Best Approach Shoes of 2023

JUMP TO: LA SPORTIVA TX2 / BLACK DIAMOND MISSION LT / SCARPA CRUX II / ARC’TERYX KONSEAL AR / SCARPA ZEN PRO / LA SPORTIVA TX GUIDE / TNF ACTIVIST FUTURELIGHT / LA SPORTIVA BOULDER X / BUYING ADVICE

Author: Tim Severino

The Short Version

The Long Version

Rock climbing is becoming ever more popular around the world. More accessible, well documented, and better developed outdoor climbing routes have helped drive much of this growth.

Many outdoor crags, however, still do not provide the opportunity to drive your vehicle right up to them – nor would we want them to! Many require a short (or long) walk to reach, often over difficult terrain – a journey known as ‘the approach’.

Of course, climbing shoes are great for climbing. But they aren’t particularly well suited to hiking, especially over rough terrain. So for the approach we usually require a different set of footwear.

Normal hiking shoes can generally do the trick, but like any outdoor sport – when it comes to equipment, having the right tool for the task will almost certainly make the job easier.

In this article we look at the best approach shoes on the market. So regardless of whether your normal approach is just a few hundred meter stroll from your car, or a full day hike across difficult terrain with loads of gear – a pair of approach shoes from the list below will help you get the job done.

If you love reading this review of the best approach shoes, then you'll likely love reading some of our other climbing content:

Best Overall: LA SPORTIVA TX2

MATERIALS: Vibram Mega Grip sole, polyester mesh upper

HIKING COMFORT: Extremely comfortable

CLIMBING ABILITY: Tight fit, allowing your feet to gain purchase easily

PROS: Extremely comfortable and supportive with general loads

CONS: Can lack ankle support with super heavy loads

Many of the world’s best climbing shoes bear the brand name La Sportiva, and so it is unsurprising that La Sportiva also make some of the top performing shoes for the approach.

The La Sportiva TX2 are the lightweight cousin of the heavier TX4 shoes. They are extremely comfortable for hiking. You can wear these shoes on almost any approach hike, scramble over low angle rock faces to access the crag, or use them when scouting routes. You can even wear them when climbing some easy routes for a warm up.

Available in both men’s and women’s sizes – these are the shoes you can depend on, hiking without fear of blisters and supporting your feet when you need to get up and over the rock scrambles and to the base of your climbing route (…and then back again).

Best for Short Treks: BLACK DIAMOND MISSON LT

MATERIALS: Black Diamond Black Label Mountain Rubber sole, polyester endure knit upper

HIKING COMFORT: Very comfortable

CLIMBING ABILITY: Snug fitting shoes allowing good footwork 

PROS: Very breathable upper, reducing sweat and heat, very lightweight

CONS: Some narrow feet have sizing issues

Do you generally only need to hike a short distance to the crag? Do you like to move fast in order to save on walking time and extend your climbing time? If so, then the lightweight Black Diamond Mission LT might deserve a look in.

These shoes are designed for you to hike, scramble, and climb your way to the crag with relative comfort, support, and ease.

The Mission LT use high performance rubber that provides amazing traction on scree and rocks. They have a firm midsole that helps provide support when the ground is uneven underfoot – for example, when rock hopping. Plus, a mesh upper allows your feet breathe in warmer temps.

The Black Diamond Mission LT can also be worn on longer hikes, however due to their lightweight design, they can lack the support some people require over longer distances. But for short to mid-length hikes, they are a great lightweight approach shoe available at a fairly decent price.

Best for Long Treks: SCARPA CRUX II

MATERIALS: Vibram Vertical Approach sole, leather upper

HIKING COMFORT: Extremely comfortable, great foot and ankle support

CLIMBING ABILITY: Form fitting and a great sticky sole make these great to climb in

PROS: Very supportive, sticky rubber and very durable

CONS: They are heavy

When you need to hike for hours or even days to reach your climbing destination, you need a pair of shoes that can stand up to the test – and the Scarpa Crux II are just that.

The Scarpa Crux II provide a significant amount of support to your feet and ankles, and by extension, your legs and back – making them suitable for longer hikes. The additional support adds a fair bit of weight to the shoe, nonetheless they are still extremely comfortable to hike in. These shoes could even be classified as true hiking shoes, given their support, solid construction, and durable materials.

Given the differing requirements of climbing shoes and hiking shoes, there is always a balance required for the ideal approach shoe. And the Scarpa Crux II does drift towards the heavier and burlier (and therefore less climbing specific) end of the spectrum.

But if you often hike a long way to get to the crag, perhaps with a decent amount of equipment on your back, then they might be just the approach shoe you are looking for.

