Wide Scarpa/Sportiva Alternatives?

Try the TX3’s, lighter, still wide, better breathability.

Akyras are wide enough for me. Very stiff sole as well.

Reposting my own answer for a similar question on r/ultralight:

I’ve also got altra-feet (actually altras are a touch too narrow). For the Wind River High Route I’ll be using the Topo Athletic MTN Racer shoes. Dan Stenziano is using these currently for off-trail stuff (he did the super Sierra high route last year).

I did a bunch of research into appropriate shoes for my ridiculous duck-feet and for this kind of hike and I found 3 categories (from least to most technical):

Stiffer Trail Runners

• Altra King MT 1.0 (Wide; I think the 2.0s are less stiff :/)
• Topo Terraventures (slightly less wide than Altras but fit better/better rubber. They’re a bit more stiff than the lone-peaks)
• Topo MTN Racer (same width as terraventures but stiffer)
• Astral TR1 Merge (wide af but not as supportive as topos I think. See post 1 and post 2 from Bedrock and Paradox, the guy who makes seek outside packs iirc)
• Inov8 Shoes, ex. trail talon and others; not sure which will work but their more technical shoes are from their narrower fitting lines. See their width guide.
• Saucony peregrine is in this category somewhere

Trail Runner/Approach Shoe crossovers

The Scarpas might be wider than the sportivas. The width works ok for me for short hikes.

• Scarpa Ribelle Run
• La Sportiva TX-Guide

Approach Shoes

These are as wide as the previous category. I haven’t ever taken them on long hikes but they work fine for single-day peak bagging attempts

• La sportiva TX-3/4

Final note, you could try putting carbon insoles into any trail runner and see how that works out. The great thing is you can switch out the insoles when you don’t need the climbing capability! I’ve never tried this myself but I’m interested in trying it out sometime.

For the TX 3s and 4s, how do you guys like to size those? More like a climbing shoe where you drop a size, or more true to street shoe size? In Sportivas I am a 47 in Bushidos, 46.5 in Akyras. Would I be correct in ordering a 47?

Lyell, thanks for highlighting the Ribelle Runs, those look super sick. I think I’ll pick a pair of those up and give them a shot as a new trail runner.

For the TX3’s I had to go up a half size from my normal.  I have been wearing Topo Terraventure 2’s and Ultraventure Pros for trail use here in the East but use the TX3’s for desert and off trail stuff like the Wind Rivers- I find the high rand gives the needed protection.

I suggest sizing for intended use, I got mine a little tighter for better climbing ability. Best option is to go to the store with a bit thicker sock than normal (to simulate foot swell) and size them so they feel like your normal hiking shoe.

In the La Sportiva TX4, I kept my standard 11.5 sizing. Just finished a 60 mile trip in them, never better, they fit like a moccasin. Tread is so so. Grippy on large rock, not so good with loose scrambles. Best for trail and not too aggressive off trail. The Topo Mtn Racers, I had to drop a .5 size to 11. The toe box is too large in normal sizing for me. Those are incredibly light, awesome traction on large rocks and loose material. Unfortunately the tread wears very quick. I saw considerable wear in one 5 day trip. The TX4’s have a slight heel which holds a gaiters heel strap. Where the Mtn Rcr’s have no heel and the same heel strap will slip backwards and get tore and chunked up on rock’s and the like.

Highly recommend the tx3. I’ve worn tx3 on the wind high route as well as several other high routes and off trail hiking in desert, canyon etc. extremely grippy, withstand granite and cactus, yet comfortable to hike in all day. I have flattish feet and wear normal size as-is. Wear my regular size. Only downside is they’re a bit slow to dry.

Thanks guys. Scooped up some TX3’s and Ribelle Runs. Hoping 46.5 EU is the ticket. Haha. I’ll let you know. So far the Ribelle Runs fit perfectly. Still waiting on TX3s.

How are the ribelle runs? Any preliminary review you can give? The Topo MTN racer 2s I got got absolutely shredded after two weeks on the wind river high route.