Approach Shoes

What are approach shoes?

Approach shoe is a fairly loose category of shoe that today contains anything from street-looking shoes to highly technical walking-type boots, and everything in between.  When choosing an approach shoe that you are going to purchase the first question you will need to ask yourself is where and how am I going to use them.

Examples of approach shoe questions and appropriate models that are suitable for that use.

I am a guide and/or I will be doing a lot of scrambling and easy routes and confidence in my rubber on rock is what I am searching for.

As a guide of 20 years most of the approach shoes I have owned fall into this category.  Traditionally we all used to own 5.10 Guide Tennies.  Awesome sticky rubber and comfortable and I barely ever had to put real climbing shoes on while guiding.  I always wore them pretty tight and they were quite painful walking down any sustained slope.  Durability was always the biggest problem and after about 12 months my little toe was always poking out the side of them.

The approach shoes that fit into this category would be the Scarpa Spirit, Scarpa Mojito Wrap, and Butora Icarus. They are soft and fairly thin underfoot to allow for a 'good feel' on rock surfaces.  Little to no tread on the soles allows for great surface contact on rock for extra friction.   This also has a 'flip side', the grip this style of approach shoes provide can be little to none on things like wet grass and mud.

I need a shoe that is good to walk in.  I will be doing long approaches and the terrain can be wet and muddy. How they perform on rock will be a secondary concern.

A lightweight walking/trail shoe is the best fit here, in my opinion.  You want a nice thick sole with good tread.  This allows good grip on wet surfaces, like mud and grass.  The thicker sole gives more support and cushioning for long approaches carrying heavy loads.

Approach shoes in our range that fit into this category are; 

Scarpa Zen Pro / Scarpa Zen Pro Women's

Scarap Mojito Trail / Scarpa Mojito Trail Women's (or the Scarpa Mojito Hike if you want a mid-height boot for some ankle support.

A bit of everything.  Easy climbing, long walk-ins, diferent terrain.  Pretty much all of the above.

Basically, this is a shoe that sits in the middle of the above 2 categories.  Features include a treaded sole that is not too stiff to allow for good rock contact and feel.  Some models will have a 'climbing zone' of rubber on the front of the sole.  This is a flat piece of treadless rubber.  Like a climbing shoe this a great for friction while scrambling around on rock. 

Approach shoes in our range that fit into this category are;

Scarpa Mojito are the clear winners here

Scarpa Highball / Scarpa Higball Women's