La Sportiva TX Guide Approach Shoe - Women's Carbon/Hibiscus, 38.0

"What Our Gearhead® Experts Are Saying:""I have been guiding routes and moving through technical mountain terrain in the TX Guide Approach Shoe for a full season, and it genuinely handles both the approach and the climb without asking you to compromise on either. The dual compound Vibram outsole is impressively sticky on slab, and the to-the-toe lacing locks the foot in with a precision that most approach shoes only gesture toward.""The approach is long, and the climbing starts where the trail runs out. The La Sportiva TX Guide Approach Shoe was built for exactly that transition, fusing the cushioning and running-inspired fit of a mountain running shoe with the lacing precision and sticky rubber performance of a technical approach shoe. For climbers, guides, and mountain enthusiasts who spend equal time hiking and climbing, it is the shoe that refuses to make you choose between comfort on the way in and performance on the wall. To-the-toe lacing wraps the foot in a secure, precise fit that eliminates slop on technical footwork, while the ultra-weave jacquard mesh upper adapts to different foot volumes without sacrificing structure or abrasion resistance. A dual-density compressed EVA midsole runs softer in the heel for all-day cushioning on the approach and firmer in the forefoot for sensitivity and edging precision on technical terrain, backed by a TPU torsion shank for lateral stability. The dual compound Vibram outsole puts Mega-Grip rubber at the heel for durability and IdroGrip rubber at the forefoot for ultra-sticky performance on rock, with V-brake lugs and an Impact Brake System that handles the descent as confidently as the climb. Vegan throughout, the TX Guide Approach Shoe earns its place in any mountain quiver."

Price: $119.40 from Backcountry