Best for Difficult Terrain: ARC’TERYX KONSEAL AR

MATERIALS: Vibram Megagrip Rubber sole, Suede leather upper

HIKING COMFORT: Very comfortable and supportive

CLIMBING ABILITY: Good for climbing due to tight fit and sticky sole

PROS: Durable and supportive

CONS: Can get sweaty

Arc’teryx are well known for making high quality climbing apparel, not to mention some of the best and most innovative outdoor clothing in the industry. They have been making these shoes – the Konseal AR – for years and they are still one of the best approach shoes on the market.

Their strength lies in their solid construction – which provides foot and ankle support for both climbing and hiking over difficult, unyielding terrain.

The suede leather upper looks great, especially when compared to many of the polyester shoes out there on the market. Plus, the leather is quite abrasion resistant, thereby helping to avoid damage and increase the lifespan. Nonetheless Arc’teryx have gone one better – adding a film that wraps around the sides of the shoe where the seams and joins are, helping to ensure they don’t ever come apart.

These shoes will last a long time and will get you to wherever you need to every go. Of course, the downside of the leather upper is that it can trap heat, so in hotter climates these shoes can cause some seriously sweaty feet.

But if you want a pair of stylish approach shoes you can literally wear anywhere – even on a night out dancing – the Konseal AR’s are definitely worth a look in.

Best for Durability: SCARPA ZEN PRO

MATERIALS: Vibram Spyder II rubber sole, Suede leather / polyester upper

HIKING COMFORT: Extremely comfortable and supportive

CLIMBING ABILITY: Can be used on easy routes

PROS: Will last forever

CONS: Heavy for climbing

Need your approach shoes to last a long time? Then the Scarpa Zen Pro might be the first place to look. The Zen Pro have been built to last – with a leather upper and polyurethane reinforcement making up the bulk of the shoe.

These shoes are comfortable and supportive on longer hikes over any terrain, but can feel more like straight up hiking boots than a multi-use approach shoe.

Like any shoe that is super durable and built to last, the Zen Pro can seem a tad bulky. Not to mention heavier than many would opt for on shorter hikes or scrambles. Plus, the rubber sole isn’t the best performer when actually climbing. But that being said, these shoes are great for their primary job of hiking into a climbing crag.

Best for Climbing: LA SPORTIVA TX GUIDE

MATERIALS: Vibram Mega Grip with Trail Bite heal sole, Ultra-weave jacquard (leather upper also available)

HIKING COMFORT: Very comfortable

CLIMBING ABILITY: Snug fit with sticky soles means they climb very well

PROS: Good support, stiff edges for climbing

CONS: Expensive

Everyone, once in a while, has reached their climbing crag only to realise they’ve forgotten something important. Sure, you can repurpose carabiners or can tie hitches instead of an ATC, but what if you’ve forgotten your shoes?

If you wore the La Sportiva TX Guide on your approach, then not to worry – you have the best non-climbing shoes for climbing! Although La Sportiva’s entire “TX” range has its strengths, it is the TX Guide that stands out for its actual climbing ability.

Sure, you won’t be hitting up any super hard grades with them, but these shoes perform so well on the wall that your trip wouldn’t be wasted if you had to climb in them. They are lightweight, have a stiff edge for better stances, and a soft rubber for sticky grip.

Given their name it’s no surprise these shoes are aimed squarely at climbing professionals and instructors, who can move around safely with the shoes on but also quickly assist a climber on the wall if need be.

But instructor or not, if you are looking for an approach shoe that has some actual climbing performance – and you don’t have to hike half a day to reach your crag – then these are the shoes aimed at you.

MATERIALS: EXTS outsole traction system, waterproof and breathable Futurelight membrane upper

HIKING COMFORT: Extremely comfortable

CLIMBING ABILITY: Snug fit, but not the stickiest rubber

PROS: Lightweight, supportive and waterproof

CONS: Not the stickiest rubber

When it comes to great hiking shoes, it’s hard to not include the ubiquitous The North Face brand among them. While the TNF Activist Futurelight shoes are not specifically designed for climbing, the technology that goes into these shoes elevates them to be some of the best approach shoes you can find.

Unlike others on this list, you can also use the Activist Futurelight for a morning jog or fast paced hike. Nonetheless, you can also use them as hiking shoes on your approach, for rock scrambling, and for easy climbs. Being tested in some of the harshest places in the world, The North Face Activist Futurelight stand up as a versatile pair of shoes you can pretty much use for anything.

They are not designed for route climbing like the others on this list are, but these shoes get rave reviews from across a spectrum of activities making them a great all-round versatile shoe.

