La Sportiva TX Guide vs. TX3 / TX4 Fit and Sizing

Just a heads up - anyone that currently wears TX3s or Tx4s and are thinking of buying the TX Guide - they fit considerably different.

I actually work in the industry and spend the majority of my time fitting outdoor and mountaineering footwear. I measure 8.5 and just over a D width (men’s medium in most footwear). I have a high volume instep. The La Sportiva EU equivalent is 41.

I've been wearing TX3s and TX4s since they came out. They’re definitely wide in the toe box and accommodate higher volume feet - and fit my feet great.  The TX Guide is considerably narrower in the toe box and much lower volume. Length wise they’re the same. I’m not sure why they include this in the TX line since they’re obviously built on different lasts.

With that, I’ve been wearing the TX Guides around the house and not sure they’ll ever see outside. They’re that different. I sure wish they fit better as by all accounts they‘re a great shoe for the purpose they serve. 

Are you saying we should size up a half-size or are you saying folks with high-volume feet should just not buy TX Guides?  If you wear Boulder-X's, how do they compare?

Adam Fleming wrote:

Are you saying we should size up a half-size or are you saying folks with high-volume feet should just not buy TX Guides?  If you wear Boulder-X's, how do they compare?

I would not size up as they’re fine in regards to the length sizing of TX3s or TX4s. People always tend to want to size up when footwear doesn’t fit In width or volume and that’s not the right thing to do. I’ve never worn Boulder Xs however I have a friend who’s worn TX3s - thought the guides were certainly narrow and less volume (but they still fit ok as his foot is narrower and less volume than mine) and did say they fit similar to the Boulder Xs.

Everybody’s feet are different - I’d certainly suggest trying them on or have the option to return. But I’d say high volume is gonna be snug.

Hope this helps. 

Mark is 100% correct. I had hoped the guides could be a light version of the tx4 but they are decidedly narrow *and* low volume. Time will tell if they loosen/mold to my foot but for now I will *not* take them on any approach longer than 1mi. 

Sportiva size blocking and model naming is wack. I am a full size larger in TX2s than TX3s. How many models carry the TX name currently despite big differences in the last many use?

Recent discussion here.

https://www.mountainproject.com/forum/topic/119208383/sportiva-tx-guide-sizing#ForumMessage-119208958

Mark NH wrote:

Just a heads up - anyone that currently wears TX3s or Tx4s and are thinking of buying the TX Guide - they fit considerably different.

I actually work in the industry and spend the majority of my time fitting outdoor and mountaineering footwear. I measure 8.5 and just over a D width (men’s medium in most footwear). I have a high volume instep. The La Sportiva EU equivalent is 41.

I've been wearing TX3s and TX4s since they came out. They’re definitely wide in the toe box and accommodate higher volume feet - and fit my feet great.  The TX Guide is considerably narrower in the toe box and much lower volume. Length wise they’re the same. I’m not sure why they include this in the TX line since they’re obviously built on different lasts.

With that, I’ve been wearing the TX Guides around the house and not sure they’ll ever see outside. They’re that different. I sure wish they fit better as by all accounts they‘re a great shoe for the purpose they serve. 

as someone who has been wearing Sportiva's for 20 years, I am happy to have the TX Guide. The rest of the series didn't fit me super well and I am psyched for this shoe. For a reference, I thought the Ganda was the greatest shoe ever made and I think that the Trango boot was built for my foot. 

Realize I really need to try these on, but looking for a comfortable pair of approach shoes for outdoor traction, but they may also end up crossing as a work shoe for stage/convention work with long days active on my feet.

Besides sizing, what are the differences between the TX Guide and TX? Which seems more durable? More comfortable for absorption and longer treks? Would anyone know which is newer?

Also, regarding comments of for the TX Guide fit and other impressions, are these reviewing the synthetic or leather version? Does one seem more comfortable or durable than the other? Expect the leather may stretch more. Any impression if the Leather and Synthetic TX Guides are cut on the same last?

Thank you!

I have the TX2's and the leather guides.  I HATE the guides.  I'm female with a super narrow foot, I love the TX2 for approaches, and wanted a shoe for scrambles.  I actually was hoping to get the Tx3's but they were out of stock everywhere in Canada so thought I would try the leather guides in the same size as the TX2 (42).  The toe box is excruciatingly small,  the whole shoe is a bit too small for me size wise, but I think even if I went up a size (which I can't in women's sizing as it doesn't go above a 42) I still don't think my toes would have the room they need.  My toes were actually overlapping at the front, and somehow the soles of my feet were going completely number on the 2 mile hikes I tried in them.  Even with new insoles they just felt like garbage, almost like I had solid bricks on my feet.  I'm thinking of getting a pair of tx4's but I'm kind of terrified now with my experience with the guides.  The traction on the Tx2's is so phenomenal though that I'm willing to give the 4's a try.  

Tara Kenny wrote:

I have the TX2's and the leather guides.  I HATE the guides.  I'm female with a super narrow foot, I love the TX2 for approaches, and wanted a shoe for scrambles.  I actually was hoping to get the Tx3's but they were out of stock everywhere in Canada so thought I would try the leather guides in the same size as the TX2 (42).  The toe box is excruciatingly small,  the whole shoe is a bit too small for me size wise, but I think even if I went up a size (which I can't in women's sizing as it doesn't go above a 42) I still don't think my toes would have the room they need.  My toes were actually overlapping at the front, and somehow the soles of my feet were going completely number on the 2 mile hikes I tried in them.  Even with new insoles they just felt like garbage, almost like I had solid bricks on my feet.  I'm thinking of getting a pair of tx4's but I'm kind of terrified now with my experience with the guides.  The traction on the Tx2's is so phenomenal though that I'm willing to give the 4's a try.  

