La Sportiva TX4 Evo Mid GTX Boot Review

La Sportiva is a climbing specialist through and through, with a healthy lineup of rock and approach shoes designed for maximum grip on technical terrain. I recently brought the women’s TX4 Evo Mid GTX—a mid-height variation of their flagship TX4 approach shoe—into Wyoming’s Wind River Range for testing, where it thrived on slabby granite and long sections of trail. The fit is on the narrower end, and the leather upper does take some time to break in, but I nevertheless enjoyed the boots’ supportive, grippy, and lightweight personality. Below are my thoughts on the TX4 Evo Mid GTX. To see how it stacks up to the competition, check out our articles on the best hiking boots, best women’s hiking boots, and best approach shoes.
 

Table of Contents

• Comfort
• Weight
• Traction
• Stability and Support
• Waterproofing and Breathability
• Build Quality and Durability
• Fit and Sizing
• What We Like/What We Don't
• Comparison Table
• The Competition

Performance

Comfort

Part of La Sportiva’s TX line of approach shoes, the TX4 Evo Mid GTX had a fairly stiff feel out of the box. I also found the midfoot and toe box to be on the narrower end, which led to some rubbing along the sides of both feet. It thankfully never progressed to blisters, although I did take precautions by applying Moleskin each morning before hitting the trail. After about 10 miles of hiking, the nubuck leather upper had broken in enough that the snug fit was no longer a concern. I also noticed a boost in flexibility, allowing me to comfortably jog back to the trailhead at the end of our trek to shuttle a vehicle ahead of my coworkers. In the end, while the boots are still on the stiffer side, they’re not overly rigid and provided enough cushion underfoot that my feet stayed fresh throughout the trip. The Ortholite insert can also be swapped out for a thicker, more supportive insole (we’re big fans of Superfeet).
 

Weight

The TX4 Evo Mid GTX boots check in at 1 pound 10.8 ounces for the women’s version, landing about mid-pack in the hiking boot market. However, given the level of support, stability, and grip, I feel the TX4 Evo’s weight is very respectable. The boots never felt clunky underfoot, even after long days of hiking with a full pack, and they were even agile enough that I barely noticed them during my vehicle-shuttle jog back to the trailhead at the end of our trek. For comparison, Scarpa’s similarly intentioned Rapid XT Mid GTX—another mid-height approach shoe—checks in a little lighter at 1 pound 9.4 ounces for the women’s pair, while La Sportiva’s own TX Hike Mid Leather GTX—the TX4’s less technical and more trail-ready counterpart—weighs 1 pound 12.6 ounces. 
 

Traction

Boasting Vibram’s proven Megagrip outsole with moderately deep (3mm), diamond-shaped lugs, the TX4 Evo Mid GTX leaves little to be desired when it comes to grip. The technically savvy shoe also features a smooth “Climbing Zone” under the forefoot, which is designed to maximize grip on slabby to vertical rock. We encountered all sorts of terrain on our loop in the Winds—from long stretches of good trail to steep, loose dirt and polished granite. The only slippage I experienced during testing would have challenged any boot: crossing smooth rocks after stepping in damp, kitty litter-like gravel. The lugs were fine at shedding mud, but the fine gravel stuck to the bottom of the soles, causing a momentary loss of traction. Other than that, the rubber has been superb, offering ample grip for everything from boulder hopping with a full pack to pulling low-fifth-class moves en route to the base of a multi-pitch climb.
 

Stability and Support

Overall, I think La Sportiva did a good job balancing weight and stability with the TX4 Evo Mid GTX. There are certainly more supportive designs available, but all that come to mind—including Salomon's Quest 4 GTX and Lowa Renegade Evo GTX Mid—are both heavier and pricier than the TX4 Evo Mid. In my experience, the TX4 offers enough support for navigating technical terrain with a full pack, and there’s good torsional rigidity for keeping your foot in place when smearing on rock or traversing an uneven slope. I did find myself wishing for a slightly snugger fit at the collar—the lacing system extends pretty far, but I wasn’t able to cinch the upper laces as tightly as I wanted, allowing some debris to creep in over the top of the boot. Thankfully, this didn’t seem to have an impact on stability.
 

Waterproofing and Breathability

As its name indicates, the TX4 Evo Mid GTX features a proven Gore-Tex liner that performed admirably when the going got wet. The collar does dip down slightly at the back (to about where the laces end), which you’ll want to be mindful of during water crossings, but I’ve never felt limited by the level of coverage or protection. The nubuck leather upper is also pretty water-resistant—it never felt bogged down by moisture after walking through streams, nor did it soak through during a very wet and cold morning hiking out of the Cirque of the Towers.
 

The TX4 Evo Mid’s Gore-Tex liner and nubuck leather upper do limit its breathability. While I never overheated in the boots, my hiking socks were damp each evening after long days of hiking. It’s also worth noting that temperatures were very mild on our trip, never reaching above around 55 degrees Fahrenheit. If breathability is a concern for you, or you'll be hiking in hotter weather, it may be worth considering a boot made with more breathable synthetic or mesh, although you can expect trade-offs in durability and protection. 
 

