La Sportiva TX4 vs TX4 evo Approach Shoes

Backcountry has both on sale in my size and I need a new pair of approach shoes. The TX4 evo is another 20 bucks. Is there any reason to splurge? I haven't been able to find a succinct description of the differences. Does anyone here have experience with both? 

The Evos are easier/officially resolable, might be a tad stiffer, and have a less aggressive heel lug pattern that’s worse in mud/snow but probably a little better on slab. I wouldn’t pay extra for them.

I have the old TX4's and the New EVO's ( bought as the TX4 Retro, but the same as the new EVO), I personally like the EVO better, has better sole support (less feeling rocks protruding through the sole), better edging (less flexy at the toes), and just feels more solid of a shoe, for me just a better all around shoe....but just my opinion.

They are a little heavier, but not much.......

YMMV

John

I've got lots of mileage in TX3 and TX4's but don't have a pair of TX4evo's, yet. I did recently try them on and the toe box is noticeably narrower and lower volume. Enough so that it could possibly effect sizing from TX4/TX4evo.  

I have the TX4Rs, which is the same as the Evos afaik. I tried on the TX4s in a bunch of sizes while purchasing them though, and would also say that the R/Evos are a bit stiffer with a slightly narrower toebox. I like the theoretical resolability of the R/Evo, but fit would still be my #1 criteria.

I ordered the Evo in the same size that I normally wear for the TX4. The length was correct, but it felt much more narrow.  The tongue of the shoe wasnt even wide enough to cover my foot  when the shoe was untied.  I returned them and ordered the original TX4.  

My Tx4R (evo) felt the exact same size and toe box as the original Tx4, at least for me......YMMV

x4 or the TX4R/Evo? The differences I noticed: The sole of the TX4 is more flexible than the TX4Evo sole. The height around the ankle joint is different (higher) with the TXEvo than with the TX4 (= lower). In terms of fit, I think, I feel, that the TX4Evo is fractionally a little less wide.
My considerations for buying the normal TX4: If the sole is worn out, the inner lining is no longer so good that resoleing is worthwhile. The quality of the leather sometimes differs considerably (per pair), which is also why I don't think resoling makes sense.

And we want to make sure we are talking about the Tx4 EVO, and not the Tx4 Guide, which is narrower and tighter toe box. 

If you’re going to go with older version, I think they’re around $95 right now on the LS website.  Quite a bit lower than backcountry

John R wrote:

And we want to make sure we are talking about the Tx4 EVO, and not the Tx4 Guide, which is narrower and tighter toe box. 

Good warning! Same difference as with the La Sportiva Muira’s, the lace is narrow, the VS is (as the TX4) wide. As said the TX4 Guide = way tighter then the TX4!

i'd gone through 6-7 pairs of tx4's the past 4 years or so. I recently got the Tx4 evo and have had a chance to try it out on a couple of walls. Here's my experience so far:

The Tx4's used to be awesome, but in the past 1-2 years the build quality went down. to the point that, for my last few pairs, I started to blow through the shoes (either the rubber in the toe, or leather on the sides would blow out) in only 1 - 2 walls. The lugs on the bottom of the shoe would be virtually new, but the shoes aren't seaworthy anymore. I still have some "older" (high build quality) pairs of the TX4s that, even though the rubber is worn completely smooth on the sole, the leather upper is still serviceable, after years of hard use. So that has been really disappointing. 

After a couple of walls in the new Tx4 Evo's, they definitely are more burly. They feel stiffer, more clunky (kind of like mountaineering boots - not that stiff, but you get the idea). After a short amount of use, they are noticeably more durable than the current version of the TX4. I will be buying the Evo going forward, primarily for the improved durability. 

If i had to rank them, it would go (best to worst): Old versions of the TX4 > TX4 Evo >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Current version of the TX4

John R wrote:

And we want to make sure we are talking about the Tx4 EVO, and not the Tx4 Guide, which is narrower and tighter toe box. 

There is no TX4 Guide. 

@Rexford Nesakwatch 

You are very right is's TX Guide. looked at my way to narrow pair and yes it's says no where TX4. 

I find the resolable TX4 are more stiff.

Jacob Miller wrote:

I haven't been able to find a succinct description of the differences. Does anyone here have experience with both? 

TX4 Evo: 

1. Slightly narrower

2. Stiffer outsole with a diamond lug pattern instead of the round one

3. Resolable (TX4 also are but in the Evo it's a lot easier process)

shredward wrote:

I ordered the Evo in the same size that I normally wear for the TX4. The length was correct, but it felt much more narrow.  The tongue of the shoe wasnt even wide enough to cover my foot  when the shoe was untied.  I returned them and ordered the original TX4.  

Just got a new pair of TX4 EVOs in the same size as my last two pair of the original TX4.....and I had your exact experience. After wedging my foot into the shoe, I can see my socks because the tongue isn't wide enough (looks like a fat guy in a little coat), plus not enough lace left to even tie a bow, and way too tight in the toebox. I returned them and ordered a half size bigger, I hope it works.

Ditto re above about the new tx4 being skinnier with too short laces despite ordering a half size up. They're noticeably stiffer too. Super disappointed, I was hoping they would break in a bit to fit my wide ass feet but they still very much irritate my bungionettes after a few months of wearing them around and in the mountains. Doesn't look like they're selling the old tx4 anymore either

Erik J wrote:

Ditto re above about the new tx4 being skinnier with too short laces despite ordering a half size up. They're noticeably stiffer too. Super disappointed, I was hoping they would break in a bit to fit my wide ass feet but they still very much irritate my bungionettes after a few months of wearing them around and in the mountains. Doesn't look like they're selling the old tx4 anymore either

Hi Erik is this your experience with the "classic" TX4 with the round dots sole?

Robert T Hjerte wrote:

Hi Erik is this your experience with the "classic" TX4 with the round dots sole?

No, my gripes are with the new tx4 Evo - the ones with the diamond grip pattern. The old tx4's, with the round dots, have been my favorite shoes for a while now despite them gradually declining in quality. 

I got the impression from the La Sportiva store in Kalymnos that the TX4 Evo should be wider than the TX4. I only tried the TX4 Evo compared to my TX Leather Guides and the TX4 Evo are at least wider than those.

Narrower at the front than the TX4. I have used the whole TX4 line-up except for the mid-boot & gtx versions.

The TX4 Guide which I got rid of for being too narrow and painful to wear are the narrowest followed by the TX2 and its iterations. 

The TX4 retro and Evo are my favourites because they just sit perfect on my feet and edge a lot better than the TX4/3. Retro = Evo; they only differ colour-wise.