adidas running shoes with sticky rubber will fit you well.

I think it's awesome that a major company like Adidas is jumping into the fray! Imagine the improved sticky rubber, super light, durable and amazing shoes their R&D can come up with. Love it! Looking forward to trying them out. Thanks for the review Max.

I love Five.Ten and have supported them and sported their approach shoes since the 90's. One of my all time favorite shoe was the Five. Ten Access. It looked very similar the the Terrex Solo and Scope and would be very excited to give this shoe a try. The shoe I had was got modified few different times with shoes that came out, kinda similar, one called the Ascent and maybe even a newer, like since 2010 called the Access but resembled NOTHING of the original which was circa 2004 - 2006. It was a hand sewn sole to the upper, incredibly light, by far and away thee lightest approach shoe ever made. Being that it had stealth rubber I eventually wore thru the soles and never got it fixed up. Since then I've only found one shoe that could compete and that was the La Sportiva Exum pro's, also got discontinued, and haven't been as pleased with any other approach shoe since. Salewa had me excited for awhile but ultimately disappointed too. To each their own though, I've seen plenty of reviews where a lot of hate'n goes on towards 5.10, due to QC, durability issue or fit. Would love to see 5.10 continue in some form or another, I think their Stealth rubber is the best. I had my Exum pro's resoled a couple of times, with the 5.10 stealth rubber.

Ted Pinson wrote:For me, Adidas is a very strongly negative brand association; they make running and soccer shoes and are a big corporation, with absolutely zero street cred when it comes to climbing gear.

I guess "street cred" is in the eye of the beholder. Adidas sponsored Messner, and nowadays sponsors the Huber brothers, Beat Kammerlander, Sasha DiGiulian and Kevin Jorgeson, so they've had at least a hand in the climbing business for a while and access to some very expert opinion. They've only recently dipped their triple-striped toes in the US climbing pond, which is not much of a market compared to Europe. No doubt the reason 5.10 made the Quantum, which was designed by the Hubers, is because of the Adidas connection, and this perhaps gives a hint of the nature of the connection, as the Quantum is a niche product better suited to 5.10, whereas an approach shoe, which is used by large variety of European mountain enthusiasts, is much more up the Adidas coporate alley.

rgold wrote: I guess "street cred" is in the eye of the beholder. Adidas sponsored Messner, and nowadays sponsors the Huber brothers, Beat Kammerlander, Sasha DiGiulian and Kevin Jorgeson, so they've had at least a hand in the climbing business for a while and access to some very expert opinion. They've only recently dipped their triple-striped toes in the US climbing pond, which is not much of a market compared to Europe. No doubt the reason 5.10 made the Quantum, which was designed by the Hubers, is because of the Adidas connection, and this perhaps gives a hint of the nature of the connection, as the Quantum is a niche product better suited to 5.10, whereas an approach shoe, which is used by large variety of European mountain enthusiasts, is much more up the Adidas coporate alley.

Living in Boulder I have yet to see any appearance of Adidas as mainstream climbing wear, shoes or otherwise, so at this point anyway, I would regard their marketing success as tepid to non-existent.

rgold wrote: I guess "street cred" is in the eye of the beholder. Adidas sponsored Messner, and nowadays sponsors the Huber brothers, Beat Kammerlander, Sasha DiGiulian and Kevin Jorgeson, so they've had at least a hand in the climbing business for a while and access to some very expert opinion.

Apparently to Ted you build street cred on instagram. So once Ted sees Sasha wearing adidas on instagram he will be all over it.

Peter Beal wrote: Living in Boulder I have yet to see any appearance of Adidas as mainstream climbing wear, shoes or otherwise, so at this point anyway, I would regard their marketing success as tepid to non-existent.

I dont think Adidas is targeting your mainstream boulder climber. They are probably far more interested in the 5.11 top rope hero bra-ha at the gym who wants to spend $70 on some climbing pants for the gym. And I think they are to some degree entering/creating that market.

I have some Adidas Terrex approach shoes that are really nice, but don't fit my feet quite right. Shame, because they seem pretty sweet! I use them on cragging days, but when I'm putting in mileage, I always reach for my Scarpa Crux approach shoes because they fit better.

Jim Titt wrote:Adidas (Outdoor) is a wordwide established outdoor brand with huge market presence, 5.10 is an obscure niche brand for rock climbers.

Funny thing about that...

5.10 has more brand weight even over in europe than adidas does with climbers. I hear from people inside the industry that most sport shops that have their outdoor line is because they get a discount on their soccer, tennis, and running lines.

I have a pair too, and my left side doesn't fit my heal right unless I really crank he laces tight. Never had that issue with a pair of shoes before.

Would not buy them again.

jason.cre wrote: Apparently to Ted you build street cred on instagram. So once Ted sees Sasha wearing adidas on instagram he will be all over it.

Wow, you're an idiot. As mentioned, DiGiulian is sponsored by both 5.10 and Adidas and has been for several years, so I have seen her wear Adidas many times and still could give a $&@!. Thanks for the pointless personal attack, though.

Ted Pinson wrote: Wow, you're an idiot. As mentioned, DiGiulian is sponsored by both 5.10 and Adidas and has been for several years, so I have seen her wear Adidas many times and still could give a $&@!. Thanks for the pointless personal attack, though.

I have a pair of gore-Tex adidas approach shoes my
Wife got last year. I love them. For outdoors and rainy winters in PNW.
What I cant find is an approach with a rear welt that is waterproof. My previous approach shoes had a welt, but we're not Waterproof. If I'm gonna need crampons, waterproof would be nice!

Ted Pinson wrote:Right, but the most important part of the shoe is proprietary 5.10, so I guess I still don't get it. For me, Adidas is a very strongly negative brand association; they make running and soccer shoes and are a big corporation, with absolutely zero street cred when it comes to climbing gear. If I don't like 5.10, I might look at Scarpa, Evolv, or La Sportiva approach shoes, but I wouldn't look to see what Nike has to offer.

+1

Approach shoes are just approach shoes. You can wear sandals or skate sneakers and you´ll still get to the rock, it will take you more time but you still get there.
all five ten users know the brand addidas but not all addidas users know the brand 5.10.

Also, nike , addidas, new balance, etc. you can find them cheaper or at least find more sale deals compared to specific use shoes.