La Sportiva TX3 Approach Shoe Brown Size:

Product Information

With a mesh-constructed upper, the TX3 Women’s approach shoe is designed for breathability and comfort over rough terrain. After trying on a couple of other options, none of which fitted me well, the La Sportiva TX3 was suggested. While we concluded that the lighter TX2 easily meets the needs of the average climber, we just couldn't deny the TX3's performance in rough terrain. If you want a really good approach shoe that climbs well on mountain routes and on easy trad then they're perfect but after taking them to the Cuillin I was left wishing I had slightly beefier shoes with me.

However, the Crux does not match the performance of the TX3 (or Guide Tennie) on technical rock—the shoe is too roomy to contort in cracks, and the soft, layered foam of the sole offers very little precision and power on edges.In fact, in our opinion, the only shoe that outperforms the TX3 on both trail and rock is its leather counterpart, the La Sportiva TX4. If you are looking for an inexpensive approach shoe for aid climbing, the La Sportiva Boulder X is a highly supportive and comfortable shoe that excels at standing in aiders and crushing miles on the trail.

I like the outsole, the comfortable fit, and the very breathable uppers–three of my top priorities in hiking and scrambling shoes. If you climb in a venue where short approaches lead to long and difficult routes with tricky walk-off descents, these shoes are unbeatable. The upper on the TX3 isn’t the best at draining or drying, but on dry days under 85 degrees, these shoes have become my first choice in footwear.However, a number of sections of the mesh upper have started to grow thin, and I’ve worn holes in the bunion area on both shoes (I don’t have bunions per se, but my feet jut out a bit just below my big toe).

Its light design makes it a cinch to bring along on multi-pitch climbs, and its supportive construction makes for an excellent alpine companion. In this shoe, we can confidently push on small edges, smear on scary slabs, and jam into cracks without fear of popping off the rock.All of this comes for less than most other approach shoes on the market, making this pair an easy choice for the best value. Supportive and comfortable for use in remote locations, on approaches to alpine climbs, or while trekking through rough terrain, this shoe is highly versatile and comfortable across a wide range of uses. For the TX Guide La Sportiva relies on Vibram TXG technology, a combination of Vibram’s Idrogrip and Megagrip compounds. There are incremental differences in the performance aspects you asked about, but those may be significant factors for you, depending on how you plan to use the shoes.

The result is a shoe that strikes a great balance of trail comfort and climbing performance that makes a great option for a quiver-of-one approach shoe.There’s no explanation given for that difference, although they don’t outline which size of each was weighed. The TX3 is built and designed as an approach shoe, but for this review, I’m going to focus on the performance of the TX3 as a dedicated hiker. I’ve hauled gear, food, and water for 3 (65lbs) without issue, and have hopped around on talus and scree that felt like flat land. The padding on the TX2 falls between the TX3 and Cruzer, but it is still a bit minimal for my taste, especially if I’m wearing a heavy pack when approaching bigger alpine routes.