La Sportiva Cirque Pro Shoe

Honestly a friend had em and liked em and they looked good on him so I tried them on when scouting all the other major approach shoes. I find them to be quite snug yet well padded. I even went road running in them once when I didn't have my usual running shoes, and they were great. I wore them pretty hard for about a year, approaching and bouldering a bit but mostly hiking extensively in them (i know, the sticky rubber isn't meant for them to just be a hiking shoe but at the time they were all I had for 'work'). The stitching did eventually give out and the inside of the heel/ankle wore away but I'd say I beat the hell out of these shoes and they served me well. I even bought another pair right after that I am not using casually in order to preserve their 'approach shoe' worth. They are not very thin-soled like some approach shoes and yet make you feel very nimble and goat-like; sticky and good edges. Like all approach shoes I've seen/encountered, they aren't meant to last for years and years; that's just the way approach shoes are, from I can tell, if they are truly meant to also perform decently on rock.

A good shoe, a good fit for my foot. I've worn a pair for several months now, I've climbed moderate routes in the Gunks and hiked Mt. Washington in them. The shoes balance the need for forefoot sensitivity needed in an approach shoe where one expects to make the occasional 5.5 move, yet still has enough forefoot cushion to make hiking comfortable. The shoe has a trim profile that places the toes right over the edge of the sole preventing sole flop when standing on an edge, the sticky rubber is a plus also. The style is simple with clean lines and a color that is soft on the eyes and reflects the environment they are in [--hey, remember the old Boulders with that pink 'euro' coloring? Never would wear a pair of those because of the color.] I will probably get another pair of the Cirques just to keep as a spare when needed.

A good shoe, a good fit for my foot. I've worn a pair for several months now, I've climbed moderate routes in the Gunks and hiked Mt. Washington in them. The shoes balance the need for forefoot sensitivity needed in an approach shoe where one expects to make the occasional 5.5 move, yet still has enough forefoot cushion to make hiking comfortable. The shoe has a trim profile that places the toes right over the edge of the sole preventing sole flop when standing on an edge, the sticky rubber is a plus also. The style is simple with clean lines and a color that is soft on the eyes and reflects the environment they are in [--hey, remember the old Boulders with that pink `euro' coloring? Never would wear a pair of those because of the color.] I will probably get another pair of the Cirques just to keep as a spare when needed.

I thought these shoes were very well built but decided to return as they were a little too narrow, and built like a climbing shoe. I wanted a more traditional day hiker with better cushioning. If you are after a more tech shoe with full rand all the way around, and are ok with the narrow snug fit (and the looks that come with it) then this shoe will likely be a performer. Rubber was sticky and marking. I should have taken the line about blurring the line between rock and trail more seriously.

cirque pro are outstanding all-around shoes. hike very well and excellent on technical terrain. even used them for a couple of impromtu trail runs - expected my feet to take some serious punishment but to my surprise - not one blister in 12 miles of running and hiking. Great for long approaches to easy to moderate (eg low 5th class) climbs. only complaint - mine are ready for a resole after one season of weekend-warrior stuff in the rockies. the price you pay for sticky rubber? i'll take it.

Two climbing partners and I all used these shoes to do a long 3 day, 5 peak traverse in the crestones w/ lots of 5th class climbing. Shoes handleed perfectly on the rock. The shoes doubled up nicely for approach as well. Be aware.....this is not a shoe you want to wear everyday (even though they look sexy), as they will get trashed and be worthless. Great for pulling out for those long days on snowless moderate alpine routes.