The La Sportiva Boulder X is one of the best go-everywhere and do-everything approach shoe we tested. If you seek an affordable shoe that does everything well, but places more emphasis on hiking comfort and traction rather than top-notch climbing ability and lightweight, look no further.go to full review

If keeping your feet comfortable is your primary concern, the Scarpa Mescalito may be in a league of its own. If your approach is from Buttermilk road to the Grandpa Peabody, then this shoe is overkill. For those humping big loads to far off objectives, or those with a sizable commute to their favorite crag who aren't willing to sacrifice comfort, there are few contenders to this shoe.go to full review

The Scarpa Crux is a great all-rounder. If you want to save space in your crowded closet, they're a great choice, especially if you have a narrower foot. While it doesn't take home any awards, we highly recommend giving these kicks a try.go to full review

With so many quality manufacturers out there, sometimes we find ourselves splitting hairs to choose the best. Not so when it comes to the La Sportiva TX4, which is why we awarded it our Top Pick for Heavy Loads. We feel this shoe easily stands with the best, most versatile approach shoe of the bunch. Friends and acquaintances alike would always comment on their own positive experiences with the La Sportiva Traverse Line.go to full review

In our miles of experience with the La Sportiva TX line, we've concluded that the TX Guide is the most balanced shoe in the bunch. We appreciate the stiffness and durability that harkens back to the Ganda combined with trail running shoe features for an all-around smoother ride. Anecdotally, we can say they are a perfect approach shoe for climbs like the Rainbow Wall or other long multi-pitch routes in Red Rocks. The TX Guides allowed for confident boulder hoping and kept us feeling secure..." go to full review

A good approach shoe can turn a long slog to the cliff into an enjoyable walk in the woods. In the past, our lead tester guided for an entire summer in a blown-out pair of approach shoes, shouldering heavy packs and putting lots of miles over four months, leaving him hobbling for most of the fall. Don't fool around with your feet! Even these lightweight shoes have plenty of support, so even the most weight-conscious climbers have no excuse not to treat their feet nice. Call us short-sighted..." go to full review

All approach shoes wear out, and some things to keep an eye on will be the heel cuff—it’s supple, making on-off super easy (I leave the shoes tied and just use my finger as a shoehorn), which is great while cragging. But in the past, approach shoes with soft cuffs have also tended to fray more quickly. The sole is also very thin—like rock-shoe-level thin—but Scarpa is claiming the SuperGum rubber is three times as durable as regular butyl rubber. We’ll see, but for now the cuffs are holding..." go to full review

As for me and my pair, the mountains are calling. My first days of testing involved long approaches, big routes, and torturous descents in Red Rock, Nevada. One day included a 2,000-foot approach, a 900-foot climb, and a nearly 3,000-foot descent during which the Tag LTs were either on my feet or on my harness for nearly 11.5 hours. For as light as they are (7.5 ounces per shoe), the midsole felt more supportive than I expected. My feet were sore at the end of the day, sure, but they could..." go to full review

The rubber recipe—one part Mega-Grip for the heel, and one part Idrogrip for the rest of the sole—is as sticky as those pesky little burrs that get stuck to your socks and shorts and everywhere else when you tromp through the high grass. The stiffness and stickiness mean you can stand on your toes and even do some edging, while still feeling like you have good support (which is part of why they were so great for my injured foot). They work well for jamming in fist- to hand-sized cracks, too..." go to full review

Overall, the new Scarpa Rapids represent a great compromise between an approach shoe and a trail runner. They excel in mountain terrain and will continue to be my go-to shoe when I minimize my packing. Yes, they have some compromises, but no gear can be perfect at two very specialized pursuits. The Scarpa Rapids run, climb, hike, and scramble quite well, whether you’re in the mountains, the forest, or the desert. For missions that combine a fast approach with scrambling and/or low-fifth-..." go to full review