Approach shoe

An approach shoe sits between a hiking shoe and a climbing shoe, built with a supportive, trail ready upper and outsole but using a stickier rubber compound than typical hiking boots. This makes them better suited to scrambling over rock on the walk in to a crag, where a hiking boot's harder rubber can feel slippery.

Most approach shoes include a climbing zone at the toe, a flatter rubber patch designed for smearing on rock during short scrambly sections, along with a lacing pattern that extends further down the toe for precision when the terrain gets technical. Stiffness varies, with lighter models favoring speed on long approaches and stiffer models favoring support carrying a heavy pack.

Picking the right approach shoe depends mostly on the terrain: rocky scrambling approaches favor grippy rubber and a supportive fit, while long flat trail walks favor a lighter, more breathable shoe closer to a trail runner. They are not a substitute for climbing shoes on the actual route, just the gear that gets you and your rack to the base of it.