Build Quality and Durability

La Sportiva has a reputation for quality craftsmanship, and the TX4 Evo Mid GTX is a prime example. Everything has a very sturdy and premium feel, from the nubuck leather upper to the tacky Vibram outsole, beefy rubber toe cap, and well-executed lacing system. The boots showed virtually zero signs of wear after our 30-mile trek in the Wind River Range, and they’re still relatively fresh after several subsequent approaches and a couple more overnights in the Sierras. Finally, while entirely subjective, I really like the look of the boots: The dark upper hides dirt and stains very well, and the pink accents (specific to the women’s version) are subtle but fun. All told, I expect the TX4 Evo to continue holding up well over the long term—while looking good in the process.
 

Fit and Sizing

The TX4 Evo Mid GTX is offered in European sizes from 36 to 43 for women, and I opted for my usual size 40, which equates to a U.S. 8.5. I’ve worn this size in the low-top TX4 approach shoe for years, but it seems La Sportiva tweaked the fit with the latest Evo design. In place of the wide toe box I’ve come to love, the TX4 Evo Mid GTX had a pretty narrow fit at the midfoot and toes, which led to rubbing along the sides of both of my feet. Several user reviews confirm my impressions, although as I mentioned, the upper does get looser and conform nicely over time (one of the best attributes of leather, in my opinion). Additionally, the to-the-toe lacing system—a distinguishing feature among approach shoes—makes it easy to customize fit throughout the entire foot. I opted to keep the lower laces looser to allow more room for my toes to splay while cinching the upper laces tighter to maximize ankle support for shuttling a full pack.
 

Sustainability

The TX4 Evo Mid GTX is made with a clear eye toward sustainability, which only adds to all-around appeal. Many fabrics and components are recycled, including the laces, tongue fabric, internal mesh, lacing harness, hooks, and rubber rand. The EVA midsole is made from 7% recycled content. Additionally, the Gore-Tex lining is bluesign-certified, indicating it was produced with minimum environmental impact. Finally, the boot can be resoled by a La Sportiva-approved cobbler once you’ve worn down the tread, which is a nice option for extending the boots’ lifespan (rather than replacing them when they’re in otherwise good shape).
 

Other Versions of the La Sportiva TX4

I tested the women’s TX4 Evo Mid GTX for this review, and a men’s model is available for the same price. Comparing the two, the men’s TX4 Evo Mid GTX is heavier at 2 pounds 1.9 ounces per pair and offered in larger sizes (from 37 to 49.5), and available in a more subdued, mostly grey colorway with an olive green panel at the heel. The TX4 collection also includes the flagship TX4 Evo approach shoe, which retails for $169 and features a similar construction—including a nubuck leather upper and Vibram Megagrip outsole with 3-millimeter lugs—but with a lower collar. Rounding out the lineup is the TX4 Evo ST ($159), which swaps out the leather upper for TPU mesh. Both shoes are available in both men's and women's styles.
 

What We Like

• Competitively lightweight for the level of support and durability.
• Vibram Megagrip outsole offers standout grip on most surfaces, from packed dirt to slabby rock.
• Reliably waterproof with a proven Gore-Tex membrane and decently high collar.
• Solid stability and support for navigating technical terrain with a full pack.
• Built with a clear eye toward sustainability, including a resolable platform for extending the boots’ lifespan.
• Good-looking with a stain-resistant leather upper and fun pink accents (the men's version is more subdued).

What We Don’t

• Relatively narrow fit at the midfoot and toe box.
• Collar is loose enough that it allows debris to enter, even when cinched as tightly as possible.
• Fairly stiff out of the box and takes some time to break in.
• On the pricier end at $219, although overall performance and quality line up with the cost.
   

Comparison Table

The Competition

The La Sportiva TX4 Evo Mid GTX is a capable mid-height approach shoe that’s comfortable on long stretches of trail, but hikers and backpackers who don’t venture into technical alpine terrain may prefer the brand’s Nucleo II High GTX boots. For $20 more than the TX4, the Nucleo features a similarly tough leather build but checks in a couple ounces heavier, boasts a Gore-Tex Surround lining for a boost in ventilation, and features a more aggressive outsole design that’s grippier on packed dirt and soft surfaces like mud but not as capable on technical rock. La Sportiva’s TX Hike Mid Leather GTX ($199) splits the difference between the TX4 Evo Mid and Nucleo High II GTX, with better technical performance than the Nucelo and better on-trail and long-distance comfort than the TX4.
 

In the same mid-height approach shoe category as the TX4 Evo Mid (which is a pretty niche space), Scarpa's Rapid XT Mid GTX is worth having on your radar. The Rapid will save you $20 compared to the TX4 Evo Mid while checking in an ounce lighter. Otherwise, the two share a lot of similarities: Both feature grippy Vibram Megagrip outsoles, have a smooth patch of rubber at the forefoot for maximizing traction during technical scrambles and short stints of easy climbing, and boast proven Gore-Tex waterproofing. A final decision may very well come down to fit and brand loyalty (I’m personally a big fan of La Sportiva footwear). 
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