The mid cut of these boots offers extra support and structure around the ankle, which feels super comfy when scrambling and hiking through rougher, uneven grounds. Mid-height adds stiffness for walking in crampons. We walked miles in these with strap-on crampons, ascending neve up to 60° without ankle discomfort. La Sportiva set the standards in approach shoe design with their Boulder X model. It was the go-to shoe for climbers looking to upgrade their approach shoe collection, or even to replace their battered 5-year-old Boulder X – we even know of people hoarding pairs of Boulder X in fear that they might one day become discontinued. If you can see this amount of space then you are pretty much on the way to making sure that your boots are the correct size. This space between your toes and the end of the footbed ensures that you will not stub your toes on the inside of the boot when you descend. This can be excruciatingly painful. If you can’t see this amount of space then it’s a good bet that the boots will be too small. The scarpa shoes are really similar to the LaSport shoes. I’d go with whatever feels better; Scarpa tends to fit a bit wider.

Stiff for edging and standing in aiders, light weight, excellent climbing ability, good hiking support Comfortable for hiking, good climbing performance, high quality construction, multiple insole width optionsThese boots also have 100% recycled lace, a subtle nod to the sustainable direction that La Sportiva is heading towards. The TX line is broken up into three models: TX2, TX4 and TX5, with the number depending on the weight and stiffness of the shoe (TX2 being lightweight). TX4 and TX5 models are also broken up into a low and a mid version, so that you’re able to fine tune the fit, stiffness and weight based on the intended use. So in a world blossoming with so many shapes and styles of approach shoe, why do we need another one? However, even after the most rigorous assessment and testing, there is no better way to be absolutely sure than to have the boots on your feet for an extended period of time. We therefore offer our Home Trial Period which gives you the opportunity to wear the boots around your house to give you an indication of how they feel before you venture outside. We recommend that during the Home Trial Period that you wear the boots for as long as possible and at different times of the day, wear them up and down stairs, when moving around and when resting, you can even sleep in them if you want.

Now that your boots are done up properly stand up on your tiptoes and walk on the spot on the balls of your feet as if you are walking up a steep hill. If your heels lift more than approximately 5mm from the footbed you may need to pull the laces tighter, or the boots may just be the wrong shape for you. Stand on the A4 paper with your heel pressed firmly against the wall and your foot pointed forward with the edge of your big toe aligned with the edge of the paper. These mid-cut hiking boots from La Sportiva offer reliable protection for days in the mountains where the weather and terrain can be unpredictable. You should now be able to see approximately 2 cm (about an index fingers width) of the footbed poking out in front of your toes.

Bottom line: these are a very well-built shoe that excel in a specific environment, and are probably not appropriate for other uses: This brilliant approach and everyday shoe has a technical, almost climbing shoe fit and feel making the Boulder X a good choice for outdoor professionals and instructors wanting a shoe for lower level climbs as well as walk-ins. The patented Asymmetric lacing system derives from the Mythos climbing shoe project, which gives the shoe a very precise and controlled feel on steeper ground.

La Sportiva made the Boulder X Mid GTX as a beefier, mid-height, waterproof version of the popular Boulder X approach shoe. While many approach shoes are simply subtle variations on the styles of others, the Boulder X Mid GTX stands alone as it fills a particular niche that remains empty: like the famous “lungfish” found off the coast of Madagascar that represents the evolution from fish to reptiles, this shoe fills the gap between approach shoe and mountaineering boot. The La Sportiva Boulder X is the result of years of dedication and design tweaking. They have managed to produce a shoe that not only looks great but has great levels of support and comfort. The Boulder X set the bar extremely high as the gold standard of approach shoe. But La Sportiva has been quietly tweaking designs and stealing bits from their Boulder X and climbing boot lineups to create the all new Traverse X series of approach shoes and boots. A great all-round approach shoe that is supportive and great for climbing and comes at an attractive price

La Sportiva

Note: these can perform like a minimalist mountaineering boot for light-and fast climbs, but they will not keep you warm like a proper mountain boot and they will not climb ice well, especially with aluminum strap-on crampons. Then again, Fitz Roy has been climbed in shoes like this… This test will tell you if the shape of the internal heel cup matches your heel to ensure it holds you securely, especially when ascending steep ground. We are trying to eliminate the dreaded heel blister. One major downside is construction quality. We noticed alarming construction defects early in our test period, and confirmed these fears with other users. However, we still think these shoes are worth the DIY shoe care that might be required, because of their jaw-dropping climbing performance that can eliminate the need to bring climbing shoes on many objectives. Also, the shoe is narrow, and wide-footed users report discomfort in the toe box. The Salewa Wildfire 2 is a good choice for an all-around approach shoe for those with wide feet.