Collecting every piece of gear takes a little time.
We think it's worth the wait.

Nice choice!
Give us a moment to collect those options for you.

Black Diamond Session Men Approach Shoe
  • Black Diamond Session Men Approach Shoe
  • Black Diamond Session Men Approach Shoe
  • Black Diamond Session Men Approach Shoe
  • Black Diamond Session Men Approach Shoe
  • Black Diamond Session Men Approach Shoe
  • Black Diamond Session Men Approach Shoe
  • Black Diamond Session Men Approach Shoe
  • Black Diamond Session Men Approach Shoe
  • Black Diamond Session Men Approach Shoe
  • Black Diamond Session Men Approach Shoe
  • Black Diamond Session Men Approach Shoe
  • Black Diamond Session Men Approach Shoe
  • Black Diamond Session Men Approach Shoe

Session Men

Rating

My vote: None ( 2.8 avg )

Description

Engineered to send in style, the Black Diamond Session combines ultimate comfort with performance features that seamlessly transitions from the gym to the crag and then out to the city streets. You’ll first notice how the shoe slips on thanks to the stretch-fit heel for easy on/off transitions. That heel also folds down with ease for slip on functionality. Then the integrated bootie wraps your foot like a sock, while the breathable knit upper regulates the temperature and stretches where you need while on the move. The tuned EVA midsole keeps you cushioned and stable, while the Black Diamond BlackLabel-Street sticky rubber adds grip for approaches or commutes. Finally, webbing loops provide tagging or stowing options for trails that end at the cliff.
  • Rubber toe protection
  • Comfortable sock-like bootie fit
  • Elastic heel strap for easy on/off at the gym or crag
  • Webbing loops for various tagging options
 

Retail price

US$ 129.95
Weight

Half Pair - size 10
284 grams (0 lb 10 oz)

Full Pair - size 10
568 grams (1 lb 4 oz)

Style

Style

Running

A running inspired shoe, designed to excel on technical trails. These shoes may have less rubber lasting and a smaller climbing zone on the sole but tend to be on the lighter and less bulky side of the spectrum, similar to a classic technical trail runner.


Casual

Great for flat ground, short approaches, and slabby scrambling. Casual approach shoes are great daily wear for folks that find themselves scrambling and hiking a lot in between trips to the crag and the grocery store.


Technical

A more rugged shoe with more lasting and typically a thicker sole. Made to handle the most technical terrain and talus fields. Technical shoes can also have more ankle coverage and waterproof coatings.

Casual
Volume

Volume

Size vs Gender

Volume refers to the overall sizing of the shoe in relation to the size of the foot from top to bottom and side to side. Many brands make a Mens/Unisex shoe and some have both a Men’s and Women’s model. Brands are slowly updating their language away from gender to Low/High volume -- recognizing that any person may have a high or low volume foot.

High (men/unisex)
Closure

Closure

Flat Laces

Flat laces are found most often on casual or running shoes, as their low bulk helps with aesthetic and having a lower profile.


Cord Laces

Cord laces are found on the majority of approach shoes. Their rounded shape makes them more durable than flat laces and their woven structure makes them much stronger.


Webbing & Buckles

Though fairly uncommon, some approach shoes are made to be closed via a combination of threaded flat webbing and a tightening buckle.

Cord laces
Rise

Rise

Low vs Mid

The rise of an approach shoe mostly affects the support and coverage of the ankle but can also limit articulation and range of motion. Most approach shoes have a low rise. A mid rise should be chosen when scrambling through large loose scree or boulder fields is a regular need or when in wet or snowy environments where slippery surfaces can benefit from more ankle support.

Low
Features

Features

Climbing Zone

The climbing zone is a quintessential part of an approach shoe; without it, we consider a shoe a hiker or trail runner. The climbing zone is a flat or flattened area of the sole directly beneath the toes on every approach shoe. This zone is specifically designed to not have lugs for grip and instead is intended for smearing and edging on rock during an approach to a technical climb. Some manufacturers add splits or shallow texture to this zone, but it is not lugged as in a traditional hiker.


Foldable Heel

A foldable heel is designed to flatten into the shoe so it may be slid on and off easily similar to a clog or a croc. This is becoming more common with newer models and is most likely to be seen in casual shoes than hiking or running.


Low Toe Lacing

Low toe lacing is a feature where the closure of the approach shoe extends greatly towards the toes as compared to traditional hiking shoes. This will most usually be an extra 3-5 extra lacings across the shoe that are usually partially across the knuckles of the toes. The advantage of lacing extending this low is that it allows a greater tightening of the shoe around the toes when terrain requires technical footwork like slab climbing or crack jamming.


Stowable

An approach shoe with this feature either has a built-in elastic or webbing or an accessory strap or band that is designed to connect the shoes to each other when they aren’t worn. This allows them to be hung from a harness or bag on a multipitch climb. This is fairly uncommon and usually found on light-weight shoes.


Vegan

Since there is no standard in the shoe industry for what exactly qualifies a shoe as ‘Vegan’, we only list this if the manufacturer has stated it in the product description.


Waterproof

Refers to an applied coating or material technology that either makes a shoe resistant or impervious to water. Not every manufacturer tests waterproofing in the same way so this can be difficult to compare. We list items as ‘Waterproof’ when the manufacturer states they have one or more of these technologies.

Climbing Zone
Foldable Heel
Sizing US Men: 6 - 14 (half sizes) ­
Materials & Construction Upper: Polyester knit

Midsole: EVA midsole ­­

Sole: BD BlackLabel-Street Rubber

Last: BD Relaxed Approach

No reviews yet.

UK Climbing Gear Review no rating given just a review

The Session is a shoe that you're likely to fall in love with (and if you don't believe me, just try a pair on). From the moment you slip a pair on there's an instant 'oooh' factor as the mesh/knit uppers mould around your foot. Whilst bouldering and sport climbing, indoors or out, its easy slip-on design makes it a pleasure to use - not least because of its lightweight, comfortable and breathable nature. It is also a rare example of a product that manages to combine lightness and durability, hence this is a shoe that I can see being re-soled several times before it eventually wears out. Were there to be a drawback it would be that it isn't the most supportive shoe on technical terrain, but given that this isn't what it was designed for it would seem unfair to judge it too harshly on this count.

Black Diamond Performance Lifestyle Shoes
Session Approach Shoe Review
Hiking & Climbing Approach Shoes by Black Diamond
Session and Circuit Approach Shoes