We compare and contrast each model to the most similar products to help you make an informed decision. The La Sportiva TX2 Evo weighs a little more at around 13 ounces per shoe and is our preferred lightweight option because it provides weight savings while also climbing and hiking very well. The Scarpa Mescalito Planet is similarly stiff and supportive, with a thickly padded sole for long days on the trail. Most of the weaknesses of the TX3 are due to the fact that it is designed as an approach shoe, rather than as canyoning-specific footwear. The TX3 lies in the middle in terms of weight and durability, with a lightweight synthetic upper similar to the TX2, but the stable sole and Impact Brake System of the TX4, providing stability and comfort on the trail.

The padding on the TX2 falls between the TX3 and Cruzer, but it is still a bit minimal for my taste, especially if I’m wearing a heavy pack when approaching bigger alpine routes. The TX Guide is a robust and bombproof approach shoe that hikes like a boot though, so the weight is in all the right places.

The result is a shoe that strikes a great balance of trail comfort and climbing performance that makes a great option for a quiver-of-one approach shoe.

TX3 is the best approach shoe I’ve ever used, and I’ve been through a decent amount of them (multiple old Guide tennies, new Guide tennies, Scarpa Crux, Scarpa Gecko, Sportiva Boulder X’s, etc). I left my shoes at the base (we rapped the route) but they worked well for the hike with a heavy overnight pack. The Black Diamond Mission LT also comes in a lightweight package, but we'd rather opt for the top-ranked La Sportiva TX Guide, which is relatively lightweight and provides excellent performance. Traveling around the country in his van, Matt's spent countless hours hiking to the base of many crags. While this shoe is designed to be lightweight and minimalist, La Sportiva don’t appear to have achieved this by sacrificing durability.

Size down a half or full size from your street shoe, and you'll get better climbing performance, but this can become uncomfortable on long approaches. I spent a lot of time writing this story, so if you enjoyed it, please consider giving it a share using one of the buttons below, and leave a comment or question at the bottom of this story. We look at product specifications and design, and draw on anecdotal evidence to select the best products for side-by-side testing. The TX3 is also a bit of a sponge in wet weather, as the thick protective upper coupled with the STB Control rand doesn’t allow for drainage or quick drying.

The La Sportiva TX3 is an approach shoe by design that doubles as an all-day hiking shoe without missing a beat. Extraordinarily, this last minute, desperate purchase saw me stumble on to what has easily become my favourite canyoning shoe. This shoe is similar to a robust trail running shoe, with the addition of sticky Vibram MegaGrip rubber to enhance its performance on technical terrain and talus.The Vibram Lug design on the TX Guide utilizes a unique lug pattern that provides grip in sand and rock, as well as traction on smooth granite and slick surfaces. We still feel comfortable recommending these shoes for their great performance in other metrics, but we need to warn potential users that they should expect to shoe-glue these soles back onto the shoes at some point during their lifespan. I am looking at La Sportiva TX, TX2 or TX3, but struggling to see which would be the most appropriate? The Scarpa Crux also has plenty of support, and costs less than the rest of the products on the market. Three years after I first published this review, the TX3 remain one of my favorite hiking shoes, especially for long days in hot, dry weather.