Best Mid / Hi-Top Approach Shoes

Any recommendations for mid/hi approach shoes with good ankle support. I'm not looking for a big heavy boot, just something I can fourth class/low fifth in pretty easily. Sticky rubber preferred, but I'd consider other alternatives as well.

I've tried the Altra Lone Peak -- which was too much of a running shoe for what I'm looking for. The ankle support was basically nonexistent, and the lack of sticky rubber was a bummer.

Also tried the North Face Fastpack -- which was the right weight/ankle support for what I wanted, but had some annoying design elements/fell apart quickly, and again, no sticky rubber.

Something like the La Sportiva Trango is way overkill for what I'm looking for.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

(Note: Not interested in debating hi-top versus low-top in terms of which is actually better for your ankle in the long run).

a lot of people are into the La Sportiva TX 4 mids these days.

Salewa Mountain Trainer Lite Mid Gtx

https://www.salewa.com/en-us/mountain-trainer-lite-mid-gore-tex-mens-shoe-00-0000061359?number=00-0000061359_0000000001&listing=1

I have the new Black Diamond Mission Mid approach shoe.   I was looking for something to replace my high top Five Ten Guide Tennie.  I loved the Five Ten but they weren't the best as far a support but still better than the low top and like all things Five Ten, as soon as I find a show I like such as the Grandstone and the Blanco they shit can it.   The Black Diamond Mission Mid has much better support than the Five Ten and seems to be constructed better.  Rubber is sticky but probably not as sticky as Stealth but still pretty good.  Worth looking into.

I've tried the TX4 high top version. They're decent shoes, but they run much smaller than the regular TX4s, so size appropriately. The length of the shoe is the same, but the width and height of the toebox is much smaller.

Of course, the best option is to just ditch the high top shoes and get strong ankles.

Alex Fischer wrote:

I've tried the TX4 high top version. They're decent shoes, but they run much smaller than the regular TX4s, so size appropriately. The length of the shoe is the same, but the width and height of the toebox is much smaller.

That is interesting to hear your experience with the fit.  I've had multiple pairs of each and find they fit almost exactly the same and true to historic Sportiva sizing.  

And I highly recommend the Tx4 mid's.  Really good balance of hiking ability, climbing ability, support, weight and bulk.

just pulled on each shoe (TX4 and TX4-mid), they fit almost identical in 46.0 (maybe differences are more pronounced at sizes in the 30's?). There's just a touch of snugness around the forefoot (where the great toe bunion often contributes to this tight fit) in the high top compared to the low, but it's barely noticeable, and the ankle support is pretty nice. Obviously I don't want to run 10mi in these, but for doing 400m-1K of running at a time (as one typically encounters tricky terrain often enough to walk through those sections), they work great, and you can comfortably climb under 5.10 in them (or harder if you're a badass, which I am not).

I'll second Mikey, they're a great shoe (keep your eyes out on ebay, I tend to score a like-new pair every year or two for $60-70 bucks)

I find this thread really interesting because I too have found the TX4 mid to be noticeably narrower than the TX4. I've only owned the mids once though and eventually parted with them due to being overly snug. I wear a 46.5 and have a wide, high volume foot.

But the TX4 is my favorite shoe and I've been looking for a gtx mid shoe that i like. Maybe I need to give the TX4 mid another chance, perhaps in a different size.

Also, It seems like the laces explode quicker these days and I'm not a fan of the fragile orange cord system, so I modify mine. By lacing with a makalu lace (LINK) they're burlier, seem to knot better, and give me more length to play with to capture my fat foot.

Having owned both the low and mid version of the TX4, I would say the fit feels the same to me.  

My mids are a few years old, so it is possible that La Sportiva changed the last after I bought my mids.

I replaced my laces with parachute cord (core removed) and it works well enough for me.

Thanks all for the replies. I haven't tried the TX4 but I remember with older models of Sportiva hi-tops that I found the fit tighter than the same size TX2 or 3 (both of which I've worn). I think the big toe bunion point is a good one... I have a fairly wide foot, and tend to suffer from inflammation on that big toe joint, so Sportivas are often a tough fit for me... But the TX series has always been good, so the TX4 is a good option.

I'm also curious about the BD Mission Mid. Has anyone else tried those before? Can anyone speak to the durability / longevity?

The TX4 mids are great, I won't go back to low approach shoes unless I need to carry them on the climb. 

Weird- I remember the TX4 mids being advertised as fitting slightly more generously than the lows to account for heavier pack weight, etc.  And that is how I found them to fit (though my comparison was not to the TX4 lows, but rather to the old Ganda).

I found the TX4 Mids to be as soft as the TX4/3s, and I was looking for more support and under foot sharp talus protection so ended up with the TXS - which is one step more supportive than the TX4s. However, I am still looking for a shoe with more support (like a rock plate in the sole) for long North Cascades type trips when I will definitely be wearing a crampon on and off.

So (as he moves the thread hijack forward...), has anyone tried the TX Hike mid GTX yet?

https://www.rei.com/product/202739/la-sportiva-tx-hike-mid-gtx-hiking-boots-mens

They feel much stiffer than any of the other TX series shoes (which are stiffer than the Guide Tennie mids) but are probably too clunky to climb very well, but may be what I think I'm looking for when I've got a heavy pack on for days.

What I actually really want is a TX Guide mid GTX  shoe (like the leather version last but in GTX) since the Guide provides great support and stiffness but are light and still climb really really well (much better than the TX2/3/4/S IMO).

 Since it has been about 72 hrs since Sportiva has introduced another shoe beginning with "TX" maybe the TX Guide Mid GTX has been released since I started typing my reply?