 This Product
La Sportiva TX4 Evo - Women's | |||||
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| Awards |  Best for Everyday Wear |  Best Overall Women's Approach Shoe | Best for Alpine Climbing |  Best Bang for the Buck | |
| Price | $169.00 at REI Compare at 2 sellers | $149.00 at Backcountry Compare at 3 sellers | $159.00 at Backcountry Compare at 3 sellers | $145 List | $105.00 at Backcountry Compare at 3 sellers |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | Although one of the heavier designs that we tested, these shoes provide support and stability for everything from long approaches to big walls | Thanks to its lightweight design, comfortable build, and top-notch climbing ability, this shoe is an all-around favorite of our testing team | A solid shoe that excels in climbing ability and overall durability, but is not our first recommendation for comfort | A shoe that excels in climbing but lacks the comfort for long approaches | An awesome budget option that covers the needs of most climbers and is especially equipped for hiking comfort and long-term durability |
| Rating Categories | La Sportiva TX4 Evo... | La Sportiva TX2 Evo... | La Sportiva TX Guid... | Arc'teryx Konseal F... | La Sportiva Boulder... |
| Climbing Ability (30%) | |||||
| Hiking Comfort (25%) | |||||
| Weight and Packability (20%) | |||||
| Support (15%) | |||||
| Construction Quality (10%) | |||||
| Specs | La Sportiva TX4 Evo... | La Sportiva TX2 Evo... | La Sportiva TX Guid... | Arc'teryx Konseal F... | La Sportiva Boulder... |
| Measured Weight (per pair) | 24 oz | 18.7 oz | 21.0 oz | 19.7 oz | 28.9 oz |
| Sole Rubber | Vibram Megagrip rubber with Impact Brake System, Climbing Zone Platform and 4 mm lugs | Vibram Idrogrip | Vibram Mega-Grip and IdroGrip | Vibram Megagrip | Vibram Idro-Grip V-Smear |
| Width Options | Regular | Regular | Regular | Regular | Regular |
| Upper | Nubuck leather; cushioned tongue with recycled fabric; recycled rubber rand/toe cap; Mythos Lacing System with recycled laces/hooks | Recycled knit; toe and heel: polyurethane TechLite | Ultra-weave jacquard textile;thermoplastic polyurethane reinforcements | 60% Polyamide nylon, 40% polyethylene mesh | Leather |
| Midsole | Fabric forefoot wrap; Traverse Injection MEMlex with co-molded TPU shank and 7% recycled EVA; ESS Resole platform | Traverse lite injection MEMlex with co-molded TPU shank | OrthoLite, dual-density compressed EVA, TPU Torsion Shank | TPU chassis | Micropore EVA |
The new and improved La Sportiva TX4 Evo is the perfect approach shoe that supplies enough versatility for everyday use. The new design incorporates more recycled and repurposed materials without sacrificing climbing performance and durability. The wider toe box allows additional space for swollen feet and a better fit for those with a wider footshape. And while much stiffer than its predecessor, the shoe does break in after a few missions into the backcountry. Though not without a few caveats, this shoe is perfect for those seeking an approach shoe that can do it all.
The TX4 Evo fits like a glove. The climbing shoe inspired lacing system allows you to better customize the overall volume and fit of the shoe specific to your foot shape which greatly increases the overall climbing ability. While the shoe features a wider toe box than other La Sportiva models that we tested, it does not prevent the shoe from edging and smearing on fifth-class terrain. In fact, this was our favorite shoe for the Tuolumne Triple Crown, moving quickly and efficiently over fifth-class terrain up to 5.8 while climbing the classic routes on Tenaya, Matthes Crest, and Cathedral Peak in a single push. The durable leather upper protected our feet from many jams in various crack systems yet remained precise enough to delicately balance over knobs and smaller footholds.
The high-performing Vibram Megagrip outsoles provided excellent traction on the trail, moving through boulder fields and edging on small footholds. The diamond-shaped lug pattern is different than the circle patterns in previous iterations, and the four-millimeter depth performed exceptionally well on a variety of terrain types. The full rand supports smearing, and they just climb better and better as you break them in. Although the TX4 Evo doesn't top the list when it comes to overall climbing performance, it is a great all-around shoe that's up for any adventure.
