Decent approach shoe

By Josh Der Ranked #158 - Rock Climbing Shoes September 17, 2009

I got these shoes as a replacement for Merrell Edge approach shoes and these have a far superior fit, performance, and construction. I would say they have an average fit for the size and didn't need any breaking in for me. I've been wearing them for about 1 month almost daily. The breathable upper is heavier and more durable than I expected (which is a good thing) and protects my feet well when I snag on a branch or wedge it in a crack. The lacing system allows for excellent adjustment, but its not easy to quickly change from a loose to tight fit when you move from trail to scramble. The heel loops are a bit small to get a finger through to pull the shoe on, but work well to clip them on a carabiner.

The rubber seems to be a good mix of stick and durability. After a month of mixed trail, rock and concrete, I detect some tread wear in the toe and heel, but not but not what I would consider excessive for a street shoe (certainly more wear than I expect from a hiking boot).

The last is torsionally stiff, but retains flexibility on the ball of the foot. This provides a good mix of performance on both trail and scrambling rock. The inside toe edge is farther away from my foot than I'd like, but edges far better than my previous approach shoe and any sneaker/sandal I've tried climbing in. I'm able to climb featured 5.9 routes in these shoes, but keep in mind that they are an approach shoe, so don't have the performance you need in a true climbing shoe. Edging in these shoes requires substantial foot strength. The tread is not very extreme, so slips easily on loose steep trails, while has decent stick smearing on slabby rock.

View Details: The North Face Smedge Approach Shoe - Men's

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