How to Choose Hiking Boots
La Sportiva Boulder X Approach Shoes - Men's
$159.00
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Featuring sticky rubber and soft padding, La Sportiva Boulder X approach shoes keep your feet comfortable while hoofing it to and from your favorite climbs.
- Vibram® Idrogrip rubber sticks to dry and wet surfaces for excellent performance on trail and low-angle rock
- Leather uppers combine with beefy rubber rands for lasting performance and comfort
- High-cushion EVA layers are placed on top of the 2mm polypropylene insoles to cushion your feet on long approaches
- Patented Mythos to-the-toe lacing lets you fine-tune the fit and tie the laces as snug or loose as you need to; heel and toe loops aid entry and storage
Imported.
View all La Sportiva Men's Hiking Shoes| Best Use | Hiking Rock Climbing |
|---|---|
| Gender | Men's |
| Upper | Leather |
| Outsole | Vibram Idrogrip rubber |
| Lining | Mesh |
| Footwear Closure | Lace-up |
| Weight (Pair) | 2 lbs. 2 oz. |
| Sustainability | From a Climate Neutral Certified brand |
La Sportiva Footwear - Men's
| 34 EU | 35.5 EU | 36.5 EU | 37 EU | 37.5 EU | 38 EU | 38.5 EU | 39 EU | 39.5 EU | 40 EU | 40.5 EU | 41 EU | 41.5 EU | 42 EU | 42.5 EU | 43 EU | 43.5 EU | 44 EU | 44.5 EU | 45 EU | 45.5 EU | 46 EU | 46.5 EU | 47 EU | 47.5 EU | 48 EU | 48.5 EU | 49 EU | 49.5 EU | 50 EU | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Men's | 2.5+ | 4 | 4.5+ | 5 | 5.5 | 6 | 6.5 | 6.5+ | 7 | 7.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 8.5+ | 9 | 9.5 | 10 | 10.5 | 10.5+ | 11 | 11.5 | 12 | 12.5 | 12.5+ | 13 | 13.5 | 14 | 14.5 | 15 | 15.5 | 16 |
| U.S. Women's | 3.5 | 5 | 5.5+ | 6 | 6.5 | 7 | 7.5 | 7.5+ | 8 | 8.5 | 9 | 9.5 | 9.5+ | 10 | 10.5 | 11 | 11.5 | 11.5+ | 12 | 12.5 | 13 | 13.5 | 13.5+ | 14 | 14.5 | 15 | 15.5 | 16 | 16.5 | |
| EU | 34 | 35.5 | 36.5 | 37 | 37.5 | 38 | 38.5 | 39 | 39.5 | 40 | 40.5 | 41 | 41.5 | 42 | 42.5 | 43 | 43.5 | 44 | 44.5 | 45 | 45.5 | 46 | 46.5 | 47 | 47.5 | 48 | 48.5 | 49 | 49.5 | 50 |
| Mondo | 24 | 24.5 | 25 | 25.5 | 26 | 26.5 | 27 | 27.5 | 28 | 28.5 | 29 | 29.5 | 30 | 30.5 | 31 |
Sizing Notes
For boots: Add one half size to your street shoe size. You should be able to slip one finger behind your heel when you are standing up with the boot unlaced and your toes touching the front. If the boot is too short, your toes will get smashed walking downhill. Too long and your heel will slide up and down and give you blisters.
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Most Helpful Favorable Review
Boulder X
ZonaGuides10 years ago
I don't often write reviews, but when I read those for this product I had to weigh in. These approach shoes are one of the best on the market. I do a lot of climbing, scrambling, and canyoning and here are the features I like: 1. sticky rubber (even when wet) but gives good wear life, 2. leather uppers provide incredibly solid feel to the shoe (it does not rotate on your foot), 3. good heel pocket makes the shoe feel like an extension of your foot, 4. perfect balance of stiffness for good edging without sacrificing comfort or presenting pressure points in the heel. I call these my super feet: when I have these on I can do just about anything. I have narrow feet and these fit perfectly.
The rand and the recessed laces are perfect for foot jamming. Being a leather shoe it is a little heavy, but that is what it takes to get the performance. I climb with them on my harness without any problem. All the synthetics I have used or heard of from others are light and cool, but will roll on your foot, being little better than tennis shoes. These are a technical shoe; they are a tool. The laces need to be worked according to the demand: on mild terrain I have the laces looser in the forefoot, but when the terrain gets challenging I tighten them up and they are awesome. I use them in 110 degree weather in AZ and have no problem with them being too hot. I also use them canyoneering and they work well, giving the same performance soaking wet as they do when dry.
