Product · La Sportiva
La Sportiva TX Guide Leather: leather approach shoe
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Most approach shoes are suede and mesh. The TX Guide Leather takes a more traditional route, with Amazon listing a leather lining and an outer that mixes leather, synthetic, rubber and EVA. It is rated water resistant rather than waterproof. It suits scramblers and guides who want a durable shoe that moulds to the foot over time, and who would rather maintain leather than replace a worn mesh upper.
- Upper
- Leather and synthetic
- Outsole
- Rubber
- Membrane
- None stated
- Listed use
- Hiking and climbing
In its favour
- Leather upper and leather lining are both listed, hard wearing against rock.
- The listing names hiking and recreational climbing as uses, the job of an approach shoe.
- Shoe adjustability is listed and the fit is described as fitting well.
Good to know
- Listed as water resistant rather than waterproof, so wet approaches will soak in over time.
- The outsole compound is not named in the listing.
Our take
Materials and what the listing claims
The outer material field lists ethylene vinyl acetate, leather, rubber and synthetic, and the lining is leather. The insole is EVA and the sole is rubber. The special feature is given as lightweight and the sport type as climbing, with uses covering hiking, performance and recreational climbing outdoors.
There is no membrane named, and no outsole compound. The listed item weight is 1.15 kg, though the page does not say whether that refers to one shoe or the pair in the box, so it is not a reliable comparison figure.
Living with a leather approach shoe
Leather inside and out tends to feel warm at first and then soften to the shape of the foot. It also takes wax well, which is the main way to improve its water resistance on wet British approaches. Clean off grit after each day, let it dry slowly at room temperature, and re-wax when the surface looks pale and dry.
The trade-off is drying time. Once soaked, a leather-lined shoe takes longer to dry than mesh, so it is less suited to routes with deep stream crossings.
How it compares with the Mescalito and Boulder X
The Scarpa Mescalito uses water-repellent suede with lacing to the toe and a named Vibram Dynamis LB sole. It is more clearly a precision scrambling tool. The TX Guide Leather is broader in purpose, sitting between an approach shoe and a light hiking shoe.
The La Sportiva Boulder X, also in our guide, has a synthetic upper wrapped in rubber with speed laces. If abrasion resistance is the priority and you dislike leather care, the Boulder X is simpler. If you like a shoe that ages with you, the TX Guide Leather is the more appealing choice.
Who should look elsewhere
Anyone wanting a fully waterproof shoe should go for the TX4 Evo GTX. Anyone after the lightest possible pack-and-go shoe for the climbing harness loop will find suede and mesh models easier to carry.
Verdict
The TX Guide Leather suits guides, scramblers and hill walkers who want a leather approach shoe they can wax and keep going for seasons. If you need a membrane, choose the La Sportiva TX4 Evo GTX, and if precise lacing for via ferrata matters more, the Scarpa Mescalito is the closer fit.
Compared with alternatives in: Best approach shoes for scrambling
Amazon listing title: La Sportiva TX Guide Leather