La Sportiva TX4 Evo (men’s) review: a technical approach shoe with a fit you must check
An approach shoe earns its place on the ground between the trail and the rope: slabs, ledges, granite ramps and ridges where you use your hands for balance and a slip would matter. The La Sportiva TX4 Evo is built for that terrain, with a leather upper, a flat climbing zone at the toe and Vibram Megagrip rubber. It grips and protects superbly. It also fits very differently from the TX4 it replaced, and that is the first thing to know about it.
Quick take
A sturdy, precise approach shoe for scrambling, talus and easy technical rock. Vibram Megagrip rubber, a climbing zone at the toe, a stiff supportive midsole and a nubuck leather upper with a rubber rand make it secure and protective, and it can be resoled. The catch is fit: the Evo is narrower and shorter than the original TX4, and many hikers need half a size up or a different shoe entirely. Try it on before a trip, and skip it if you have wide feet.
What it does
The TX4 Evo is La Sportiva's leather all-round approach shoe. A nubuck leather upper with a recycled rubber rand, the band of rubber wrapping the toe and sides, and a toe cap stands up to rock abrasion, and the Mythos lacing system runs close to the toe so you can snug the fit for precision on rock. Underfoot, a Traverse-injected MEMlex midsole with a TPU shank and La Sportiva's STB Control System keeps the shoe stable and supportive on edges and uneven ground. The Vibram Megagrip outsole combines 3 mm lugs and an Impact Brake System tread for descents with a flatter Climbing Zone at the toe for edging, standing on a small ledge on the edge of the sole, and smearing, pressing the flat of the sole onto sloping rock for friction. The ESS platform is designed to be resoled when the rubber wears out. The men's shoe weighs about 12.6 oz (360 g) each, and sizes run in European units.
What verified buyers say
Across verified-purchase reviews, opinion is sharply split, and the split is almost entirely about fit:
- Those it fits love it. Owners who get the right size describe excellent grip on granite, sandstone, uneven ground and even wet docks, strong support and stability, and a shoe comfortable enough to wear all day. Several call it the most trustworthy approach shoe they have owned.
- It is tough. Owners who are hard on footwear, including one wearing it daily on construction sites, report a sturdy, well-built shoe.
- The redesign changed the fit. The most common complaint by far comes from long-time TX4 and TX3 owners: the Evo is narrower through the toe box and a half to a full size shorter, so their usual size no longer fits.
- Sizing up does not always solve it. Some owners who went up half or a full size, as La Sportiva recommends, still found the toe box too narrow and returned the shoes.
- It is stiffer than before. A minority describe a firmer, harder feel underfoot and a high instep that takes a few wears to settle.
Worth knowing
Do not order the TX4 Evo in your usual size without trying it, and do not assume it fits like an older TX4. Expect to go up at least half a size, and if your feet are wide or you need toe room over long days, this is the wrong shoe regardless of size. Like every approach shoe, it is excellent on dry rock and only average in mud, wet grass and snow, and it is firmer and less cushioned than a trail runner on long miles of ordinary trail. Sticky rubber also makes it easy to climb onto ground you cannot safely reverse, so choose routes for your ability, not your shoes.
Who it is for
The TX4 Evo is for hikers and climbers with average to narrow feet who scramble, cross talus and walk approaches to rock climbs, and who want a durable, resoleable leather shoe that edges precisely. It is the only approach shoe on our list because it is the most proven leather option in a small category. If most of your hiking is on trail rather than rock, a trail runner such as the Brooks Cascadia 19 will be more comfortable. If you carry a heavy pack over rough ground, a boot like the Salomon Quest 4 GTX gives more support.
Specs at a glance
- Typeleather approach shoe
- Fitnarrow, runs small, sized in EU units
- Listed weight1.6 lb (720 g) · pair, men's
- Uppernubuck leather, recycled rubber rand and toe cap, lacing to the toe
- SoleVibram Megagrip, Climbing Zone, 3 mm lugs, resoleable
- Trade-offsnarrow and short fit, firm underfoot, poor in mud and snow
- Best forscrambles, talus and approaches to rock
These links go to MEC and REI, which both stock the men's and women's shoe first-party. We have no affiliate relationship with either and earn nothing if you buy through them. We link these retailers rather than Amazon because Amazon's listings for this shoe are scattered single-size offers from small resellers, and an approach shoe has to be bought in your exact size.
The Verdict
On rock, the TX4 Evo is everything an approach shoe should be: grippy, stable, precise and protective, with a leather upper and a resoleable platform that will see many seasons. Off the rock, it is firm, and its fit is the defining issue. The redesign made it narrower and shorter than the TX4 that built its reputation, and hikers loyal to the original will notice the difference immediately. If your feet suit a narrow shoe and you fit it carefully, it is a superb shoe for scrambling and approaches. If they do not, no amount of grip will make it comfortable. Women's sizing is covered in our women's TX4 Evo review, and when an approach shoe makes sense at all is in hiking boots, trail runners, or approach shoes.
