La Sportiva TX 3 Approach Shoes comparison

[Cameron M]

I can’t find any reviews for this product. It appears to be about the same weight as the Wildcat, and half the weight of the Boulder X, but is listed in the “climbing/access” category on the La Sportive site. I am interested in a shoe for mixed terrain, off-trail, high-route worthy. The Boulder X seems ideal except for the extra weight and lack of porosity (hot). The Wildcat is listed as their most cushioned shoe, so for long trail-only it is probably best. The Xplorer also looks interesting except that they are quitting it. Can anyone offer some insight or experience?

[Marc Dalessio]

I have the TX2s and I love them. Spent the week working on boulders in Big Sur and they handled great. Lightweight (I carried them on my backpack in the mornings as it was really wet), comfy, breath well, and they really stuck to the rocks. Despite being so light my feet felt really protected. Like vibram-soled tough slippers.

[Mitchell Ebbott]

Both the TX3 and the TX2 look fantastic. Marc, does the TX2 have any sort of rock plate in the sole to protect the underfoot?

[Marc Dalessio]

No rock plate, but I spent six or more hours a day standing or hopping back and forth on volcanic rocks in them this week and never felt anything through the soles so they offer decent protection. La Sportiva has a good history with approach and climbing shoes so I would assume they’ve thought it through.

They have a funny shape to them from above that most online images don’t really show:

They also come with their own elastic bands which fit into the heal so you can attach the shoes together. Seems gimicky but I found it useful:

I was just reading the longer thread on the state of minimalist shoes and it seems that these solve a lot of the issues discussed there. They do for me at any rate. I’m really happy with them.

[Peter Bakwin]

I’ve used the TX2 & TX3 extensively since performance testing them last spring. The TX2 has become my “go to” shoe for scrambling the Flatirons in Boulder – multi pitch routes up to about 5.6 combined with on & off trail running between routes. They perform real well for both scrambling & running. The toe box is wider than most approach shoes, which I appreciate on the running/hiking parts. Wider certainly than the Xplorers. Fit is about the same on the TX3s, works great for me as an off trail hiking & scrambling shoe. Also, yes, the upper is nicely breathable & much cooler than BoulderX (which I use more in winter). If you want very light with a minimalist feel & can handle limited underfoot protection go with the TX2. But for more of a standard hiking shoe feel with a little more drop & excellent foot protection the TX3s are great. Needless to say the rubber on both models is VERY grippy.

[Mitchell Ebbott]

That’s great to hear! My favorite shoes at the moment are the Patagonia Rovers, and they’re discontinued so I’ve been babying them. For a while there, there were nothing else on the market to fill that niche—a lightweight, low-drop approach shoe with a breathable mesh upper and really sticky rubber. It sounds like the TX2 fills that role.

[William Ready]

TX 3
I purchased these as a lighter weight alternative to my Ganda Guides for warmer weather approaches and hikes. *Note: Sizing, use the size chart! I ordered the same size as my Gandas the first time then checked the chart and ordered an entire size down. Function: Pretty sweet; the heal sits lower in the heal cup than the Gandas which makes them feel more stable, they also have a wider toe box which makes for a more comfortable approach. The overall feel is a bit narrow (Minus the toe box). These are well built but I wouldn’t push them into guiding service because of the mesh uppers, they just wont last as long as an all leather upper. -The eyelets at the front of the shoe do worry me because they function just like boat shoe laces; if you pull the heel hook it will constrict the lace eyelets which makes me worried about breaking the cordage. I am training with them now before knocking off some 14’ers this summer and will follow-up afterwards.

[Sam Farrington]

Purchased some La Sportiva low mid approach shoes, and broke them in walking the dogs on hilly roads a couple miles daily in fair weather. $180, not cheap. Wondered about the rather fine thread used to join the sections of the outer. Sure enough, they began coming apart after several months, not from abrasion to the thread on the outside, but just from the threads pulling apart inside. May inject some Freesole into the gaps, and ask a local bootmaker to reattach the seams with stronger thread. But would not buy this brand again.

[John Klinepeter]

Thanks, guys, for the heads up on the TX 3 shoes.

About 6 weeks ago I was looking for some “hiking” shoes, bought some Salewas, and though they fit nicely, they have no bite on wet rocks. Purchased the TX 3’s, put maybe 50 miles on them and think these will do the job. They certainly are very sticky. I had a slight issue with my toes being pinched top-to-bottom. This morning I tried some thinner insoles and I seem to have reached a state of happiness. The only other tiny nit-picking negative is that they squeak a little–I can live with that.

The only remaining question is what type of grip they will have in snow. The lugs are not very aggressive or deep but no worse than what I used last year (New Balance)%.

BMWO here I come!

Edit: The stock shoes and insoles are perfectly quiet. The squeak was due to the non-standard insoles.

[Art …]

I just purchased a pair of TX3’s which I plan to us on the SoSHR in a couple weeks. will try and remember to post my impressions when I get back.

[Author]

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