ZonaGuides
Phoenix, AZ, United States
68 people found this review helpful
Most Helpful Critical Review
Good traction, but hot, heavy, and tough to tie.
teo91610 years ago
I thought these fit pretty well on my feet. I liked the traction and performance I got out of these. However, summer time hiking/scrambling in CA these were super hot, and clipped to a harness a bit on the heavy side. Also, I blew a hole in the suede/leather pretty quickly. One other thing I wasn't keen on were the laces. The laces seemed easy to come undone even when double knotted. When tightening the laces I felt it was hard to get them evenly tight across the shoe. When tying up quickly it seemed they were always tight at the top and not at the toe unless you really started at the toe and took the time to tighten it up to the top every time.
teo916
Sacramento, CA
32 people found this review helpful
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Matt
San Diego, CA
Super comfortable, stable, high-performing shoe
7 years ago
I bought this shoe as my trail running shoes that I typically used for the hike to and from the crags or down the canyon were too light-weight, would not have stable grip, and would get torn to shreds. The Boulder X is everything I was looking for. They are super comfortable. My foot fits snugly into them and when laced up I get a good level of support and protection which is exactly what I need when hopping around on rocks on the way to the crag or rappelling down canyons. They are solid, made of great material, soles are very sticky, and best of all, they are a sporty looking shoe...LaSportiva has done it again and continues to impress me with every pair of shoes or boots that I have bought from them.
Yes , I recommend this product
VermontPT
The Green Mountains
Best in its class!
1 year ago
You need to have absolute trust in your traction on Acadia’s slippery granite and these approach shoes are second to none! The Vibram Idrogrip soles have excelled! The comfort of a low cut hiker to comfortably hike with the grip of a climbing shoe. They do run a bit narrow (and I have a narrow foot), but if I keep the lower laces looser, I have no issues. Wore them around the house for two days to break them in and then they were put into use with no issues. I am so impressed with the Vibram Idrogrip that I am going to have my other boots resoled with it! Acadia’s Precipice Trail (YouTube it) was slick and these shoes stuck to that rock like they were Velcro’d to it). These are a “buy two pairs” type of shoe.
Age:45–54
Weight:200–225 lbs.
Height:5'11"
Typical Shoe Size:Mens 10.5
Yes , I recommend this product
teo916
Sacramento, CA
Good traction, but hot, heavy, and tough to tie.
10 years ago
I thought these fit pretty well on my feet. I liked the traction and performance I got out of these. However, summer time hiking/scrambling in CA these were super hot, and clipped to a harness a bit on the heavy side. Also, I blew a hole in the suede/leather pretty quickly. One other thing I wasn't keen on were the laces. The laces seemed easy to come undone even when double knotted. When tightening the laces I felt it was hard to get them evenly tight across the shoe. When tying up quickly it seemed they were always tight at the top and not at the toe unless you really started at the toe and took the time to tighten it up to the top every time.
No, I do not recommend this product
4FunRunner
USA
Best All-around
9 years ago
My first pair lasted two years of constant abuse. My second pair is holding up even better. They aren't the coolest or lightest shoe around, but I'd rather have sweaty feet than go without the performance they provide. They're sticky, stiff enough for a moderate pack, and comfortable enough for everyday wear. I like these for hiking, longer than 5-minute climbing approaches, scrambling, and rock hopping (think Garnet Canyon in Teton). I use smartfeet in mine. If I find out Sportiva is going to drastically change this shoe, I'll start stockpiling.
Yes , I recommend this product
Dave
Denver, CO, United States
Excellent for what it is
7 years ago
This is my 3rd pair of Boulder X's. This is my go to shoe for Class 3/4 climbs. Others have told me that they climb 10.8's with these comfortably. But you can climb a lot of things "comfortably", so take that with a grain of salt. The rubber is super sticky and gives me much higher confidence on all rock. The rubber banding is great and the shoe is just bullet proof! After you get them broken in they are comfortable enough to be worn around town as an every day shoe. Just remember that this is a technical shoe, no ankle support, wears out quickly, long break in period, and for 8+ hours on a non technical trail its hot and miserable. As I said above, these are all trade offs for performance. I will probably buy another pair once I wear these ones out.
