La Sportiva TX4 vs. Five Ten Guide Tennie: Battle of the Approach Shoes
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In the spirit of conspicuous consumerism, I have bought and owned several pairs of approach shoes over the years. Here in the crunchy community of Flagstaff, Arizona, you need to look like you hike and climb a lot. Having tested them out on backpacking trips, through hikes, river trips, and, of course, approaches, I feel as though I have learned a thing or two about what goes into a good approach shoe. Two of my favorites have been the La Sportiva TX4, and the 5.10 Guide Tennie.
These two pairs of approach shoes are some of the most popular approach shoes on the market. To help you, the climber, hiker, and adventurer decide on the best approach shoe for your needs, I have put the TX4s and the Guide Tennies head to head. I compare fit, comfort, longevity, and the climbing shoe rubber to help make you a better, more informed consumer.
La Sportiva TX4
With roots in old school, Italian mountaineering, La Sportiva has been making outdoor footwear for the better part of a century. Climbers love La Sportiva for their shoes, citing them as the best in durability, performance, and comfort. Though a more recent contender in the approach shoe market, La Sportiva has taken the time to design quality shoes that excel in many conditions, in any terrain. Previously, we reviewed the La Sportiva TX4-a the sturdiest offering in their TX approach shoe line. We praised it for its durability, comfort, and fit. (You can find our La Sportiva TX4 Review Here.)
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5.10 Guide Tennies
Since their inception way back in 1986, the 5.10 Guide Tennie has come to be known as the quintessential approach shoe. They can be found at crags throughout the climbing world, and many climbers swear by them. They come equipped with 5.10’s famous climbing rubber-known for its grip and stickiness. Their age speaks for their staying power, and 5.10 is a respected company in the world of outdoor sports, designing and selling quality footwear for climbers, hikers, and mountain bikers.
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La Sportiva TX4 VS. 5.10 Guide Tennie
For the purposes of this comparison, I will judge each shoe on four different factors, and then conclude on what the best uses are for the respective approach shoes. Comparing Fit, Comfort, Durability, and Grip, I found that each of these shoes excel in different ways. It is up to you to determine which shoe is right for your needs.
Fit
This is hard to say, as I know little about how shoes are supposed to fit. On my average-width, well arched feet, the TX4s fit very well. I rarely experienced any discomfort. These shoes allowed for good stability, and the soles supported my feet well. My only qualm may be that the toe box felt a tad spacious. If I was wearing wool hiking socks, the TX4s were snug, but not too snug. For reference, I wore a size 11.
The Guide Tennies, on the other hand, were much too wide for me. I wore a size 10.5, which fit well for the length of my foot. The width left something to be desired. It left too much room for my feet to move around, and diminished my stability on uneven terrain. This often led to me rolling my ankle on the approach, especially when wearing a heavy pack (thankfully, it was never severe enough to keep me from climbing. This seems to be a design trend across the 5.10 shoe catalogue.
Winner: La Sportiva TX4, if you have average feet. Guide Tennies, if your feet are particularly wide.
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Comfort
By this metric, I had trouble deciding which shoe was the most comfortable. Ultimately, I felt that there is no clear winner in this category. Yet, when taking in fit and support, as well as long term durability, I would have to go with the La Sportivas. Keep in mind that this metric is subjective, so your results may vary. Test each pair in a store before you buy.
My feet always found a home in the TX4s. In all of their 500+ mile lifespan, the TX4s never gave me a single blister. Whether I was backpacking, scrambling, climbing, or out for a walk, I was always happy to be wearing these shoes. I can only imagine that other offerings in La Sportiva’s TX line offer the same level of comfort.
Winner: La Sportiva TX4, with the Guide Tennies as a Close Second
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Durability
Comparing overall durability, the TX4s are the clear winner. Where the TX4s have held up well after a JMT Thru Hike, hundreds of miles of hiking, and numerous technical climbs, the Guide Tennies began to fall apart after less than a month of use. Only after a year of heavy use, when I began to notice that holes were being worn through the bottom of the shoe, did I decide to retire them. Through it all, I knew that I could rely on my TX4s.
The Guide Tennies had several design flaws that soon feel worse for wear. Less than a month into owning my par did the soles begin to delaminate. It was small at first, but soon progressed to the point to which they could not be ignored. Starting at the toe the soles peeled back several inches. I repaired this with super glue, which only proved to be a temporary fix, necessitating frequent reapplication. In a well designed shoe, this would not be a problem. The TX4s presented no such flaws.
The laces were also a point of concern. 5.10 designed their shoe with thin laces. I presume that this is to make them better for crack climbing, or to reduce weight. The result is laces that frequently became untied, and easily wore through. The TX4s came with beefy, sturdy laces.
Winner: La Sportiva TX4s, by far.
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Grip
If soft rubber soles are the dividing line that separates approach shoes from the rest of the outdoor footwear world, then the TX4s are unquestionably approach shoes. Hiking and Scrambling around on Sierra Nevada Granite, and Sedona Sandstone, I found great confidence in my own footwork. They performed adequately, and I would not hesitate to purchase another pair.
Yet, in this category, the clear winner is the Guide Tennie. 5.10 is a company built off of their outstanding climbing rubber. Despite the boxy shape of the Guide Tennie, I felt comfortable climbing technical faces in them.
Winner: Guide Tennies, no question.
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Best Uses
La Sportiva TX4: The La Sportiva TX4s are the heavy duty workhorse of the TX line. They could tout 60 pound loads with ease, and are constructed remarkably well. Though the grip of the soles are not as sticky as the Guide Tennies, the sleeker design, comfort, and durability make up for it. I recommend the TX4s as a good, all around contender that perform well for backpacking, scrambling, and the occasional short trail run.
5.10 Guide Tennies: The 5.10 Guide Tennies shine in at least one area where the TX4s do not: The Grip of the climbing rubber soles. For Scrambling, Slab Climbing, or moderate sport climbing, the Guides will probably outdo the TX4s. In this way, the Guide Tennies are the more “pure” approach shoe-excelling in what they are designed for, but little else. Pick the Guides for the better scrambler and climber.
Overall
Overall, I much preferred my experience with the La Sportiva TX4s more than the Guide Tennies. The longevity of the La Sportivas far surpasses that of the 5.10’s, giving you a better bang for your buck. Though these are more personal, subjective metrics, the TX4s outdid the Guide Tennies in both fit, comfort, and stability.
The grip of 5.10’s rubber is much better than that of La Sportiva. It seems to conform to features in the rock very well, whereas the La Sportiva rubber was a bit more stiff. Still, this does not count for much when the soles wear out and delaminate after only light use. I will say that the aesthetic design of the Guide Tennies is much more pleasing than the TX4s. The La Sportivas fall into the typical trap of having a “sporty” look, which often just turns out to be ugly and obnoxious. The Guide Tennies are much more versatile in terms of wearing them about town.
Despite it’s legacy, and despite its popularity, the Guide Tennies have several flaws that need to be ironed out before it can contend with newer offerings in the approach shoe market. The clear winner is the La Sportiva TX4, as it served me very well, for a much longer time. Both pairs retail at a similar price point. Ultimately, the decision should come down to comfort for the individual wearer.
Where To Buy
Note: The following links are affiliate links. If you purchase any item from these links (not just gear), we get a cut of the sale. Thanks!
Check Prices: La Sportiva TX4
Get the La Sportiva TX4 at REI Get the La Sportiva TX4 on Amazon
Check Prices: 5.10 Guide Tennies
Get the 5.10 Guide Tennie at REI Get the 5.10 Guide Tennie on Amazon
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