Class 4 Shoe Recommendations

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Ed_Groves
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Re: Class 4 Shoe Recommendations

Post by Ed_Groves »

climbingcue wrote: Fri May 24, 2024 7:33 am
Ed_Groves wrote: Fri May 24, 2024 7:24 am Regarding approach shoes, what brand would accommodate wide feet while still providing decent traction? I need a true wide shoe. For example, I tried on some La Sportiva wide hiking shoes a couple of years ago and they were too narrow, especially in the toe box.
A quick google search came up with this.

https://www.outdoorgearlab.com/topics/c ... oach-shoes

This review says the Scarpa Mescalito Planet is a great shoe for wide feet. No personal experience, but I think outdoor gear lab does a good job.
Thank you, Climbingcue. I have googled some reviews but I wanted to gather some opinions from trustworthy sources on this site as well.

I appreciate everyone's input.
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Monster5
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Re: Class 4 Shoe Recommendations

Post by Monster5 »

Strongly recommend against traditional approach shoes in favor of aggressive trail runners like the Mutants. Approach shoe necessity is largely for mental comfort when technique can suffice instead.

Approach shoes generally aren't comfortable on hiking trails with stiff uppers to cause hot spots, minimal cushion, minimal drop, and no lugs to help out with the scree and loose dirt. Furthermore, the hard wearing compounds in the TX2- TX4s Vibram soles are great early on, but become quite slick as they wear down.

I switched over VJ Maxx and XTRM2 for heavy Flatiron use, and they've blown away all approach shoes and technical trail runners I've ever owned, which is essentially the entire selection. The downside of softer rubber with better grip is that it doesn't last as long. It does remain grippy, which is more than most approach shoes can claim.
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Re: Class 4 Shoe Recommendations

Post by zootloopz »

Monster5 wrote: Fri May 24, 2024 8:49 am Strongly recommend against traditional approach shoes in favor of aggressive trail runners like the Mutants. Approach shoe necessity is largely for mental comfort when technique can suffice instead.
Chiming in to second this opinion. I use my Mutants in the flatirons and my Helios 3s for class 4 alpine. Approach shoes are overkill unless you are considering edging some 5.4+ slab. I'd recommend finding a high quality trail runner with a comfortable but snugger fit where your foot isn't sliding around. Aka don't bring your Altras.
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Re: Class 4 Shoe Recommendations

Post by JacobW »

For wide feet, I'd recommend checking out some Topo athletics. They're wide, like Altra's, nut have a drop to them. They're also incredibly grippy, I do most of my scrambling in a pair of these.
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Re: Class 4 Shoe Recommendations

Post by Jorts »

climbingcue wrote: Fri May 24, 2024 7:33 am This review says the Scarpa Mescalito Planet is a great shoe for wide feet. No personal experience, but I think outdoor gear lab does a good job.
Yes.

There are a fair number of disciples in this forum biased toward specific brands. Some even sponsored by specific brands right Justin? I am not one of them. Scarpa generally has wider lasts available than brands with similar offerings. I like Salewa, Scarpa and La Sportiva because I have been blessed with the European goldilocks gnome foot that seems to fit comfortably in shoes from every brand. But I've found Scarpa has a bend towards being the widest.

Re: trail running shoes vs approach shoes

Approach shoes are usually more rigid which you might find more comforting with edging. The mutants bridge the gap well between the two though. They're just way narrow compared to what you are looking for.
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cedica
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Re: Class 4 Shoe Recommendations

Post by cedica »

Jorts wrote: Fri May 24, 2024 12:45 pm (...) I have been blessed with the European goldilocks gnome foot (...)
:lol: :lol: :lol: The adage is "una faccia, una razza, una zampa", thanks to you...
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Re: Class 4 Shoe Recommendations

Post by justiner »

cedica wrote: Fri May 24, 2024 1:20 pm :lol: :lol: :lol: The adage is "una faccia, una razza, una zampa", thanks to you...
Sounds like the 2025 Sportiva mountain running lineup
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Re: Class 4 Shoe Recommendations

Post by seannunn »

Briere wrote: Thu May 23, 2024 9:53 pm
seannunn wrote: Thu May 23, 2024 6:37 pm If you are really concerned, you can always use APPROACH shoes for the APPROACH, then pull out some true rock climbing shoes for crux sections. We did that on Sunlight last year; probably overkill, but it was amazing how much less trepidation I had that last few hundred feet in a pair of Black Diamond rock shoes.

