Approach Shoes you can hike in

We are in the same boat. I'd like a Porsche, that's as comfortable as a Bentley and I'm willing to spend at least 10 thousand dollars. Good luck buddy!

I like Salewa

Wildfire for more scrambling and lightweight hiking
Mountain Trainer for overnighters, heavy packs, if I know I'm going to be in them for a long day or if I stub my toe.

Trouty you did Jon's chacos?! AWESOME

My vote for dope hiking/approacher is the La Sportiva Hyper mid gtx

Scarpa Zen Pros are the best approach style / hiking shoes that I've owned. Well built, a real sole for hiking and the toe for climbing. A bit heavy but worth it for stabilty on long days. Fit them up half a size.

I bought the Salewa Wildfire GTX's last year specifically to do the Grand Teton. They were perfect for that trip, but have since become my everyday shoe for day hikes in the Wasatch. I will be getting a new pair as soon as I'm done wearing these ones out.

Brendan Blanchard wrote: I I just bought a pair of Cruzer Psyches to replace my dying pairs of the above, so we'll see how that pans out in the near future... 

What are your thoughts, Brendan?

scienceguy288 wrote:

What are your thoughts, Brendan?

They still haven't overcome their durability issues from the first gens back in 2013(?). I did the Grand in them this past August (~10-15 mi hiking, 2K on granite scrambling), and took them out for probably 10 Flatirons or so, plus wearing them around town a little bit. Now they're wearing through the canvas near the heels and elsewhere. 

I bought Sportiva TX2s in the same season and probably put 10x the mileage on those as I did on the Psyches, lots of it bombing downhill in the Flatirons (one could call this abuse...), and they're getting close to replacement time, but still very comfortable and usable. I'd recommend the TX2s over Cruzer/Psyches any day. They're only so much heavier; way, way more durable; more of a running shoe; and I've had no problems scrambling up to 5.6 or 7 in them.

Brendan Blanchard wrote:

They still haven't overcome their durability issues from the first gens back in 2013(?). I did the Grand in them this past August (~10-15 mi hiking, 2K on granite scrambling), and took them out for probably 10 Flatirons or so, plus wearing them around town a little bit. Now they're wearing through the canvas near the heels and elsewhere. 

I bought Sportiva TX2s in the same season and probably put 10x the mileage on those as I did on the Psyches, lots of it bombing downhill in the Flatirons (one could call this abuse...), and they're getting close to replacement time, but still very comfortable and usable. I'd recommend the TX2s over Cruzer/Psyches any day. They're only so much heavier; way, way more durable; more of a running shoe; and I've had no problems scrambling up to 5.6 or 7 in them.

Thanks!

Dirt Squirrel wrote: Not leather, but I'm digging the tx2 by la sportiva. So light.

Same, been impressed so far. I like them better than the 5.10 guides on the approach and scrambling/climbing.... and night and day difference  above an evolv cruizer ...which suck. The gadget to keep the shoes together is pretty nifty as well.... only thing I can't say about em yet is if durability is good as I've only had them for a few weeks.

I've had a really positive experience hiking and backpacking in the Arcteryx Acrux FL approach shoe (recommend getting non GTX version because the waterproof ones get quite hot). They're built like a hiker and can handle heavy packs. Super sticky rubber as well. Bombproof construction. 

Big B wrote:

Same, been impressed so far. I like them better than the 5.10 guides on the approach and scrambling/climbing.... and night and day difference  above an evolv cruizer ...which suck. The gadget to keep the shoes together is pretty nifty as well.... only thing I can't say about em yet is if durability is good as I've only had them for a few weeks.

+1 on all the praise for the TX2s. They're my mountain, Flatiron, and everyday go-to. They've seen probably ~50 Flatirons (~40,000+ feet of 5.0-5.6), lots of walking/biking around, and a couple other trips, It was Joshua Tree that made them start to wear on the toes. Had I not tried to OW boulder in them one night, they'd still have complete randing on the toes...

