The one aspect I really like is the sock-like upper that hugs my foot without the need to tie down my laces tight. This simple feature makes it so I can slip the Five Tennie on and off without bothering to tie or untie my laces, which is obviously nice when you’re doing pitches with your partner. Who would you rather climb with, someone who spends 10 minutes tying and untying their shoes while sitting on your rope tarp as you respectfully wait to just pull the damn rope? Or someone who doesn..." go to full review

During my first outing in the Guide Tennie, it didn’t take long for me to appreciate the stiff, compression-molded EVA midsole and it’s excellent underfoot protection. This shield allowed me to be less concerned about where I placed my foot while hiking, as pointy, irregular rocks no longer threatened the bottoms of my feet. A wide, cushy heal further adds to the shoe’s comfort and helped provide welcome stability while navigating uneven terrain with a pack on. In fact, the Guide Tennie is..." go to full review

Overall the Arakys is a great dry weather approach shoe that will cope with most terrain apart from wet mud and slick grass. They work well as an approach/scrambling shoe if you like the minimalist feel and as a general ‘knocking about’ camp, the crag or town shoe. They look quite funky so I’d go for a bright colour if you have the choice!go to full review

Overall the Mescalitos have become my all-time favourite approach shoes, if Scarpa were to stop making them I’d go out and buy another pair like a shot. This is the shoe that will work for crag approach in the UK, chilling at the cafe or pub and then see you right along an alpine rock ridge. Better yet it will continue to do this for years.go to full review

The weight penalty is noticeable but not an issue in actual use and the Mescalito Mids feel equally as agile as their lighter sibling. For hill walking and general UK scrambling they have proved excellent. Days out in the Lakes incorporating the likes of Pinnacle Ridge are ideally suited to these boots. The Goretex lining proves to be a real bonus as the wet grass and damp approach walks of a typical UK summer are shrugged off. My concerns about the Mescalito Mid GTXs being over hot because..." go to full review

The Evolv Cruzer Psyche is an excellent lightweight shoe to clip to your harness for easy access multi-pitch routes or as a stylish alternative to your normal cragging shoe. As the least expensive shoe in this review, we believe this is a great beginner approach shoe or addition to your quiver if you're looking for a basic, comfy slipper with sticky rubber.go to full review

The Technician is part of Black Diamond's first approach shoe line-up, and they're not a bad start. The main issue we have is its stiffness. It's pretty uncomfortable to walk uphill in these shoes, which is what we're usually doing in our approach shoes. After that, they have above-average climbing ability, making them a decent crag shoe but not our first choice for big alpine missions.go to full review

The Boulder X's scores in climbing ability and weight are low compared to its competitors, but we find that most climbers don't spend nearly as much time approaching on technical terrain as they do on manicured trails. For the average climber, the La Sportiva Boulder X is a decent choice that will keep your feet comfortable and support, all for a great price. There are shoes at similar prices that have better overall scores though, so if you might be venturing into varied types of terrain,..." go to full review

The Scarpa Gecko caught our attention right off the bat for its fresh look. Despite earning one of the highest overall scores in this review, the Gecko failed to win an award from our editors due to its inability to excel in any one category. We do believe it makes a great all-around approach shoe for the average climber, though; it has above-average climbing ability, decent comfort and support, and durable design. The Gecko missed the mark for our favorite shoe, though we wouldn't hesitate..." go to full review

The Arc'teryx Konseal FL 2 are durable and well designed, with a stiff midsole and a toe box designed for precision. The abrasion-resistant nylon upper and wrap-around rubber rand stabilized and protected our feet in rocky terrain while the sticky rubber soles and overall stiffness made for a solid climbing shoe. We were not as impressed with the all-day hiking comfort of these shoes and wouldn't recommend them for long approaches. They don't provide much room for the feet to swell and don't..." go to full review