La Sportiva TX5 Evo GTX: nubuck, rocky terrain

Listing facts

The title calls it waterproof and stable with a non-slip outsole and a nubuck leather upper. Gore-Tex is listed as the lining and Ortholite Hybrid as the insole. Cushioning is described as medium. The recommended surface is rocky terrain, and the specific uses are climbing and hiking.

The listing gives no weight and no outsole compound, which are the two figures most buyers will want. La Sportiva's own product page is the place to fill those gaps.

Nubuck, stability and the British hills

Nubuck is a sanded leather that is tough against rock and takes wax well, so it handles scree, bracken and wet grass better than a mesh shoe. A stable build helps on uneven ground and rocky descents, where a soft shoe can feel vague.

That same structure makes the TX5 Evo less nimble on steep rock than a slimmer approach shoe. Think of it as a hiking shoe with approach features, rather than a scrambling shoe that can also walk.

Looking after nubuck is easy: brush away dried mud, let the shoes dry slowly with the insoles removed, and use a nubuck-safe proofing product rather than a heavy wax, which can darken and flatten the nap.

TX5 Evo against TX4 Evo and Rapid XT

The TX4 Evo GTX uses suede and lists rock, gravel and wet slabs, so it is the better choice when the route has more scrambling. The Scarpa Rapid XT Mid GTX gives a higher collar at a listed 424 g. The TX5 Evo GTX sits between them: low like the TX4, but built more for comfort and support on long walks.

Who should skip it

If you mostly do short walk-ins to climbing routes, the extra structure adds little. And walkers who want a stated weight before buying will need to check elsewhere, since the listing leaves it out.