In short, no, they're not durable if you're shoving them in cracks (basically have a mesh upper), but if you're mostly scrambling (lots of smearing, not much crack), they'll last a good while and feel like a running shoe that climbs superbly on slab. I can't oversell them enough if you're running/racing the Flatirons (scrambling included). They're the kind of shoe you can run up to the base of a Flatiron in and start climbing without breaking stride. Boulder X's, and the TX3/4s are where to go for a more hiking (not running) style approach shoe, that will pack much more durability due to the leather upper.

cmqr9001 Black wrote:

I've had a really positive experience hiking and backpacking in the Arcteryx Acrux FL approach shoe (recommend getting non GTX version because the waterproof ones get quite hot). They're built like a hiker and can handle heavy packs. Super sticky rubber as well. Bombproof construction. 

+1.  the Acrux FLs are a sleeper in this category but I really like them. After FiveTen disontinued my favorite beefy hiker approach shoes (Insights and the original Camp Fours, great job as always FiveTen, about those new Camp Fours??...) I went years looking for something as  good multiple day trips in the North Cascades and the Acrux FLs are my current go tos. I have the GTX version and I find them the most waterproof approach shoe that I have owned and among the most breathable, go figure. Of course, the Dead Bird pricing is a turn off but the quality and durability make them seem like a bargain in the long run.

The TX2 is an awesome shoe, but I wouldn't use mine for long approaches with a heavy pack, that is not what they are designed for; I consider them a descent shoe only (but my feet are wimpy).

Greg Gavin wrote: Trouty you did Jon's chacos?! AWESOME My vote for dope hiking/approacher is the La Sportiva Hyper mid gtx

Is the La Sportiva Hyper Mid GTX no longer being made?  Or are they replacing it?  They seem to be clearing them out and only have some small sizes left...

Pete Spri wrote:

Is the La Sportiva Hyper Mid GTX no longer being made?  Or are they replacing it?  They seem to be clearing them out and only have some small sizes left...

Peter I believe they're replacing them with the TX4 > https://www.backcountry.com/la-sportiva-tx4-mid-gtx-shoe-mens?s=a

Vasque - Grand Traverse

My general experience:

- 5.10 guide tennies are great for short outings but kill my feet and knees on 10+ mi days or runs. Too flat and slappy. I wore these for a long traverse between Little Bear and California in the Sangres and couldn't walk for a week, whereas I'd  have no problem with the same stats in trail runners. Sandstone slab is absolutely painful on a long day. Mine also fell apart relatively quick. I'm not a fan of 5.10 camp 4s or other offerings as they run my Achilles. Their canyoneers gave me Achilles tendinitis once.

-The old sportiva approach shoes are freaking heavy.

-TX4s are fantastic. They are designed as an approach/hiker cross with a bit more cushion and a luggier rear sole. I've run around the flatirons a lot in them, including speed runs, and done numerous long hikes. A touch of shoe goo to the front rand and they're holding strong. These are my go to if a lot of talus hopping or off trail are required.

-TX2s are more comfortable and lighter than the TX4s but less durable and not as good on slick stuff. Actually, I'm a little surprised at how long they've lasted. They flex more than the TX4s, which is meh for scrambling but a little nicer running downhill. I've done the first flatty and several other formations several times in them. Good for scrambles with trail approach.

-Scarpas and Salewa fit me funny and I don't find them particularly comfortable.

Greg Gavin wrote:

Peter I believe they're replacing them with the TX4 > https://www.backcountry.com/la-sportiva-tx4-mid-gtx-shoe-mens?s=a

I was afraid of that.  Those are way more hiker than approach shoe.  The laces dont go to the toes like the Hyper Mids... my quest continues beyond La Sportiva.

Very informative thread.

I just picked up a pair of soill approach shoes and they seem pretty nice. Not as stiff as guide tennies but more supportive than a sneaker. They are high tops, but not hiking boots, think slightly stiffer evolv cruser but in high top with lots of rubber. Laces go down pretty far, I was able to get a snug fit by adjusting them. Plan to try them out next weekend. 

Lowa Laurin Lo GTX. Checks all the boxes. Hiking, approach, scrambling, and pretty comfy for a shoe with that much support. Only con is the price.