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Jeremy Bauman
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Jun 18, 2012
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Lakewood, CO
· Joined Feb 2009
· Points: 1,067
I've been looking for a new approach shoe recently for stuff up in the Park and I'm thinking about getting the LS Vertical K shoes. They're designed to be lwt running shoes and weigh only 14oz per pair. For that weight you could carry a pair of climbing shoes for anything technical and your overall weight would be about the same as a normal pair of approach shoes. I got the idea from Splitter Choss and think it sounds pretty good. Thoughts?
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Jeremy K
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Jun 18, 2012
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Evergreen, CO
· Joined Nov 2007
· Points: 0
The Evolv Cruzer is another option at ~15oz/pair. They are very light and packable, and feel like they would climb well. Also not as...yellow...
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Nate Reno
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Jun 18, 2012
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Highlands Ranch, CO
· Joined Oct 2008
· Points: 156
I have a similar shoe - LS Raptors They're fairly light, and I've done a lot of hiking in them. They smear just fine, but don't edge well at all (flexible), so for me it depends on how hard the approach is, or whatever else you'll be using them for. I'm OK w/ them for 4th class, but for low 5th I might want something a bit stiffer for any edges, depending on how much of this terrain there was. I've also worn my every day shoes - New Balance Minimus Trail as approach shoes - and they edge even worse. These are great as long as your feet can handle a minimal shoe, and the approach isn't too wet/dirty or rocky (you'll feel every pebble), but they are fantastically light/small in the pack while climbing! I don't think I'de appreciate these for much of anything off-trail, or anything very lengthy.
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Aeon Aki
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Jun 18, 2012
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Unknown Hometown
· Joined May 2006
· Points: 3,650
Jeremy, I just returned from a weekend in the Black Canyon and the Vertical K has changed the way I view lugging an approach shoe along for the ride. Descending the SOB gully was quick and painless, the sticky rubber used in the outsole of the shoe made me confident with every step. When it was time to switch to rock shoes, these things disappeared on my harness and I literally forgot they were there until I sat on them on top of P4. i will be bringing these on my next trip to Yosemite for the Half Dome descent and anytime a technical shoe is needed for approach or descent. Wear them once and you'll forget how "flashy" they are. Cheers!
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Jeremy Bauman
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Jun 19, 2012
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Lakewood, CO
· Joined Feb 2009
· Points: 1,067
Aeon Aki wrote:Jeremy, I just returned from a weekend in the Black Canyon and the Vertical K has changed the way I view lugging an approach shoe along for the ride. Descending the SOB gully was quick and painless, the sticky rubber used in the outsole of the shoe made me confident with every step. When it was time to switch to rock shoes, these things disappeared on my harness and I literally forgot they were there until I sat on them on top of P4. i will be bringing these on my next trip to Yosemite for the Half Dome descent and anytime a technical shoe is needed for approach or descent. Wear them once and you'll forget how "flashy" they are. Cheers! I think I'll grab a pair. How do you think they'll hold up concerning durability?
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Auto-X Fil
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Jun 19, 2012
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NEPA and Upper Jay, NY
· Joined Aug 2010
· Points: 50
I have been using the Raptor for a while. They have a pretty luggy outsole, so for East Coast approaches that have as much dirt, mud, and roots as rock, they are great. They are quite sticky, but as mentioned, don't edge at all. I have tried on the Vertical K and they seem like they would be awesome. The weight is 2/3 that of the Raptors, but you can still really run in them. They don't quite have the lugs, so I'd expect better rock traction and worse mud performance. The fit is a bit odd and didn't quite make me happy enough to buy them, and be aware you need to go up about a full size. I usually wear a 41.5 in LS, and I needed a 42.5 in the Vertical K, which were JUST big enough. I have a pair of NB MT10s that are just about blown-out... I might get a 5.10 Stealth resole kit and roll my own minimalist approach shoes. They would be awesome on slabs!
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