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Description

For the approach—and sometimes the climb.

The slip-lasted La Sportiva Men’s Ganda Approach Shoe uses a low-profile design to increase performance on 3rd and 4th class terrain below the steeper stuff. A pointed toe helps you get into aiders when you’re hooking your way up some A4, and sticky Vibram Dot Rubber keeps you glued to smears when you have to make a 5.8 move a few hundred feet above the deck.

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La Sportiva Ganda Approach Shoe - Men's

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Here's what others have to say...

5 5

mil3758258

Member since 
  • Gender: Male
  • Familiarity: I've used it several times

I kicked Chuck Norris' ass in these shoes.

mil3758258

Member since 
Responded on

seriously though these are the best approach shoes out there. Period. How you size them depends on what you want from them. If you want a slightly tighter fit for more free climbing go down a half size and approach without the insole and climb with the insole to take up some volume. I sized them to my normal sportiva shoe size and I'm perfectly happy with them. These things are awesome for wall climbing,and seem to be way more durable than most approach shoes so that helps justify the cost somewhat.

mil3758258

Member since 
Responded on

one last thing, these shoes are NARROW, which i absolutely love but it may be a hindrance for some people. I wear a 47 and this is one a few shoes out there that actually maintain a narrow profile in larger sizes.

Will you be stocking smaller sizes? In...

sfo5026311

Member since 
Posted on

Will you be stocking smaller sizes? In nepal top evos I am a women's 39.5

Take care,
Silvie

5 5

Willygbro

Member since 

“Ganda” is:

A. A town in the Nagqu Prefecture in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China
B. An ethnic group native to Buganda, a subnational kingdom within Uganda
C. By far the most versatile shoe I have ever owned.
D. All of the above

If you answered D you were right but really the only answer that matters is C. I really cannot stress how versatile these shoes are. So far, I have:

Climbed 5.8 trad
Bouldered V3
Free-ride Mountain biked
Ordered a large Americano at Starbucks

In all honesty, I feel a bit bad about putting the last one on there - I went through the drive through so the role of the shoe was limited.

In all seriousness, the versatility of these shoes is amazing. - read more at 307andbeyond.tumblr.com

"A"mazing
2 5

climb

Member since 

The soles peel off prematurely. la sportiva does not provide return shipping labels and you will have to pay to have them shipped. they will not resole them either tho their description states multiple resoles.

Greg G

Member since 
Groups:
Responded on

If you have warranty issues with any product purchased through Backcountry.com we will be happy to help you with the warranty process as a liaison. If the shoe doesn't meet warranty criteria we'll be happy to refund or exchange the show quickly and easily. Give us a call at 1-800-409-4502 any time!

5 5

lan4114705

Member since 

I was very impressed with this shoe but is not my first choice, especially if your doing a lot more hiking than climbing. However, if I desided I was only bringing one pair of shoes to go on a climbing outting these would so be the ones. They are more like a climbing shoe than a hiking shoe and can do both tasks well. One thing to note, the lacing comes right down to the toe and is quite wide. If you spend a lot of time in places where sand and small rocks or twigs can get into your shoes then these will probably drive you nuts!

5 5

DEON NORTJE

Member since 

pricey, but worth the money spent as you will get a great approach shoe from sportiva that will outlast your expectations

4 5

Matt Oakley

Member since 

I have used these so far for approaches in the adirondacks, joshua tree, the tetons, and LCC in Utah.

They climb quite well, I climbed all of lower and upper Exum on the grand in these and felt quite confident in them. The fit can really be pulled in tight to feel more like a climbing shoe or kept loose enough to be fairly comfy to climb in. The rubber is quite sticky, and thus wears somewhat quickly. The platform is stiff enough to give support but still give some feel.

Like most people have said they are good for up to about 5 miles with a decent sized pack on. Much more than that they start to make your feet really hurt. Without a pack you could go further. The other issue I have is the toe box is VERY narrow, like a climbing shoe. I have very narrow feet and these still rub the skin off my little toe. I tape my toe if I know I'm going to be in the for a while. These shoes run very warm. I find myself taking them off every few hours just to let my feet cool off a bit.

I was looking at the Ganda as a replacement...

cos4564664

Member since 
Posted on

I was looking at the Ganda as a replacement for my 5.10 Guide Tennie and was wondering how the Ganda sizes. The tennies I wear are a 41.5. Should I size close to the tennie or go up from there?

