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| brett21. 08. 2020 07:32:39 |
Hello,
my current Alpinini low hiking shoes are coming to an end. I'm seriously considering getting low mountaineering shoes that could replace high ones if needed. Since I notice more and more hikers using low shoes for high mountains.
Purpose of use: all seasons except snow time.
What do you recommend?
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| iUnknown21. 08. 2020 14:15:01 |
I swear by La Sportiva Ultra Raptor. In some cases I used them in snow too, but then I used gaiters as well. They are especially very comfortable to wear, grip very well on rocky ground. The downside of this better grip is that they wear out faster. Usually they last me about 500 Km, while some worse shoes lasted me well over 1000 Km.
But lately they've become quite more expensive. At first I bought the GTX model for around 105 EUR, now you're lucky if you get them for 130.
So for some cases where grip isn't that important, I also use Salomon shoes. Salomon isn't as comfortable for me as La Sportiva and they slip noticeably more on rocks and roots. One model I'm using now is more suitable for mud than La Sportiva.
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| HikerGirl23. 08. 2020 21:10:38 |
iUnknown, do you wear GTX version or regular? I have both (Raptorks) and they're great for short walks, but I feel like under GTX in heat my feet sweat a lot. Those who wear low GTX shoes on longer hikes - what socks do you have on? Special synthetics or regular? With synthetic ankle socks my feet sweat even more I think...
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| Climber9124. 08. 2020 08:09:08 |
La Sportiva TX4 also excellent 
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| marsus197824. 08. 2020 08:47:37 |
Hi brett,
If you want hiking shoes and not adidas Ultra raptor and similar, you have a lot of choice. TX4 are suitable mainly for approaches, ideal for sports via ferrata because they have really sticky rubber. Otherwise in the low hiking shoes group: Mammut Ayako low, Millet Friction, Black Diamond also has them, Alpina Mjoy low etc. with or without membrane. I use Mammut Ayako low and they are very good hiking shoes, climbing up to grade III, off-trail no problem, via ferrata, very demanding paths... but it all depends on your foot and strength of your ankles and WEIGHT OF YOUR BACKPACK. My practice: up to 10 kg still low shoes, over 10 mid-high in summer and high for the rest.
best.
Marjan
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| sla24. 08. 2020 08:59:04 |
I have La Sportiva Raptor without Goretex and La Sportiva TX4. Since lately I hike a lot (doing SPP), I can share my experiences. Raptorks are not the best footwear for high mountains because not stable enough, there TX4 are ideal. For mid-mountains where there are also gravel and asphalt sections, Raptorks are better, which are basically trail sneakers and not low boots. The problem is in the morning and forenoon, because due to dew on grass and brush, both get soaked very quickly.
Unfortunately I'll destroy both models this season it seems.... That's not footwear that would last years with such intensive use as I have this year. In the past they made footwear that lasted much longer.
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| iUnknown24. 08. 2020 09:21:20 |
@HikerGirl
Sorry, I wasn't paying attention and didn't look.
I have both. GTX and regular. Usually I have at least two pairs of each. I often wear GTX even in summer, when planning a route over terrain with grass. In the morning there's often dew on grass and if no GTX, then all socks in shoes are wet right away. GTX + gaiters I wore even in US deserts in extreme heat, because the sand there is so fine that it goes through everything if no GTX.
But I tested all possible socks, because at first I had problems with blisters. Last 4 years I only wear BRBL Atlas (Kibuba), which are the best of all tested for me. Very rarely get a small blister, mainly on very long routes.
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| iUnknown24. 08. 2020 09:34:20 |
I don't know La Sportiva TX4 and I'll buy and test them sometime.
I fully realize that for scree downhill, e.g. from Grintavec down, it's not as suitable as some boots, but I've adapted my walking style so it doesn't cause me any problems.
As for weight, I've carried a 75 liter backpack weighing 12-15 Kg with low shoes several times from Savica over Komna to Krn and back the same day, and had no issues. And that wasn't the only such tour.
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| bianco.nero24. 08. 2020 11:40:34 |
I have TX4 and they are TOP for me, very comfortable in combination with BRBL socks, grip is super. Regarding wear, compared to Raptor or Akyra it's much less, and I hike scree too and after say 5 serious hikes no signs of serious wear yet. Say Akyra were destroyed after 2 hikes for me, because the rubber is simply too soft for rock.
From my experience with La Sportiva I can say these trail shoes are really only suitable for trail running, not for serious hiking, because they are simply too soft and wear out quickly.
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| HikerGirl24. 08. 2020 13:13:34 |
Thanks for the reply, iUnknown. I'll try the socks you recommend, because I also have problems with blisters.
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| Lunatixz24. 08. 2020 13:18:12 |
If you're looking for shoes for high mountains, I'd definitely recommend one of the two options below - depending on which fits your foot type better. Both types are by far the most popular choice among climbers/alpinists for a reason (I move in those circles myself). Both have top Vibram Megagrip rubber on the sole, which offers excellent grip, and doesn't wear out too quickly - for 50-60€ certified shoemakers can replace the sole with an original (Shoesdoctor, ..).
