The new TX4 Evo from Sportiva is probably the best all-rounder in our guide to scrambling shoes, providing more walking support at the expense of just a touch of precision when on more technical terrain – but only just.
David Lintern Highly Recommends
For me, these are smart looking, tough, and more than technical enough for anything with a scrambling grade.- Excellent build quality
- Good braking
- Can resole
- A little less precise than others
| Quick specs | |
|---|---|
| Price: £170 Weight: 924g (pair size 10.5) Materials: Suede leather + rubber protective edge and protective rubber toe cap, Ortholite® Hybrid Approach 4mm. Features: Vibram® MegaGrip with IBS, mesh lining Sizes: EU 37-47.5 Women’s version: Yes www.lasportiva.com/en |
Noticeably, the sole features a pronounced heel breast for descending with real confidence, a sticky, softer rubber and well-designed diamond shaped lugs as well as the expected climbing zone at the toe, all of which gives excellent grip on the kind of ground you want to tackle wearing them.
The midsole and toebox width is very generous and the fit is really comfortable on approach. The tongue is luxuriously soft! I find the heel cup a little on the wide side, but I have very narrow heels, and the non slip lacing system is excellent top to bottom and mostly controls any tendency for heel rise. The EVA midsole adds to the comfort quotient, but also means the stack is higher than others in this selection, making for less groundfeel and a slightly less responsive shoe. The wider toebox also means they feel a little less nimble out front on rock than my best in test, but mid foot support is excellent, with the shoe happily edging on small ledges without slipping, or collapsing and putting extra stress on foot or ankle muscles.
The suede leather upper is fully protected by a wraparound rubber rand, and the mesh liner keeps things cool and breathable. That high rand keeps some of the damp at bay, but there is no waterproof membrane on the EVO – if you prefer one, there’s the similar but warmer running EVO GTX.
For me, these are smart looking, tough, and more than technical enough for anything with a scrambling grade. When the terrain edges into climbing, I’d prefer less midsole and a more precise toe.
