Tests & reviews

La Sportiva - Mix - Approach shoes tested

Praise vs. Criticism
Stephen's profile picture

Stephen

02.04.2016

Good value 3 season do most stuff shoes

I've used these for a 3 day hike in autumn and a rough wet week in Wester Ross.

They are light but sturdy so good for 75% of conditions from sunny hikes to rocky scrambles - excepting real mountain snows (need boots) or total muddy bog (need wellies).

So the sort of easy comfortable shoes you might use for most trips when trainers are too flimsy. The first thing I reach for...

They were good value at the discount given.

Advantages
Robust
Breathable
Price / performance
Comfortable
Good grip
Lightweight
VS
Tom's profile picture

Tom

07.08.2015

The worst pair of LaSportiva's I have ever bo

I have had many pairs of LaSportiva's over the years - from rigid mountaineering boots to approach shoes. All have fitted perfectly in 43.5.

These are 43.5 and seem to fit fine. However, walking any distance in them causes the heel to grab and cause a blister. It seems to start after only a few hundred metres, so they are really only of use for around the house or in the office. Even breaking them in slowly (something you shouldn't need to do with modern shoes/boots) or wearing blister plasters is no use.

Despite having barely used them as they are so uncomfortable, the liner at the heel has already started to wear away.

Looking at the shoe in more detail, it is very light and offers pretty much no support. The fit is snug and would be good for easy climbing, but these seem to be more of an urban hangout shoe.

I've had 2 pairs of LaSportiva Boulder X in the past, and would buy another pair. The Mix I will avoid.

Advantages
Lightweight
Disadvantages
Causes blisters
Not robust
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This is what other customers say:
Tom's profile picture

62% have found the reviews
by Tom helpful

The worst pair of LaSportiva's I have ever bo

I have had many pairs of LaSportiva's over the years - from rigid mountaineering boots to approach shoes. All have fitted perfectly in 43.5.

These are 43.5 and seem to fit fine. However, walking any distance in them causes the heel to grab and cause a blister. It seems to start after only a few hundred metres, so they are really only of use for around the house or in the office. Even breaking them in slowly (something you shouldn't need to do with modern shoes/boots) or wearing blister plasters is no use.

Despite having barely used them as they are so uncomfortable, the liner at the heel has already started to wear away.

Looking at the shoe in more detail, it is very light and offers pretty much no support. The fit is snug and would be good for easy climbing, but these seem to be more of an urban hangout shoe.

I've had 2 pairs of LaSportiva Boulder X in the past, and would buy another pair. The Mix I will avoid.

  • Advantages
    Lightweight
  • Disadvantages
    Causes blisters
    Not robust
's profile picture

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Stephen's profile picture
Good value 3 season do most stuff shoes

I've used these for a 3 day hike in autumn and a rough wet week in Wester Ross.

They are light but sturdy so good for 75% of conditions from sunny hikes to rocky scrambles - excepting real mountain snows (need boots) or total muddy bog (need wellies).

So the sort of easy comfortable shoes you might use for most trips when trainers are too flimsy. The first thing I reach for...

They were good value at the discount given.

  • Advantages
    Robust
    Breathable
    Price / performance
    Comfortable
    Good grip
    Lightweight
's profile picture

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martina's profile picture
awesome shoes

light and great comfort !

  • Advantages
    Comfortable
    Good grip
    Lightweight
    Breathable
  • Disadvantages
    Not waterproof
's profile picture

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Florian's profile picture
Very comfortable and long living shoe

I use the shoe mostly for leisure. But I also wear them for easy hiking, where they are also very comfortable.

  • Advantages
    Robust
    Good grip
    Comfortable
's profile picture

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Bernhard's profile picture
True approach shoe

Comfortable (if a bit low in volume in the toe-box), lightweight approach shoe that leaves you feeling closely connected to the ground/rock...

's profile picture

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Richard's profile picture
Good allrounder

The product isn't a dedicated climbing shoe, but does provide a useful and comfortable alternative to squeezing into your stickies when you least want to. If the fit is correct for you, you'll find the grip is satisfactory for low grade climbing but the feel is difficult owing to the 'trainer' fit, rather than a tight climbing shoe fit.
It's as comfortable walking around town as it is on the climbing wall, but don't buy if you intend to climb everything in these.

  • Advantages
    Price / performance
    Lightweight
    Comfortable
    Finish
's profile picture

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This is what customers from around the world say:
Erik's profile picture

66% have found the reviews
by Erik helpful

  • Advantages
    Comfortable
    Lightweight
Kilian's profile picture

Product images by Kilian
  • Disadvantages
    Not robust
    Bad grip
Manuel's profile picture

  • Advantages
    Good grip
    Lightweight
    Comfortable
    Finish
Bastian's profile picture

100% have found the reviews
by Bastian helpful

The thread was edited on 06.12.17

  • Advantages
    Lightweight
    Good grip
    Comfortable
  • Disadvantages
    Not robust
Christian's profile picture

100% have found the reviews
by Christian helpful

  • Advantages
    Lightweight
    Good grip
    Price / performance
  • Disadvantages
    Not robust
Albus's profile picture

45% have found the reviews
by Albus helpful

  • Advantages
    Robust
    Lightweight
    Durable
    Breathable
  • Disadvantages
    Too stiff
Alexander's profile picture

  • Advantages
    Price / performance
    Robust
    Finish
    Stabilizes the foot
    Comfortable
Andreas's profile picture

48% have found the reviews
by Andreas helpful

  • Advantages
    Good grip
    Durable
    Comfortable
Andre's profile picture

69% have found the reviews
by Andre helpful

  • Advantages
    Good grip
    Price / performance
  • Disadvantages
    Too stiff
Johannes's profile picture

17% have found the reviews
by Johannes helpful

  • Advantages
    Finish
  • Disadvantages
    Causes blisters
Martin's profile picture

  • Disadvantages
    Not robust
Wolfgang's profile picture

  • Advantages
    Robust
    Lightweight
    Stabilizes the foot
    Comfortable
    Durable
Paul's profile picture

  • Advantages
    Good grip
  • Disadvantages
    Not robust
MATHIEU's profile picture

  • Advantages
    Comfortable
    Lightweight
  • Disadvantages
    Not robust
Andreas's profile picture

  • Advantages
    Breathable
    Lightweight
    Stabilizes the foot
    Comfortable
Matthew's profile picture

  • Advantages
    Breathable
    Comfortable
    Good grip
    Lightweight
Sergey's profile picture

  • Advantages
    Lightweight
    Comfortable
Sven's profile picture

  • Advantages
    Good grip
    Robust
    Lightweight
  • Disadvantages
    Not waterproof
michael's profile picture

14% have found the reviews
by michael helpful

  • Advantages
    Lightweight
    Breathable
    Comfortable
  • Disadvantages
    Not robust

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