Stiffest Approach Shoes

I frequently get toe pain (turf toe) and soft approach shoes seem to aggravate it. Is there an approach shoe that is similar in stiffness to chacos? 

? La Sportiva TX4 EVO with superfeet insole

Is the TX4 EVO stiffer than the TX Guide?

I too am searching for a stiff approach shoe since the Scarpa Zen pro is discontinued.  

I tried zamberlan with are stiff but the uppers are really terrible and the shoe is unwearable. 

Salewa mt hiker.

Have the same problem. Also i climb in butora mantra wide! Stiffest shoe on the planet! Takes a bit to break in but there great

Good luck with the toe pain journey!

No flip flops and stiff shoes heals it up

Ted

Chulilla es

climber pat wrote:

Is the TX4 EVO stiffer than the TX Guide?

They are both of the same stiffness (by feeling). The Guide is too narrow for me.

Good idea to look at German shoes. Bit clunky, wide and often really stiff.

Robert T Hjerte wrote:

They are both of the same stiffness (by feeling). The Guide is too narrow for me.

Good idea to look at German shoes. Bit clunky, wide and often really stiff.

Thanks for the comparison. I expected to hear the shoes are similar.

Not that is matters but Selawa is Italian.  I had forgotten I wore those over a decade ago and they were good for me, especially the mountain trainer.  I just ordered another pair.

Thanks for the recommendations, guys! I ended up going with the La Sportiva Boulder Xs with a carbon fiber insole. 

Hangdog Hank wrote:

Thanks for the recommendations, guys! I ended up going with the La Sportiva Boulder Xs with a carbon fiber insole. 

injinji toe socks might help too like from rei 

big toe ball pain could be due to uric acid levels too high in body so like no dairy no sugar diet add magnesium and potassium and omega 3 supplements etx like anti gout diet might help too

Hangdog Hank wrote:

Thanks for the recommendations, guys! I ended up going with the La Sportiva Boulder Xs with a carbon fiber insole. 

I'm on my fourth pair of Boulder Xs.  They run small: I usually take a size 10 but I wear 12s in the Boulder X.  You're not really climbing in them, so be sure to get them with ample space in the toe for the downhills.

stiffest approach shoes i've used:  garmont dragontail. You could also just purchase lighter weight mountaineering boots... In general, look for something with full board lasting.... both of those will work better than a lightweight approach shoe that you attempt to stiffen with a carbon fiber insole. 

also, climbing itself is gonna be as/more traumatic on your toes than the approach... 

Hangdog Hank wrote:

Thanks for the recommendations, guys! I ended up going with the La Sportiva Boulder Xs with a carbon fiber insole. 

Hi. What insole did you buy. Thanks 

David Coley wrote:

Hi. What insole did you buy. Thanks 

These Amazon.com: LITTLEBLACK Real Carbon Fiber Insole(1 Pair),Hard Foot Plates for Turf Toe/Foot Fractures/Hallux Rigidus&Limitus/Morton Toe,Rigid Shoe Insert for Sports - Alternative to Post Op Shoe-10.04in : Health & Household. They seem to be working pretty well.