- Scarpa Mescalito (https://www.kibuba.com/obutev/nizki-pohodniski/moski/Moski-nizki-pohodniski-cevlji-Scarpa-Mescalito)
- La Sportiva TX4 (https://www.iglusport.si/tx-4-gtx)
In the past I used mountain running shoes for high mountains too, but they are much less stable and durable, practically unusable on scree (I destroyed one pair on the first longer scree).
I now use that type of shoe almost exclusively for mid-mountains / well-trodden (mostly) forest paths, where they surely shine. The most sensible is to buy two pairs (1x TX4/Mescalito and 1x mountain running) which you then use according to trail difficulty - in the long run buying two pairs doesn't cost more, because you'll have them longer due to less frequent use.
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| sla24. 08. 2020 13:28:35 |
I agree with Lunatixz.
Regarding socks, it's like this. In Raptors I put on thin low Salewin socks from Kibuba (sorry for the ad), in TX4 some short running stubs from Hofer. NEVER had blisters, but whenever I stop for more than 3 minutes, I take off shoes and socks and put them in the sun to dry. Then I put on flip-flops, whether on Stol ridge or top of Prisojnik. I really look like a Czech, but the system works. Nothing better than airing the foot and putting a dry sock on a dry foot. If more moisture, I also take out the insole from the shoe (I think it's also called steljka).
And about shoe wear - on TX4 that extended colored sole part is almost coming off, and I've only had the shoe for 2 months....
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| nteam24. 08. 2020 22:25:01 |
sla,
that you "wear out" two pairs of shoes in one season is only praiseworthy . It happens to me too for a couple of years  .
Heavy gojzarji, 10, 20 and more years old, have survived .
I'm currently using dynafit feline SL 2020, good experiences also with Salomon speedcross 5, with La sportiva ultra raptor I have the worst experiences of those mentioned.
Best regards!
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| sla25. 08. 2020 07:58:35 |
Previously I used Scarpa Zen, but in Slovenia they're not available for my foot. But La Sportiva TX4 are like slippers compared to Scarpa. For scree not...
Sneakers for high mountains (as I already wrote) are too unstable. After descent from Grintovec and Kočna, I changed at Češka koča from TX4 to Raptor, and thought I forgot how to walk
When I wear out Scarpa in mountains, they're still usable for MTB 
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| nteam25. 08. 2020 10:08:20 |
The feeling of stability comes with mileage. Scree fields are no longer a problem then.
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| Lukito25. 08. 2020 10:47:34 |
Ultra raptor GTX I use for short trips (morning dog walk over hill), Kriska Gora etc. For everything else they are completely too soft for my weight. But I like them because I have wide feet - previously had Salomon speedcross and they are much narrower. For rain for short distances I have Crossover 2.0 GTX and it has never disappointed me (grass / mud / snow, hardly wore it on rock).
Tried Garmont Dragontail too but it didn't fit my foot and they are pig heavy shoes. Probably would give LaSportiva Hyper a chance sometime, currently for easier climbing and ferratas I use Montura Yaru.
And then we have highs, which I wear most of the time. Hard to run in gojzarji. Me too, so no problems with that
La Sportiva TX5 were a bit too rubbery for me (that's why I didn't look at low TX4). Last two years for summer I wear Trango Trk Leather GTX and it's great, sole will probably last one more season, but already a bit rubbed from scree. For snow Nepal Cube GTX (most comfortable shoe for me of all) - after two seasons soles a bit detached, need to reglue. In between looking at Trango Tech Leather GTX which are really ultra light and everyone recommends them highly to me. At such weight for myself I see no point buying lows.
But I don't get how you keep ankles intact in low shoes/sneakers on scree? 
Oh, socks. Some hiking ones so they don't bunch up and sole feeling is dry. Lorpen thicker for gojzarji, thinner for sneakers. True though I don't remember when I last had a blister.
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| biba25. 08. 2020 11:30:31 |
@brett: My first low shoes (8? years ago) were Garmont Dragontail. The sole is as robust as on gojzarji, providing stiffness and stability. Excellent grip also for climbing. Such or a similar shoe I would recommend when switching to low footwear. La Sportiva TX4 is also an OK shoe for high mountains, due to the sole it performs better on rock. It has less profile than Dragontail. Regarding La Sportiva Ultra Raptor, I agree with the above comments that they are less suitable for high mountains.
I only wear low approach or running shoes now, depending on terrain, activity. In winter Nepals. I don't complicate with socks, no problems with blisters nor scree. I don't wear GTX shoes in summer, it's too hot.
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| čara25. 08. 2020 13:32:04 |
Do Merrell Vents count as mountaineering? Would the grip be good also on rocky terrain? More mid-mountains, high mountains (not yet) for me, don't walk very demanding trails either. So far Stol was the most I managed.
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| coffee25. 08. 2020 15:17:22 |
In principle any shoe will grip on normal rocky path, if not wet or polished. Given that you're interested in mid-mountains, which means mostly walking in forest, I'd personally choose something with more lugged sole. Otherwise don't know how it is inside, but that mesh probably won't last long on stony paths, and water seems problematic to me, some dewy meadow can soak the foot.
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| Janezs25. 08. 2020 17:05:55 |
I have exactly a problem with Marrel GRX, low ones (they are in the car), I'll check the exact label. On wet, they slip a lot regardless of the surface (stone, asphalt). On dry surface super.
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| turbo25. 08. 2020 17:59:04 |
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