Mid approach shoes to replace LS TX4s

[rmcpherson]

La Sportiva, like most shoe companies, has a frustrating habit of discontinuing their best shoes and replacing them with apparently worse and costlier versions. This appears to be the case with the TX4 evos which, even on their website, have abysmal reviews. If anyone else who loved the previous TX4s has found a worthy replacement I would love to know. Also, if anyone has tried the new TX4s or TX5s a first-hand review would be appreciated.

There was a recent thread on trail runners for scrambling which has some great information but, having tried them, I have found that I have a tendency to roll loose rocks directly onto my ankles a few times per season. For me it's not the ankle support but the protection of the exposed ankle bones that lead me to prefer mid-rise shoes for scrambling through choss.

I am not wedded to La Sportiva shoes only, although they tend to fit my foot shape well.

[Fast Jimm]

These are pretty light (17 ounces for size 46) and hold up to nasty rock well so far- took them to Arizona for some gnarly but brief class 3. I've probably walked at least a couple hundred miles in my first pair and they're holding up well and while I'm not sure about their ongoing availability status, I bought a total of 3 pairs to avoid what you're running into. Love the look and feel, too.

TX Hike Mid GTX Hiking Boot
https://www.backcountry.com/la-sportiva ... ns-lspz2f7

[nyker]

I hear you, they do in fact have that habit and it annoying.

Have you looked at any Salewa approach shoes?

[DeTour]

Is re-soling the old TX4’s an option? Rock & Resole, Boulder. But - it might take them 3 months to get it done. Best done in winter.

[Rampaging Baloths]

La Sportiva, like most shoe companies, has a frustrating habit of discontinuing their best shoes and replacing them with apparently worse and costlier versions. This appears to be the case with the TX4 evos which, even on their website, have abysmal reviews. If anyone else who loved the previous TX4s has found a worthy replacement I would love to know. Also, if anyone has tried the new TX4s or TX5s a first-hand review would be appreciated.

There was a recent thread on trail runners for scrambling which has some great information but, having tried them, I have found that I have a tendency to roll loose rocks directly onto my ankles a few times per season. For me it's not the ankle support but the protection of the exposed ankle bones that lead me to prefer mid-rise shoes for scrambling through choss.

I am not wedded to La Sportiva shoes only, although they tend to fit my foot shape well.

I have contemplated this as well.

I am looking to try some Scarpa Mescalito, which I have heard promising things about from my Reddit deep dives. I haven't tried them myself but when my last TX4 pair disintegrates, I will try these I think. Might be worth a shot.

[rmcpherson]

Is re-soling the old TX4’s an option? Rock & Resole, Boulder. But - it might take them 3 months to get it done. Best done in winter.

That's an interesting idea. I've used Type 2 Repairs to have my climbing shoes resoled with good results. The issue with approach or hiking shoes is that the upper takes a beating and usually starts disintegrating on me by the time the sole wears out, but my TX4s uppers are actually in decent shape still so I may try that this winter.

[rmcpherson]

La Sportiva, like most shoe companies, has a frustrating habit of discontinuing their best shoes and replacing them with apparently worse and costlier versions. This appears to be the case with the TX4 evos which, even on their website, have abysmal reviews. If anyone else who loved the previous TX4s has found a worthy replacement I would love to know. Also, if anyone has tried the new TX4s or TX5s a first-hand review would be appreciated.

There was a recent thread on trail runners for scrambling which has some great information but, having tried them, I have found that I have a tendency to roll loose rocks directly onto my ankles a few times per season. For me it's not the ankle support but the protection of the exposed ankle bones that lead me to prefer mid-rise shoes for scrambling through choss.

I am not wedded to La Sportiva shoes only, although they tend to fit my foot shape well.

I have contemplated this as well.

I am looking to try some Scarpa Mescalito, which I have heard promising things about from my Reddit deep dives. I haven't tried them myself but when my last TX4 pair disintegrates, I will try these I think. Might be worth a shot.

Those look like they could work well, and at least check all my boxes superficially. I like that they have Vibram Mega-Grip and look well-made. I'd need to try some one to know whether they fit my foot shape. It seems hard to source the mid version without ordering from Europe based on a quick search.

[JerJerBinks]

I'd be weary buying shoes from Europe. If they aren't a good fit, might be tough to return. For me the biggest consideration when buying shoes has become how hard it will be to return them if they don't fit it I don't like them.
I've personally just picked up some Scarpa Ribelle run. Now these aren't approach shoes, so they're sort of off topic, but they have a light weight rand similar to mountaineering boots or approach shoes and a built in sock gaiter. I'm a fan. Not sure I'm a fan of the pull cord lace system, but I'm trying to be open minded. I liked these shoes so much I talked my bro into wanting them too. We decided he'd keep the original pair and I ordered a different color, from a different website. Identical model and identical tag sizes, but these shoes are absolutely not the same size. To be fair one pair came from Sierra and the other frim steep n cheap, so it's possible there's some kind of defect or at the very least they've been mislabeled.

[SandH]

I have TX4 EVOs and love them. More than a year old now, I don’t know if they’ve changed them in that time. But I’m also a perfect LS size 47 fit, can wear them immediately out of the box, and have currently 6 shoes/boots in my quiver, everything from mountaineering to rock climbing shoes.

[EvanKBlack]

I also enjoy the tx4s and have set up an ebay alert--ebay is how I obtained previous pairs, though now that they're discontinued, I find fewer offerings than before. Just careful attention to photos of the soles should find some decent ones. I in fact buy most of my outdoorsy shoes via ebay--trail runners, some GTX higher-cut boots for snowshoeing.