Try the mens version first. 

I'll just echo what others have said here. I found the TX4s to be the most comfortable and best performing approach shoes I've used. I have an average to slightly wide foot and the toe box is perfect. My only issue was with durability, for instance where the laces are threaded through small cord that can wear and break, instead of being threaded through the shoe.

Thinking the TX Guides had a more solid construction, I've found the narrow toe box extremely uncomfortable, especially walking downhill. They do climb technical rock well being so tight and stiff. I would only recommend them to someone with a super narrow foot, or someone that values climbing ability over walking comfort in an approach shoe. Hoping somebody at La Sportiva is tuned into this thread and we can get a TX Guide Wide..?

Kevin Piarulli wrote:

My only issue was with durability, for instance where the laces are threaded through small cord that can wear and break, instead of being threaded through the shoe.

I thought this would be a point of failure when I first saw them, but I've been through several pairs of TX4s and 2s with no issue at the laces. Have you had the cord break? Did Sportiva warranty them?

As someone who found the Tx2-4 meh for me and my foot, I love the TX guide

J C wrote:

I thought this would be a point of failure when I first saw them, but I've been through several pairs of TX4s and 2s with no issue at the laces. Have you had the cord break? Did Sportiva warranty them?

Yes one did break, and I didn't try to warranty--the whole shoe was used and abused by then anyways. But it was the point of failure, and a blown lace is always a nuisance in the backcountry.

I'm extra hard on shoes, and the TX4s were used for a fair amount of route development and loose hiking. I've had Five Tennies and Scarpa Crux's that lasted longer, but neither had the same fit and performance as TXs. I'd buy them again anyways, and the TX4 high tops are sweet for cold weather cragging and snow/wetness. With an awl I could probably punch holes in the leather and re lace and get rid of the skinny cord.

I own the TX2, 3, 4, and TX-S. I have a relatively wide foot, the TX3 and 4 fit my foot really well, but feel they suck at climbing and are too soft for burly approaches. (I know, I know - these are considered THE classic approach shoes, I never liked Guide Tenies either). The TX2s are too soft, and relatively low volume.

I wanted to like the TX Guide synthetic, but found it a little narrow, low volume. I bought the the TX Guide Leather a month ago, I LOVE them. Stiffer and climb way better than other of the TXs. Between the lacing and heel and sticky rubber, this is the best TX by a long shot IMO.

Two questions on TX3's and TX2 (evo / 2022).

I have tx4's in leather, absolutely love them for load carrying through rough terrain.  But they are hot...

• Has anyone "sized up" on the TX2's (evo's, or older) successfully?  
  • afaict, reviews seem to say fit is the same tx2-evo vs earlier tx2.   
  • I tried tx2-evos in 46.5 (my size in tx4's) and it is very tight in across ball & toebox. I'm considering sizing up to 47, but as OP said i doubt this changes toebox volume much (?)
• or maybe I should just go TX3's instead of TX2?
  • I was looking at the TX2 strictly for better ventilation. Do the TX3's fit the exact same as the TX4's? Tx3's at least have mesh uppers...

Thanks!

I tried on some new tx2 the other day and will have to size up from my current (first generation) tx2 by a half size. 

I have the tx guide leathers. I wanted something with better climbing ability than what the tx2,3,4 seemed to provide. So I made sure not to oversize when I got them. They were extremely uncomfortable out of the box, even causing my toes to go numb but I just wore them around the house and walked around my neighborhood for a week or so, then started going on short jogs with them and now they fit like a glove with no pain whatsoever. I just took them on a climbing trip with a 7 mile approach, 2000’ of elevation gain with a 35 pound pack with no issues. I love them, just the break in period sucks. 

thanks for the notes on the guides vs tx2's

are the tx3's the same sizing as the tx4's? (tx4's are most definitely different sizing/lasts as noted above vs tx2's ... trying to figure out which sizing / toebox volume the tx3's use)

Mayer S wrote:

thanks for the notes on the guides vs tx2's

are the tx3's the same sizing as the tx4's? (tx4's are most definitely different sizing/lasts as noted above vs tx2's ... trying to figure out which sizing / toebox volume the tx3's use)

I have 3s and 4s and they fit the same. I can’t wear 2s or guides. 

Pretty sure it was posted in the other tx guide thread but, here's a bit of further .02....

TX4 has never seemed too *hot* to me, especially compared to the first gen synthetic TX Guide, which was black w/ yellow trim (WTF, LS, what were you thinking???)

TX4 and older TX2 fit identical, so try Ebay/Geartrade/FB marketplace/MP for a pair in your size. TX Guide synthetic required me to go up to 46.5 (from 46.0 across the board) to accomodate the narrowness of the shoe - honestly not too bad but might be different for smaller sizes to do this "trick."

TX Guide leather was a game changer, the leather stretches slightly and, more importantly, the deeper lacing system (laces go nearly to the toe!) allowed for accommodation of a wider forefoot. I went 46.5 in those (as opposed to my 46.0 TX4's), and they fit perfect. Also, the original colorway is grey on grey, which is nice to not absorb heat, as opposed to the ridiculousness of the synthetic guide and the primarily black colorway, which heats up like an SOB.

As you've experienced, sounds like the TX2 Evo is going to require this same 0.5 size up, compared to the previous TX2.

Mayer, sent you a DM about buying your TX2 Evo pair, should you decide not to keep them...