Best on a Budget: LA SPORTIVA BOULDER X

MATERIALS: Vibram Idro-grip V sole, leather upper

HIKING COMFORT: Comfortable shoes with loads of support

CLIMBING ABILITY: Snug fit and sticky rubber makes them climb well

PROS: Durable, good value

CONS: Heavy and bulky

Like all other La Sportiva shoes on this list, the design, construction and durability of the Boulder X are about as good as it gets. But the La Sportiva Boulder X come in at a slightly cheaper price point, owing to their less expensive materials.

They are comfortable, climb well, and will support your feet on a decent hike – everything you want in an approach shoe. But due to the less expensive materials, these shoes are a little heavier than many others.

The weight is their main drawback – especially if you are planning on climbing while these are clipped onto your harness. Of course, if you are bouldering or climbing single pitch (where you come straight back down again) then this isn’t so much of a problem.

BUYING ADVICE FOR APPROACH SHOES

What are approach shoes?

NOT HIKING SHOES, NOT CLIMBING SHOES: Approach shoes themselves fill a small but necessary niche. Hiking and trekking focused brands manufacture some of the best footwear on the market, but they generally don’t factor in the needs of vertical climbers.

BEST OF BOTH WORLDS: An approach shoe therefore tries to bridge the gap between hiking and climbing – it provides much of the underfoot support and stability found with a hiking shoe, but also provides some of the stickiness and sensitivity found with a climbing shoe. This means that you can use them for an approach hike, as well as for activities like rock hopping, or even for some low grade climbing.

JACK OF ALL TRADES, MASTER OF NONE: They might not excel at any of these activities as much as, say, purpose built hiking shoes or climbing shoes. But by bridging the gap between these activities, they can do it all. In a way, approach shoes are the “jack of all trades, but master of none”. That is, their versatility is their main strength, whilst also perhaps being their subtle weakness.

Having said that, some approach shoes are more geared towards hiking, whilst others are more designed for climbing – so you can choose a pair that best suits your common activity type.

THEN WHO NEEDS THEM? Granted, if you own several pairs of climbing shoes and some well-worn-in hiking boots, you may not even feel the need to own a pair of approach shoes. But, for those who like to seek out certain types of adventure – e.g. multi-pitch routes that require a long walk off at the end, or perhaps "coasteering” (coastal rock hopping next to the water) – dedicated approach shoes might feel like a necessity.

Key considerations

The main questions you need to ask yourself when looking to buy approach shoes are:

  • CLIMBING ABILITY: How much climbing will I do with these shoes? The more you intend to climb or rock scramble with them, the better you want their climbing ability to be.

  • HIKING COMFORT & SUPPORT: How far are the approaches I am likely to undertake? This will determine the level of underfoot support you need.

  • WEIGHT: Will I climb with these hanging off my harness or weighing down my pack? This will likely determine how important weight is as a consideration.

We discuss each of these in a bit more detail below.

Climbing ability

Not all people climb in their approach shoes – some like to only rock hop and scramble around the bottom of the crag. However others do like to use them for easy climbs, or perhaps even for all day long trad climbs on moderate routes.

It’s important to note that rock climbing shoes generally offer zero hiking support. So for a long trad route with bush scrambles between pitches and a walk off at the end – it might be better to climb in good approach shoes than carry them as an extra.

Everyone is different with his or her expectations, but what all these shoes do –is offer stickier climbing soles than regular hiking boots so you CAN climb in them if you need to.

Hiking comfort & support

It should come as no surprise that a good pair of approach shoes need to support you when you are… well, on the approach. Sizing is obviously one of the main factors that determine comfort, but so is the level of support that the sole and insole provide to the bottom of your feet.

If your approaches often cover uneven terrain, such as tree roots or scrambling over rocks, then you may want more stability and support underfoot. Plus, if your approach often includes carrying a backpack full of climbing gear, then decent underfoot support might be even more critical to your comfort.

Weight

This is an important factor for some people, whilst for others perhaps not at all. Both the feel on your feet and the carried can matter.

Carried weight can be particularly important if you plan to switch into climbing shoes for your vertical route, but carry the approach shoes in your pack or on your harness for the walk off the climb.

If you have short approaches and/or walk offs then going lightweight might be a priority for you. However, if you are mainly undertake longer hikes with short climbing sections, or perhaps go rock hopping all day, then carrying your shoes might not be a consideration and therefore a slightly heavier pair with more support or better durability might be what you are after.

SUMMARY

Shoes are a personal thing and everyone has different expectations as to what they want them for and where they want them to perform. The shoes all rated above are the tip of the iceberg when it comes to approach shoes, but if its quality and performance you are after then this is the best place to start.

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