TX Guide Leather Approach Shoe - Men's
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Why We Like The La Sportiva TX Guide Leather Approach Shoe
When our approach involves scrambling over sandstone and bushwhacking through prickers, we lace up our TX Guide Leather Approach Shoe for durable, lightweight performance. Torsion control and sticky rubber give us a stable ride over varying terrain, and with high-cushion EVA and impact-absorbing soles underfoot, this shoe makes it so our long approach doesn't feel quite so long.
Details
- Durable, lightweight approach shoe for moving fast
- Leather upper increases abrasion resistance and molded fit
- To-the-toe lacing for customized, secure fit
- Torsion shank provides stability over rocky terrain
- Ortholite insole provides breathable cushioned comfort
- Impact Brake System reduces 20% of shock from hard ground
- Durable Vibram sole offers ground adaptation and superior grip
- Runs small, so we recommend sizing up for ideal fit
- Item #LSPZ2A4
- Upper Material
- nubuck leather, rough-out leather, polyurethane-tech-lite heel and toe caps
- Lining
- non-slip mesh
- Closure
- lace
- Last
- Guide
- Footbed
- Ortholite approach insole (4mm)
- Midsole
- dual-density compressed EVA (35A heel / 40A forefoot), thermoplastic polyurethane torsion shank
- Sole
- dual compound Vibram MegaGrip and IdroGrip rubber, Impact Brake System, 4.5mm lugs
- Claimed Weight
- 13.6oz
- Manufacturer Warranty
- 1 year
- Activity
- approach, hiking, climbing
Reviews
Q&A
What do you think about this product?
Overall Rating
4 based on 9 ratings
Review Summary
Fits Slightly Small
Screen reader users: the following list provides a visual scale to illustrate the product fit. Please refer to the heading above for the fit type in text.Customer Images
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Selecting an option will reload the available reviews on the pageSeptember 7, 2024
1st pair fantastic, 2nd pair disaster.
- Familiarity:
- I've put it through the wringer
- Size Bought:
- 44.5
- Weight:
- 165
I picked up my first pair of these over 2 years ago, and have worn them almost every day since. They have countless miles on them, have gone to 20,000ft humping 100lbs loads, stay on my feet for any climbing that’s under 5.8, and have been an absolutely fantastic shoe. The soles are like glue and inspire probably too much confidence on high exposure ridges. They have held up way better than they were expected to. The toe box is a bit narrow, which I expected would cause issues because I tend to prefer a wider toe box, but I just lace them loose when doing a lot of walking, but it is nice because you can lace them tight and get a fairly decent climbing performance out of them. After 2 years of constant and not easy use, they are showing wear, I have worn through the heel fabric, the insoles have been worn through, the footbed is cracked, and I have a hole in the toe cap from crack climbing in them. They’re still wearable, and have gone back into daily use because the second pair I bought to replace the first didn’t fair very well. The issue I have with this shoe comes from the second pair I bought. REI had a pair on clearance and I picked them up to replace the first pair, I put them on for a 2 1/2 month Patagonia trip and at the end of the trip they were in worse shape than the original pair with considerably less abuse. The leather had split, the heel fabric had worn through, the soles were chunking, and the sole of the shoe was separating. I don’t know where La Sportiva changed production two between when the first pair and second pair were made, but it’s a huge difference in quality. So I guess buyer beware? I would like to think that the shoes you get will be the quality of the first pair I had, and if that’s the case, absolutely buy this shoe. It’s amazing and you won’t regret it. But I guess be prepared to be super disappointed when your new shoes fall apart after 2 mo of wear. If anyone has feedback on if this new color combo holds up I’d like to hear it, if they do I’m going to get another pair.
May 17, 2023
A New Favorite
- Familiarity:
- I've used it several times
- Size Bought:
- 46
- Height:
- 5' 10"
- Weight:
- 155
I've been searching for the best approach shoe for years, and these are the best I have tried to date. My former favorite was the Scarpa Crux II, but I have never been fond of the midsole, toe box, or edging abilities. TX Guides address all of these issues, but if you have wide feet, and like La Sportiva, look at the TX3 or 4, because TX Guides fit like Chuck Taylors. I encourage prospective buyers to size up by at least 0.5, because they run small.
April 30, 2023
Great Shoe, narrow toe box, runs small
- Size Bought:
- 44.5
- Height:
- 5' 10"
- Weight:
- 187
I'm a 44.5. The TX3 fits perfect and has a much wider toe box. Even though I have narrow feet I need to move up to a 45 in this shoe. Love the TX3, Can't wait to get the proper size in the TX Guide.
November 30, 2022
Dissapointed!!
