Price: $159
Fabrics: Vibram megagrip outsole, rubber rand, mesh upper, re-soleable outsole.
Weight: 10.5 oz.
Testers' Beta: We were excited that this new color mesh was a new version of the teal TX3 that has been around for a decade or so, but the TX4’s changes in fit and function were found to be less than ideal. The toe box is wide but the tongue is sewn in and that makes the fit on the forefoot feel tight. Some testers cut the tongue after one trip to create needed space.

After lots of approaches on talus of different rock types, surprisingly, it would slip and skid out way more than expected. The rubber and hiking lug tread were not confidence-inspiring on slabs and talus and definitely not as sticky as the dot rubber outsole of the TX3. They claim to use the same rubber so the lug outsole is the big difference.

The tongue, being attached to the shoe and not free floating like the TX3, makes it hard to pull it back and get a good fit, and it tends to bunch up and feel tight and constricting. While it keeps out scree and dirt, its lack of width negates that benefit.

Overall: The re-soleable outsole would seem like a great feature, but the reality is that it needs the dot rubber outsole of the TX3, where resoling would be a dream feature. As is, it’s unlikely you’d need a resole before the upper mesh breaks down. The new color is refreshing and appreciated after a decade of teal in the TX3. But the rest of the shoe really has nothing on the TX3. The fit is tighter and not quite as comfortable for long approaches, and the outsole is not as sticky and it weighs more than the TX3.

Price: $179.95
Fabrics: Seamless Kevlar Matryx fabric upper, the gravity rubber rand reinforcement wraps and protects the heel and toe. Vibram megagrip outsole. Custom fit footbed.
Weight: 10.4 oz.
Testers' Beta: This shoe is super comfortable out of the box with a very wide forefoot. The size felt a little big compared to others tested, and may be why the heel was a bit sloppy, but the lacing system is good for cinching it all down. The shoe is on the ‘stiffer’ side of approach shoes which made it nice and stable, especially since it was still pretty light, a good balance for carrying heavy packs.

The outsole however, has a tread that is not sticky enough on talus and tends to slide. This megagrip rubber is helpful, but the tread, like most others in this review, have gone to more of a hiking lug tread that is not as good for talus and rock approaches as having at least some sticky dot rubber tread underfoot. The weight to stability ratio is really good however, making it great for taking on long approaches and carrying on your harness up 15 pitches. We took it on long overnight climbing trips and single day climbs in the Sierra, over wet stone, dry talus and some mossy slabs.

One tester’s notes in particular: I am a fan of Salewa shoes in general and have had good luck with them pretty consistently, esp being quite comfy out of the box. I was impressed with the cushion and comfort straight away (I felt the opposite about the Arc’teryx Konseal). They feel like a cross between a trail running shoe and an approach shoe, which I appreciate as my feet have some chronic issues. These days I’m willing to sacrifice a bit of stickiness and precision for more of a running shoe type of comfort. However, I preferred the more anatomical foot shape of the Scarpa Rapid LT to these; they put a bit of pressure on the insides of the balls of my feet. They are not super stiff - much less stiff and precise than the Scarpa Rapid LT. The lacing system is super durable as is the entire upper of the shoe. The lugs on the heel and the part of the sole just under the heel are pretty aggressive and large and seem unnecessary for an approach shoe. The heel-toe drop and heel cushion also feel a little excessive - the drop is very noticeable at 10mm.

Price: $179
Fabrics: Vibram megagrip outsole, suede leather upper and full perimeter TPU rand.
Weight: 11.6 oz.
Testers' Beta: We loved the fit of this shoe out of the box, it has a good wide forefoot, nice heel fit and though a little heavier than others, it felt comfortable and agile in talus and rocky trails with a day climbing pack. It does run a bit large for its size. Again, it has more of a ‘trail’ outsole, which is not as sticky as dot rubber for wet talus or slabs or actual technical approach moves. But it feels very durable and a no frills option with quality leather for those who want a more weather and cactus resistant fabric!