Question on Approach Shoes

[KathyW]

If there is no snow or just some patchy snow and I'll be doing some scrambling or cross-country travel, I just wear my five-ten guide tennies for the whole trip. If there is enough snow travel involved that I'll want rigid soles, I've been known to have both the guide tennies and lightweight mountaineering boots with me. A number of years back, I only had the lightweight mountaineering boots when I did Lyell and I regretted not being able to switch to dry approach shoes after I got the Lyell/Maclure saddle for that one difficult move - it was hard in wet mountaineering boots. One could also carry regular climbing shoes, but I like the approach shoes because on the way out once off the snow I can put the boots in my pack and wear the more comfortable approach shoes.

[alpinemike]

I have some experience in this department. For the past 2.5 years I have worn approach shoes exclusively while backpacking. This means that all of my long days, short days, and climbing days were done in approach shoes. Considering what Rogue and I do.. routinely technical climbing for both climbing up passes and mountains there is no other shoe that would get the job done right. The only issue I've suffered is likely due to the declining quality of shoes in general these days I can only get a pair to last me at most 40 or so days. And it's never the sole that's the problem.. it's always something like the stitching or the sole ripping off the toe box. My first approach shoes was a Scarpa Crux which is really enjoyed but alas there was stitching that came undone after about 20 days. The next pair was a La Sportiva Boulder X which I also found to my liking but alas after about 30 days the toe box became undone. This year I'm going to the Scarpa Zen Pro... The most burly looking approach shoe and the one that was highly recommended to me. The fit was great for me but I also have narrower feet. In your case I would likely recommend the La Sportiva since their shoes are wider in general. Finding the proper approach shoe will allow you to climb most anything other than technical Class 5 terrain and given the right fit they will be perfectly compatible with comfort for something like a trail runner.