We loved the stiff sole of the TX3, and the burly outer lugs kept us stable on the most uneven terrain in the Sierra. I believe the uppers of the Acrux FL will survive more abuse than the lighter mesh of the TX3; look at pictures of both shoes and you’ll see the difference in the materials of the uppers. After a few trudges up and off some Sierra peaks, we never experienced a grain of the kitty-litter-like dirt the Sierra is known for making its way into our shoes.

Just like any other running shoe, when you take it into vertical and technical terrain of consequence, you might wish you were wearing a more technical approach shoe like the Scarpa Crux. The La Sportiva TX2 Evo weighs a little more at around 13 ounces per shoe and is our preferred lightweight option because it provides weight savings while also climbing and hiking very well. To save money we’d bought shoes online and had them sent directly to an American friend who was canyoneering with us.In the past, we've found approach shoes to be too specialized, leaving us with a pair for short approaches and a pair for long missions. Sizing and Weight: I wear a size 46 in the La Sportiva TX3, which is a full size smaller than I wear in the La Sportiva mountain running lineup. The La Sportiva TX3 is an approach shoe by design that doubles as an all-day hiking shoe without missing a beat. This shoe climbs like a dream, thanks to its thin and sensitive sole, precise toe box fit, and rubber toe cap.

If you need an approach shoe primarily for hiking, you could probably just get a (likely cheaper) hiking shoe. We try to increase our certainty in this subjective metric by asking for as many user testimonials as possible to determine if the shoe fits a wide range of users or just a minority. Rounding out the collection, La Sportiva also sells the TX Guide and TX Guide Leather, a sensitive and high-performance option for technical climbing and scrambling, as well as the mid-height TXS boot for backpacking and multi-day alpine missions. 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. This shoe can do it all, from climbing moderate rock pitches to hiking through rugged terrain and aid climbing on big walls.I am planning to use these shoes mainly for wet canyoneering day trips with long walk-ins, and occasionally for multi-day wet canyoneering trips. Unfortunately, the shape of the TX3’s toe box made for a strange and unideal fit with my Petzl Leopard FL aluminum crampons. Size down a half or full size from your street shoe, and you'll get better climbing performance, but this can become uncomfortable on long approaches. But I feel more secure in the TX3 when compared to the TX2 and I think that is mostly because of the fit. The TX3 is also a bit of a sponge in wet weather, as the thick protective upper coupled with the STB Control rand doesn’t allow for drainage or quick drying.

This performance is enhanced by the use of Vibram MegaGrip rubber, which is also found on the La Sportiva TX4 and the Scarpa Rapid and Crux. The Black Diamond Session is the lightest model in our review, weighing in at around 10 ounces per shoe in size 13 (our lead tester has huge feet). Considering the negligible performance differences of the two, we are linking to the Mescalito under the Mescaltio Planet becomes more readily available. Arc’teryx broke into the approach shoe market with their Acrux series, which featured a unique sock-like liner and appealed to the needs of weight-conscious alpine climbers. I like the more generous forefoot flex of the TX3, whereas the Acrux FL is slightly stiffer and thus more supportive (but that’s on a scale of low-cut hiking shoes, not “stiff” like you’d see in boots).

While this shoe is designed to be lightweight and minimalist, La Sportiva don’t appear to have achieved this by sacrificing durability. The TX3 clocks in at 1 pound 4 ounces for a pair of the women’s model, which is fairly average but still perfectly suitable for dangling on your harness up a climb or stuffing into a backpack on a longer ascent. The former is designed to be stiff for long days standing in aiders on aid climbs and big walls, and the latter is stiff for long-distance hiking performance through rugged terrain. The regular version is marginally heavier, contains less recycled material, but includes Scarpa's "Super Gum" rubber; otherwise the two shoes are identical.

What we like: Great combination of hiking and climbing performance; Megagrip sole is very sticky and durable. With a stiffer last than the La Sportiva models and the same Vibram rubber, these shoes are great for edging and crack climbing. I’m also yet to use them in really muddy conditions, but the tread pattern looks like it may not be the best for providing grip in mud. I actually warrantied two pairs of these, for one had a heel delamination where there is a softer foam, and the other had lug delamination on the midsole. The forefoot (yellow foam) is made using a firm 40A EVA blend and the heel (black foam) is made using a softer 35A EVA blend.If for some reason you need an approach shoe that can handle delicate edging or higher-end climbing performance, I think a lower volume fit and more sensitive midsole like that on the Cruzer Classic might make more sense. 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. to be the ideal fit for the TX Guide, and I probably could have sized up to a 47 (13) due to the low volume toe box. All of this comes for less than most other approach shoes on the market, making this pair an easy choice for the best value.