Mens TX4 EVO Leather Technical Approach/Hiking Shoes

Good quality Looks great

I wanted shoes for alpine hiking & scrambling in the summer. I usually wear hiking boots (Zamberlan, Crispi) which provide good grip, protection from scree and talus, and perform well in steep rocky terrain. But wanted something lighter and more breathable (GTX not needed). These shoes have a stiff sole which is needed for more technical terrain but overall very comfortable. I like the leather upper and full rubber rand. Lacing systems is OK and the tongue nicely padded. Impressed so far! I normally wear size 10 in hiking boots (43 EU) but sized up to 10.5 (43.5 EU) and happy with the fit.

The shoe is relatively high quality. The upper is very nice; it is conformal leather. The shoe itself has extremely high traction, and it is convenient that the sole separates from the upper for resoling because (more on this) I would not want to break these in again. The break in for the shoe is absolutely miserable. For me, anyways, I got horrendous blisters every time I wore these with a properly sized shoe for about the first 20 miles of walking/jogging/light climbing. Maybe I sized wrong; not sure, though I tried multiple sizes before buying. But I've tried approach shoes before, and sized these about the same as I usually size slightly snug fit trail running/approach shoes, and basically crush my foot in climbing shoes, and these were by far the worst break in I've had for a shoe of any sort. So in my experience, the break in for this shoe is not for the faint of heart. That aside, the laces are very low quality; they are too short to effectively double knot, but when single knotted they come undone easily. Surprising for a 200+ dollar shoe that they couldn't put decent laces in, as that's typically (for climbing shoes anyways) one of the many strengths of La Sportiva products in my experience.

this shoe runs small in length started with size 10 went to 10.5 still short toes touch front of shoe normal walking. Want to try 11 but worried about heal lock. May try a different brand. Shoe quality Excellent very disappointed they don't fit. Amazon returns also excellent. Advice order up 1/2 size at least. Watch heal lift and toe touch.

I wear a size 13 street shoe, but I wore a size 48 (14) in La Sportiva’s Boulder X, and I would wear a 48 in this shoe too — except they don’t make it in that size. Nor can I find Boulder X’s in 48 anymore either. Goodbye, La Sportiva. Hello, Salewa!