La Sportiva TX5 Low GTX review: A serious mountain shoe

The La Sportiva TX5 Low GTX is a hiking shoe with many approach shoe features. In fact, with a semi-rigid outsole, grippy rubber, precision lacing, protective rand and reinforcements at both the toe and heel, it’s possibly more reminiscent of a mountaineering boot than a standard trail shoe.

There’s a Gore-Tex bootie to keep the rain out, but of course the low-cut is vulnerable in very boggy terrain. The lacing system is inspired by classic designs from La Sportiva’s climbing heritage, wrapping right the way around the ankle, while the insole is designed for optimum stability on mountainous terrain.

The Vibram MegaGrip outsole features both lugs for grip on hiking terrain and slightly flatter regions for climbing techniques. The upshot of all of this is that the TX5 Low GTX is a bit rigid for everyday use and it’s heavier than most hiking shoes, weighing in at 474g per shoe (UK size 8).

So, while you may get plenty of use out of it in Glen Coe, on Great Gable or in the Glyderau, it’s perhaps overkill for bigger mileage days or non-technical routes. However, if you live and breathe scrambling, climbing or via ferrata, the TX5 is an excellent choice.

Upper and waterproofing

The TX5’s upper is crafted from a durable nubuck leather, providing breathability, abrasion resistance and a degree of flexibility and comfort. It gives the shoes that lovely, fresh out of the box, leathery smell, as well as the impression of premium Italian quality.

Nubuck is taken from the hard-wearing upper layers of animal hide and is more durable than most synthetic materials or suede. However, it’s also less pliable, which accounts for at least some part of the TX5’s slightly rigid feel.

As robust as nubuck is, La Sportiva has nevertheless seen fit to crank the ruggedness dial up to 11 with the sort of wrap-around protective rand seen in full-on B2 mountaineering boots. This clearly signals the TX5’s intended habitat: rock.

On test, I had no trouble wedging my feet into rugged cracks; the levels of protection here inspired plenty of confidence. The heel and toe regions are particularly well protected.

The front of the shoe reminds me of B2 boots as well, and I could well imagine kicking them into snow with some success. However, the TX5 isn’t designed with crampon compatibility in mind and thus isn’t ideally suited to wintry adventures.

Hidden beneath all of this is the Gore-Tex Extended Comfort bootie, which provides a layer of waterproof breathability that’ll keep rain and shallow water at bay. They’re not great for tramping across bogs, as water can still easily get over the top unless you pair the shoes with gaiters.

The lacing system is inspired by La Sportiva’s legendary Mythos climbing shoe, which has been a perennial favourite among climbers for decades. As is the case with most approach shoes, the laces go further towards the toes than most, enabling a more precise fit in this key region.

However, just like the Mythos, the TX5’s laces also wrap around the ankle, meaning that when I pulled the laces in tight, I was bringing the entire upper inward too. The downside to this design is that they’re an absolute pain to rethread if you suffer the misfortune of a snapped lace.

Midsole

The TX5 employs an Ortholite Hybrid insole that provides decent cushioning and stability when hopping about from rock to rock. La Sportiva says that the design is “ideal for prolonged use by mountain guides and mountain operators” – another nod to the shoe’s technical clout.

We’re not 100% sure who these mountain operators are exactly, but we’re assuming the brand is alluding to folk like us. Next time someone asks you if you’re a hiker, just reply: “No, I’m a mountain operator.”

It’s the shock-absorbing, injected EVA that helps to provide this stability and I felt secure and comfortable on a variety of terrain types during the test period.

Outsole

As with pretty much all leading approach shoes, the TX5 makes use of Vibram’s MegaGrip compound in the outsole. This high-performance rubber provides unrivalled grip on rock and a good degree of durability, too. It’s semi-rigid, with a little bit of flex towards the front.

In terms of lugs, there are deep, arch-shaped teeth down the centre of the sole, designed for ironclad hold on muddy terrain. Then, there are the flatter ‘climbing zones’ at both the toes and the heel. These are fairly standard for approach shoes and provide the wearer with better grip when edging or smearing their way up technical, rocky terrain.

However, on the TX5, these zones are slightly ridged, not as flat as on something like Scarpa’s Rapid XTs or La Sportiva’s own TX4 Evos. I found that the difference in performance was fairly negligible on scrambling terrain and I’m sure the folks at La Sportiva know what they’re doing.

Nonetheless, the lug layout is at least one part of the shoe that suggests hikers were considered just as keenly as scramblers at the design stage.

Price and performance

As you’d expect from its array of features, the TX5 Low GTX doesn’t come cheap, with a UK RRP of £190, although it can be found cheaper on some websites.

Nevertheless, the quality of components coupled with tried and trusted features mean it's a shoe you’ll be able to rely on – as well as one that should last for many years, if taken care of properly.

I admit, it wasn’t the shoe I’d naturally reach for if I was heading out for a local stroll or even into the fells for your average hillwalk. It hugs the foot in quite a tight, narrow embrace.

It’s the sort that’d provide comforting precision on Tryfan, but softer, less protective footwear is perhaps preferable when sauntering up something like Cat Bells or Mam Tor.

Nevertheless, in terms of performance, I’ve got very few complaints. The outsole grips a variety of terrain, both in ascent and descent, with aplomb; the waterproof upper fends off rain; and I felt supremely confident when it came to negotiating rock steps.

There’s a little bit of wriggle room in the toes, and a benefit of its relatively narrow fit meant that my foot always had that secure, locked-in feel.

Of course, as mentioned, bogs and the TX5 are not best friends, due to the shoe’s low cut. You may want to consider the standard, higher cut La Sportiva TX5 GTX for an all-round mountain boot that won’t so easily let water in over the top.

However, there’s also an argument that, once you’re spending that kind of money and putting that many grams on your feet, you might as well get a mountaineering boot.

Final verdict

The La Sportiva TX5 Low GTX is a serious mountain shoe with a feature-set for serious mountain adventures. Its high levels of protection and approach shoe style features mean that it’s most at home in rocky environments, though its grippy outsole will hold firm on the UK’s trails, too.

It’s a little heavy and rigid for everyday use, while its low cut makes it prone to water ingress. So, a very good choice for summer scrambling and the like, but one to avoid if you hike on gentler, grassier terrain or favour ultralight, trainer-style shoes for big mileage hikes.

Need a bit more info? Read our expert tips on how to choose hiking shoes.

About the author

James Forrest is a prolific peak bagger and long-distance walker who’s one of the most high-profile outdoor writers in the UK. He writes regular features and route guides for Trail and has been one of our main gear testers for the last few years.

James is based on the edge of the Lake District so when he isn’t off on his latest crazy adventure or challenge, he’s walking in his local fells. He's perhaps best known for climbing every mountain in the UK and Ireland (all 1,001 of them!) in three years. He wrote about the English and Welsh part of that challenge in his book, Mountain Man.

James reviews every type of outdoor kit for Trail and is a real authority on everything you need for wild camping and packing light for a multi-day walk. You can follow his adventures on Instagram.