Sean Nunn
Personally, rock climbing shoes would feel super awkward on Sunlight (and all Class 3's); maybe expect the summit block, since it's mostly Class 3. Even then to save weight I just wore my normal trail running shoes without issue and did the summit block too. Normally for Class 4 stuff I use approach shoes like others are saying though.
As I said, it may have been overkill. From what I had read about the exposure on Sunlight (WAY overblown in my opinion, unless you plan to do a headstand on the tippy top) I just wanted to be sure I had the best traction available. My brother got the idea from seeing someone switch shoes on Little Bear once they got to the hourglass.

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Re: Class 4 Shoe Recommendations

Post by Ed_Groves »

zootloopz wrote: Fri May 24, 2024 9:15 am
Monster5 wrote: Fri May 24, 2024 8:49 am Strongly recommend against traditional approach shoes in favor of aggressive trail runners like the Mutants. Approach shoe necessity is largely for mental comfort when technique can suffice instead.
Chiming in to second this opinion. I use my Mutants in the flatirons and my Helios 3s for class 4 alpine. Approach shoes are overkill unless you are considering edging some 5.4+ slab. I'd recommend finding a high quality trail runner with a comfortable but snugger fit where your foot isn't sliding around. Aka don't bring your Altras.
Thanks for the point of view from both of you. I had read some opinions of others who like trail runners instead of approach shoes.

You have all given me plenty to think about.
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Re: Class 4 Shoe Recommendations

Post by Wildernessjane »

Just another point of view on approach shoes versus trail runners: I prefer the stiffer sole of an approach shoe, especially when I’m going to be boulder hopping or in loose scree at all (which is the case on a lot of the 13ers and more difficult 14ers). I really tried to love trail runners but I felt like they really slowed me down in this type of terrain. I now use them only for class 2 hikes. Approach shoes have come a long way and there are many options available that are comfortable and every bit as durable as trail runners. Also, there are hybrid approach/hiking shoes and approach/trail runners. For what it’s worth, I can’t recommend Salewa enough. I contacted them about an issue I was having and they’d sent out a brand new pair before I’d even gotten their email response.
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Re: Class 4 Shoe Recommendations

Post by dannyg23 »

I think it comes down to which type of shoe is most comfortable for you, and so unfortunately you have to try them. I know people that are (psychologically) uncomfortable scrambling in trail runners, and so they need approach shoes. They are more similar to a climbing shoe and so they can feel more secure. I think that would be the case for most 14ers - although I would debate that point on a slab (Flatiron) where edging is not helpful. The downside, and why many of us (Monster included) don't use approach shoes, is that they are not great for either running fast or long distances on your feet since they are so stiff. Performance wise, certain trail runners are almost as solid as a softer climbing shoe (like mythos or something).

I find that the terrain for which a trail runner is not going to cut it and climbing shoes are overkill is kind of mythological. And so approach shoes are kind of silly to me. This is just my opinion though - and I admit that I place an undue importance on scrambling relative to most people. There are plenty of climbers I know that find approach shoes valuable. So... I don't think you will be able to successfully solicit a worthwhile recommendation from anyone else. You just need to see what you like.
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Re: Class 4 Shoe Recommendations

Post by mtnkub »

oh, nevermind. the la sportiva mutants. (thought mutants was a general term for new comfy approach shoes / well climbing runners).
Last edited by mtnkub on Wed May 29, 2024 7:50 pm, edited 1 time in total.