Mountain Project Logo

Flatiron Shoes

Original Post
Rick Blair · · Denver · Joined Oct 2007 · Points: 266

Looking for advice on a "do it all" shoe for the flatirons, trail hike in, east face route, hike out down steep pine needle covered gulley. Lost a pair of LS BoulderX last year, I liked them but I think I can do better this time around.

Jim Fox · · Westminster, CO · Joined Jun 2014 · Points: 50

I like 5-Tennies but not every shoe fits everyone.

I have done the route/hike in 5.10 Warhawks (no longer made but can find them for cheap on net sometimes). My review from Sierra Trading Post is below:

Great approach shoe

Verified Buyer Reviewed by Jim from Westminster, CO on Sunday, August 10, 2014

I wore these for the first time yesterday for a climb of the East Face of the Third Flatiron in Boulder. Wore them to hike in, climb and hike out. They were 5 stars on the climb. Comfortable and stuck to the rock well, with Stealth rubber soles. Some foot movement inside the shoe but that is the tradeoff for having comfort in climbing shoes. They were more than adequate for this climb ( an 8 pitch 5.4 trad route). I wouldn't wear them on more difficult climbs but my regular climbing shoes are toe torture devices and it was nice to climb in shoes with tennis shoe comfort.
As for hiking, I will stick to shorter approaches with these shoes. They got pretty uncomfortable on the long descent hike & I wish I had worn my trail runners and changed into these at the start of the climb (although one reason I got these was to avoid having to carry an extra pair of shoes up the climb). The soles are thin (good for climbing) and not a lot of support..
Can't comment on durability as of yet but I don't expect these shoes would hold up long with heavy use.
Overall, great shoe for shorter approach hikes and easier rock climbs. Very comfortable to climb in but less so for hiking.
I would recommend these for all day comfort on multi-pitch easier climbs, like the Grand Teton or the Flatirons but wear a different shoe to get to the climb.

germsauce Epstein · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jun 2010 · Points: 55

I've heard there's some pair of New Balances that the folks who race up this wear.... also heard of people resoling running shoes with sticky rubber for this. Would love to hear some good options as well.

Paul-B · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2011 · Points: 115

Ive used the Evolv cruzers for this purpose. The wear like a "barefoot" running shoe, which I kind of like.

Jim Fox · · Westminster, CO · Joined Jun 2014 · Points: 50
Patrick Pharo · · Boulder, CO · Joined Jan 2003 · Points: 30

Gandas. No question.

David Ponak · · Longmont, CO · Joined May 2014 · Points: 10

Cruzers are ok but I don't like that they have a floppy heel - I like a little heel support going downhill - I was jogging down easy terrain and rolled my ankle - I run trails all the time and this isn't normal for me but no heel support plus carrying a pack with rope & rack must have thrown me off, so I'll only run uphill in them. They climb well enough on up to 5.6 routes in the flatirons. I'll probably re-sole running shoes next.

Rick Blair · · Denver · Joined Oct 2007 · Points: 266

Not sure those cruzers would have enough sole for me but I will go try a pair on before I judge.

Jason Wells · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2001 · Points: 100

I went through two pairs of La Sportiva Exum Ridges and loved them, but they're no longer made. I now have a pair of La Sportiva Xplorers and they do pretty well. They aren't as good to run in as the Exum Ridges, but I think they climb a little better.

The New Balances you speak of I believe are MT 110s with a sticky rubber resole, at least that's what Anton Krupicka was motoring around in for this movie:

youtube.com/watch?v=PlEDMBe….

Rick Blair · · Denver · Joined Oct 2007 · Points: 266

I wish I knew what i was doing well enough to have custom shoes made, that is an awesome video. I must confess that I look nothing like Anton Krupicka running up Flatirons or Kieners but I appreciate the comparison :-)

brenta · · Boulder, CO · Joined Feb 2006 · Points: 75

I've been pretty happy for the last year or so with how my Scarpa Vitamins deal with Flatiron scrambling.

Scott McMahon · · Boulder, CO · Joined Feb 2006 · Points: 1,425

Boulder X's are pretty great. Stiff for edging, sometimes too stiff.

The main thing I don't is with the full grain leather they can get pretty hot, but climbing the flats in the summer is hot anyways.

J. Broussard · · CordryCorner · Joined Feb 2011 · Points: 50

Second for the Sportivas
SUPER sticky and if you get the ones with big lugs, they're excellenct for heavily lichened rock. Last time I did the regular route on the 1st, I didn't even tighen the laces (didn't occure to me until later; I never tie my toes).
Sub-note, actually tying your shoes makes them last longer.

Rick Blair · · Denver · Joined Oct 2007 · Points: 266

Tried a bunch of shoes on. Tried them on a little wall in the store. Cruzers were a little thin for me. The La Sportive Xplorers were little off in the fit for my foot but I could feel they would climb real well. Found Salewa Wildfires which were the best fit and very similar construction to the LS Xplorers. Seems a bunch of the approach shoes are using stickier Vibram with combo tread patterns that are almost identical.

For those interested I tried on the newest BoulderX, they have more rocker than my old ones did and they definitely moved some of the foam away from the toe edge for better climbing but man did they feel clunky after trying on those other shoes.

Paul-B · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2011 · Points: 115

I agree the cruzers are thin, floppy, and feel a bit cheap. This is what i thought when I first got them, however, after 50 or so flatiron scrambles in them, I can easily say I will be getting a third pair when these die. They fit my foot very snuggly, and really feel like a second skin. You do have to be okay with the barefoot feel of them for running. I like this, I would postulate most will not.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Climbing Gear Discussion
Post a Reply to "Flatiron Shoes"

Log In to Reply

Join the Community

Create your FREE account today!
Already have an account? Login to close this notice.

Get Started.