Matt Oakley

Member since 
Responded on

Not sure how they compare to 5.10 but I ended up going a 1/2 size bigger in these than in any of my other sportiva shoes. These run quite narrow, particularly in the toes (my little toe gets rubbed wearing these)

4 5

whi100865112

Member since 

They're a great shoe; I would have given 5 stars except for the multiple times I had to return and re-send these just to get them right. I ended up with a 45.5 EU and they're still tight when my foot is 10.5 US. A 46 would have been perfect except I had enough with the back & forth thing. They'll break in eventually. So, all said & done, they're a great shoe, just small to fit

5 5

gib3447377

Member since 

Let me say that I have worn the soles off one pair within a little less than a year due to the amount of wear I put on them. And I purchased another pair so that I wouldn't be with out my favorite shoe, while the first pair is out getting a re-sole.

With this said, I must say I've only done a couple trips where approach work was truely done in these shoes. The rest of the time was kicking it around town, an occasional hike on a weekend and going to and from the gym to climb.

A friend of mine at a local proshop told me when these first came out that La Sportive touted that these bad boys were designed to withstand up to 10 re-solings. After seeing the shape my orignal pair is in, there is no dought that these are well worth the money I spent on both pairs I own.


I think the rubber is a bit better durability wise than that of 5.10's guide teenies which I've owned several pairs of in the past. They was still very sticky even when the knobbies begin to wear off.

The best part is that the shoe it's self hasn't broke down like that of the guide teenie by 5.10, and because of this solid build my other pair off getting new rubber put on them.


I also like the fact that, not only do these look cool and they are different than what a normal individual wears, they hike well while being a decent climber unlike most quote approach shoes a whole which truely don't done anything very well when one honestly critics them.

I've bouldered on V-3's, Trad climbed up to a 5.10a's. They edge truely with a sturdy lateral support of a great lace up, while the soles tend to be a lot stiffer than many approach shoes that wear more like running/ cross trainers.

I highly recommend these to anyone whom is looking for a solid approach and is willing to spend a bit more to get a truely great approach shoe.

5 5

ken johnstone

Member since 

I really like the slipper like feel of these shoes. Have great support with a stiff sole, and super sticky rubber. Was surprised at the actual ankle support too. Lacing is very adjustable for a perfect fit for the conditions.
Wearing 1/2 size bigger than my Katanas. Toes are a bit tight with socks with dock liner in, but They hike great with good support without liner.
Pricey, but sweet!!!!

5 5

renan ozturk

Member since 
Groups:

just got down from a 13 day on the diamond with the la sportiva ganda.... for the amount of walking, alpine chossineering and general abuse they did not show any wear point. I'm pretty impressed with the construction and really psyched on the confidence I can have while climbing with them!

next level construction/climbability
gib3447377

Member since 
Responded on

Renan is right. I've had my shoes for almost a year now and while the soles are getting rather slick. I was amazed my how still aggresive the show was while scrambling over talus and working my way up slabs.
I'm getting ready to have this pair resoled but in addition get another pair as these are so well built.
This was my replacement from 5.10's guide teenie that would require replacement every year. There is nothing other than rubber that has broken down on these. Thus I consider these well worth the investment.

Anybody know if these are consistent with...

abenevich1668833

Member since 
Posted on

Anybody know if these are consistent with La Sportiva's sizing for its other approach shoes?

Elaine Kratz

Member since 
Responded on

My La Spotriva climbing shoes are 1/2 a size smaller than my La Sportiva hiking shoes. Both fit very well.

ken johnstone

Member since 
Responded on

I also wear 1/2 size bigger approach (Ganda), and boots than climbing shoes (Katana Lace). Wear climbing shoes "trad comfortable", though not killer tight.

Matt Oakley

Member since 
Responded on

I got the ganda 1/2 size bigger than my Nepals, and other Sportiva hiking shoes.

5 5

John Young

Member since 

These shoes hug your feet like nothing you've ever worn before. They feel like broken in climbing shoes with padded uppers and with soles supportive enough to walk in. I love these shoes for approaches and for climbing up to 5.9-ish.

The laces to the toes do a great job of adjusting the shoe's fit back and forth between horizontal and vertical work. I have hiked about 5 miles in them and they did just fine. Not too grippy in the grass, and they do tend to get hot, but they hiked much better than I had expected from a "climbing" shoe.

I have had to force myself to NOT wear them everywhere for fear I would destroy the rubber too quickly. And it does wear fairly quickly.

UPDATE: I wore these up Teewinot, Mt. Moran, Grand Teton, South and North Maroon Peaks, Pyramid Peak, and countless sport and trad routes - and I absolutely love them. No complaints. Their claim of hiking 3 - 5 miles in them is right on the money. Any farther and the lack of cushioning in the fore foot starts to bother my feet.
Lastly, after a full summer of use the rubber at the toes is getting thin. The nubs are gone. I may try to stretch one more year out of them, but I am doubtful that they'll make it.

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