Of all the La Sportiva approach shoe models that we tested, our testers noted that the TX4 Evo featured the widest toe box and also didn't require that we size up due to a narrow and tight fit. The roomier toe box allows more room for swollen and tired feet after hiking for several miles on the trail. The shoe is minimally padded, although the mesh tongue provides some cushion beneath the tightened laces.
While this shoe did require one of the longest break-in periods due to the stiff and rigid updated design, we did find that once we put in enough miles on the trail, the shoe did soften and conformed to the shape of our feet. While we never experienced in hot spots, blisters, or uncomfortable rubbing, we did notice the lack of breathability due to the durable leather construction. Our testers also recommend purchasing the lighter color of this shoe if planning to hike and hot areas with little tree cover.
The newly redesigned TX4 Evo is one of the heaviest approach shoes that we tested. Weighing in at 24 ounces for an EU 39.5, this shoe weighs over six ounces more than our favorite fast and light model. While the supportive midsole, high performing outsole, and durable nubuck leather construction are likely to blame for the increase in weight, it doesn't make this shoe our first choice to clip onto our harness when trying to save on weight.
While you could technically clip these to your harness, thanks to a single cord that is located on the heel of each shoe, we prefer to toss these into a daypack rather than climb with the additional weight on the back of our harness. The heavy and durable design is perfect for those seeking stable and supportive footwear that is necessary for approaching and descending alpine routes with heavier packs as well as those who plan to spend a few days in ladders while climbing a route on El Capitan. Although not the lightest of the bunch, the TX4 Evo makes up for the added weight in overall performance and lasting durability.
The TX4 Evo provides a stiff and sturdy design that is highly supportive, especially for those planning to climb big walls or carry heavy loads into the mountains. The compression-molded EVA midsole supplies shock absorption on the trail, while the thin and effective 4mm Ortholite Hybrid footbed helps cushion your hard-working feet.
The snug-fitting design creates more stability without an ankle cuff and the Traverse Injection MEMlex with co-molded TPU shank provide a platform that's supportive enough to carry the weight of an oversized haul bag. Although this stiff design required more of a break in period, it was worth the sacrifice for the additional support and versatility.
The TX4 Evo is one of the more durable approach shoe designs that we tested. It combines nubuck leather with recycled materials and a Traverse Injection MEMlex with co-molded TPU shank to supply substantial support underfoot. While other shoes that we tested were prone to delaminating after heavy use, the TX4 Evo withstood everyday use without any obvious signs of wear and tear. The rugged upper provides protection when moving through technical terrain while also conforming to the shape of your feet after an extended break-in period. The beefy reinforced toe cap, along with wraparound rubber rand, also helps to increase protection on the trail.
Perhaps our only complaint with this design in terms of construction quality and durability is the lacing system. The eyelets that are closest to the ankle are the only ones that are reinforced with metal, while the others are simply cut out of the leather upper. The heel tab that allows you to clip the shoes to your harness or inside your haul bag is also intertwined with the laces and can become compromised when you repeatedly crank down the laces for a snug fit. Our testers recommend removing the laces from the delicate cord so as to extend the life of both the laces and the cord that would prevent you from clipping the shoes to anything once broken. While the lacing detail is important, the shoe is one of the durable options that we tested and will provide support, stability, and protection for many adventures to come.
If you're after an approach shoe that can do it all, look no further than the tried and true, TX4 Evo. The latest iteration just got better thanks to recycled and reused materials incorporated into the already bomber construction. While this update is stiffer than previous designs, our testers found this shoe to break in well with little time. The Vibram Megagrip outsole combines with an Impact Brake System and Trail Bite heels to offer confidence underfoot while moving through a variety of terrain. The wider toe box provides comfort for a variety of footshapes, and the re-inforced rand that surrounds the shoe supplies lasting performance. If you are after a shoe that can withstand everyday use, the TX4 Evo is a solid investment.
If the stiff midsole and durable construction of the TX4 Evo are appealing to you, you should check out another highly durable approach shoe, the Scarpa Mescalito Planet. The Mescalito design is indestructible, while the additional padding within the design increases comfort. The fit also caters to those with wider feet, should you find La Sportiva designs to be too narrow for your footshape. If you're after better climbing performance and a more narrow toe box, check out the La Sportiva TX Guide, which is a favorite of our testing team, especially when it comes to light and fast alpine missions. Looking for a more comfortable fit that molds to the shape of your foot, the La Sportiva TX2 Evo can't be beaten. Just be aware that this shoe does not compare to the TX4 when it comes to overall durability.