JJLouis
Windsor, CT
Awesome work shoes for roofers!
9 years ago
I bought these specifically for work. I figured if they were good enough for bouldering, they'd be good enough for climbing roofs all day long. They are easily the best, most comfortable, and longest lasting shoes I've had yet. The grip is phenomenal. I've worn them everyday through spring, summer, and fall. The only thing that's broken on them so far is one of the laces. I can't possibly recommend these enough!
Tarmack
Nevada
Great Shoe for Approach and 4th / easy 5th Class
1 year ago
I really love these shoes for single shoe peak climbing. I can approach many miles of trails and boulders in comfort, climb for hours with great grip and edging, and then hike out - all without changing my shoes. I used to wear heavier boots for some of the 4th class / easy 5th class routes I like to do, but these are so sure footed on the trail and so much fun on the rock comparted to my boots! IMO they run a whole size small - I wear a 12 in Asolo Fugitive (heavy boot) and Merrell Moab (light boot) - but even sized a little tighter for climbing I wear a 46.5 (12.5+) and sized like my other boots with a finger space behind my heel when toes are touching - I wear a 47 ((13). I only wear Sportiva for rock climbing shoes (I've had more than 10 pairs) as they on the narrow side and really hold my foot snug - these are the same. I love this new orange color combo so much I am buying another pair to put away.
Age:55–64
Weight:200–225 lbs.
Height:5'11"
Typical Shoe Size:Mens 12
Yes , I recommend this product
M Silver
Lexington, Ky
Grat fit, durability and traction. Ok cushioning
4 years ago
I purchased these shoes on a wim since they were on sale and wore them around town for about a year and they hardly showed any wear on the soles. They fit great, the lacing allowed me to adjust them to fit perfect for my needs. I wound up in Arizona for 6 months without my hiking boots so I used these to hike the desert and up and down the mountains every weekend. While their traction and fit was excellent for the terrain, the rocks, and trails. But, they do not have the cushioning of hiking boots/shoes. On several hikes coming back down 3-4000 elevations over several miles on steep rocky trails with no natural "give" like dirt trails, the shock of each step down accumulates and wears on you.
Age:45–54
Weight:150–175 lbs.
Height:5'4"
Typical Shoe Size:Mens 9.5
Yes , I recommend this product
ZonaGuides
Phoenix, AZ, United States
Boulder X
10 years ago
I don't often write reviews, but when I read those for this product I had to weigh in. These approach shoes are one of the best on the market. I do a lot of climbing, scrambling, and canyoning and here are the features I like: 1. sticky rubber (even when wet) but gives good wear life, 2. leather uppers provide incredibly solid feel to the shoe (it does not rotate on your foot), 3. good heel pocket makes the shoe feel like an extension of your foot, 4. perfect balance of stiffness for good edging without sacrificing comfort or presenting pressure points in the heel. I call these my super feet: when I have these on I can do just about anything. I have narrow feet and these fit perfectly. The rand and the recessed laces are perfect for foot jamming. Being a leather shoe it is a little heavy, but that is what it takes to get the performance. I climb with them on my harness without any problem. All the synthetics I have used or heard of from others are light and cool, but will roll on your foot, being little better than tennis shoes. These are a technical shoe; they are a tool. The laces need to be worked according to the demand: on mild terrain I have the laces looser in the forefoot, but when the terrain gets challenging I tighten them up and they are awesome. I use them in 110 degree weather in AZ and have no problem with them being too hot. I also use them canyoneering and they work well, giving the same performance soaking wet as they do when dry.
Yes , I recommend this product
bryanon
Orange County CA
Very stiff shoe with a very rigid toe box.
5 years ago
I tried my best to like these shoes. I originally bought a size 44, felt too tight, went up to 44.5, better. However I gave these shoes a few weeks of daily wear, and it seems like I could never get them to break in. Did some short approaches in them (under 1 hour), and wore them as my everyday shoe as well. They are certainly a robust shoe that seem like they will hold up well to scrambling, but I couldn't get over the discomfort factor. My toes were always in pain with these shoes. I will try a pair of their TX approach shoes next.... With that said, I have 8 pairs of La Sportiva climbing shoes on my gear shelf.
No, I do not recommend this product
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