- Familiarity:
- I've used it several times
- Size Bought:
- 45 (11.5)
- Height:
- 5' 10"
- Weight:
- 175
I have used LA sportiva shoes for a long time. I had a pair of their purple and yellow climbing shoes in the 80s. A buddy of mine has a pair that are still useable. Anyway, My kids bought me a pair of the TX guide leather shoes for Christmas last year. I knew from the reviews and experience they run small so I wore them to work, on carpet, for a couple months they were painful at 1st but then widened and became snug. I tried them in Aug. going up Mts Williamson & Tyndall via Shepherds pass. They were fine in & up, but brutal hiking down. 3 toenails blackened I stubbornly used the again in Sept. for a scramble up My Darwin via Lamarck Col. They were fine in & out. Then again in Oct. up Mt Ritter via Shadow creek trail. Again, fine. However I later noticed that the tread was de-laminating from the sole & the sole was separating at the heel. I estimate I used them about 80 -90 miles in the backcountry. For the cost, I'd think you get many more miles before they start to disintegrate. I will think twice before I buy La Sportiva again.
June 2, 2022
Simultaneously too narrow and too long
- Familiarity:
- I returned this product before using it
- Size Bought:
- 41.5
- Height:
- 5' 8"
- Weight:
- 140
I was excited to get these because I loved my TX2s but the fit is just really strange. I’m surprised others have said they run small but in my case they are significantly longer than my leather TX2’s (though the toe box area is certainly strangely narrow). I have a wide fit and the TX2s fit my feet perfectly. I don’t even want to try a smaller size in these guides because I know my toes will be crammed. Here are photos of comparison between the TX2 Leathers and TX Guide Leathers. Shockingly, both are 41.5. Maybe the TX2s just run small but I’m just really surprised there’s such a drastic difference. If you have really narrow feet though, I’m sure these would be great if you can size them correctly.
January 27, 2022
Good Quality but be careful of sizing
- Familiarity:
- I returned this product before using it
- Size Bought:
- 47.5
- Height:
- 6' 1"
- Weight:
- 195
First, this is a well made show on inspection. The issue I have with it is fit/sizing. In short, the whole TX line is made with a narrow heel. I did not know that until I bought the Guide. I knew it had a narrower forefoot profile, but I am familiar with La Sportiva's style in that regard and have been able to deal with it by loosening the lacing in the toebox and ordering a half-size up (47.5 vs 47) in the Cirque Pro (really old) and the Boulder X. Of course, the rest of the TX line has a wide forefoot, which I liked, but on long approaches I developed blisters around the cup of my heel. Never happened before and I have owned shoes from virtually every maker. Anyway, it never occurred to me that the heel fit/sizing was a problem until I tried the TX Guide. After comparing them and the TX4 to other shoes it was obvious. They are just narrower in the heel. So, I had to return them. Of course, if you have a narrower heel or you have tried any of the other TX line and did not have a problem ignore this as it promised to be a good, sturdy, but light, high performing shoe. Of particular note, it is significantly stiffer than the TX4. Two things about that. It is easier on one's legs in long approaches and it protects the ball of one's foot on gnarly decents. Both are important and a problem for the others in the TX line.
January 11, 2022
Great looking shoe, long break-in
- Familiarity:
- I've used it several times
- Size Bought:
- 42
- Height:
- 5' 8"
- Weight:
- 195
I love the look of this shoe. Rigid but pliable. Very stable. The shoes do take a while break-in. I am using these for mid-level hiking, not hardcore climbing.
July 31, 2021
Sizing runs VERY small!!!!!
- Familiarity:
- I returned this product before using it
- Size Bought:
- 46.5
The TX Guide Leather Approach is s a very high quality and great looking shoe. Five stars for that. However, sizing, not so much! I had hoped to use them for an upcoming hiking trip to the mountains in North Georgia but unfortunately for me the sizing for this shoe is VERY different than most L.S. trail running shoes. I wear a 46.5 (12.5+) in L.S. Wildcats and Akyras but the TX in 46.5 felt VERY narrow and seemed to one to two sizes smaller (shorter)!
June 14, 2021
Important FYI
- Familiarity:
- I've used it several times
First off let me say the TX Guide/Guide leather climb very very well. The lacing that extends to the end of the toe adds a lot of security that the other members of the TX family (2/3) didn?t provide. The rubber on the front section is noticeably gripper than the Vibram Megagrip seen on the other shoes and still decently durable. The defined heel and deep tread helps provide security on loose soil and terrain while the climbing section maintains impressive vertical performance. Now for the less interesting aspects. The TX Guide leather has a distinctly different fit than the TX Guide (synthetic) the toe box is noticeably roomier preventing the miserable break in period present on the synthetic version. It doesn?t appear that this affects the climbing ability of the shoe though. The biggest issue of the TX guide was delamination of the sole so I hope to see with extended use that the glue Sportiva used on the sole on the guide leather is stronger
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