I’m sure this performance fit is great for certain endeavors, but has definitely left me wishing for a little more width and volume on longer days. The most intense wear on the lacing system did occurred in narrow slot canyons in Utah, which are much harder on footwear, so this weakness is less likely to be an issue in more open Australian-style canyons. They lack some feel for delicate slab climbs, but overall, these shoes climb very well and are the best choice for users with wide feet who also value climbing ability. If you have wide or higher-volume feet, check out the Scarpa Mescalito Planet, a very similarly performing shoe that is better suited for that foot shape. The other issue with the lacing, particularly for people with broader feet, is that they are more exposed to wear than many other canyoning shoes.

If these s The La Sportiva TX4, our preferred shoe for big wall climbing, has excellent support, in addition to bomber durability, plenty of comfort, and good climbing performance, all attributes needed for the world's largest rock faces. However, the Crux does not match the performance of the TX3 (or Guide Tennie) on technical rock—the shoe is too roomy to contort in cracks, and the soft, layered foam of the sole offers very little precision and power on edges. The estimated platform from my measurements have the TX Guide with 18mm of foam in the forefoot and 28mm of foam in the heel. The sole boasts a smooth area of sticky rubber under the toes for smearing on rock, and the wide base that slightly protrudes from the mesh upper allows for very solid edging.La Sportiva is an Italian company that has its roots in mountaineering footwear, but these days is better known for its rock climbing apparel.

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The weight is definitely noticeable in comparison to most of my lighter weight trail runners, but the TX3 offers a lot of protection, durability, and stability with it’s slightly heavy feature set. To save money we’d bought shoes online and had them sent directly to an American friend who was canyoneering with us.

This is likely due to the fact that thin, yet stiff soles are best for climbing, but thick and flexible soles produce good hiking comfort. I usually only get about a year or two out of my Wildcats before the tread is chewed up and the mesh torn by off-trail scrambling, scree, granite, and bushwhacking. Not far behind, the La Sportiva TX Guide also has great support for long days on rough trails and standing in aiders.

I haven’t been able to find the heel to toe offset for the TX Guide, but my crude measurements place it with a 10-12mm drop. The sole is perfectly designed for smearing and edging, and the foot locks into place thanks to a narrow lace pattern. I walked confidently on both wet and dry slab and on steep snow in these shoes, very rarely slipping. If for some reason you need an approach shoe that can handle delicate edging or higher-end climbing performance, I think a lower volume fit and more sensitive midsole like that on the Cruzer Classic might make more sense.