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Scarpa Crux Review

A great all-round approach shoe that is supportive and great for climbing and comes at an attractive price
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scarpa crux approach shoes review
Credit: Backcountry
Price:  $149 List
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Manufacturer:   Scarpa
By Jeff Dobronyi & Matt Bento  ⋅  Oct 18, 2022
71
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#4 of 13
  • Climbing Ability - 30% 8.0
  • Hiking Comfort - 25% 6.0
  • Support - 15% 7.0
  • Weight and Packability - 15% 6.0
  • Construction Quality - 15% 8.0

Our Verdict

The Scarpa Crux is a rough-and-tough, do-it-all workhorse of an approach shoe at a great price, earning our nod for the best value in the field. It has a narrow toe box and sticky leather for excellent climbing ability, along with a cushioned leather upper and stiff sole that combine to provide plenty of support. Great construction quality means the shoe should last longer than most. The thinner sole and stiff leather leave something to be desired for comfort when hiking long distances, and it's not the lightest shoe on the market. This is the best approach shoe that budget-minded users can find.
REASONS TO BUY
Precise feel for climbing
Supportive
Durable
REASONS TO AVOID
Heavy
Thin sole makes hiking less comfortable
Stiff leather upper
Editor's Note: This review was updated on October 18, 2022, elevating the Scarpa Crux to award-winning status.

Compare to Similar Products

 
scarpa crux approach shoes review
This Product
Scarpa Crux
Awards Best Buy Award Editors' Choice Award Top Pick Award Top Pick Award  
Price $149 List
$148.95 at Amazon
$134.19 at REI
Compare at 3 sellers
$119.19 at REI
Compare at 3 sellers
$119.19 at REI
Compare at 3 sellers
$119.96 at Backcountry
Overall Score Sort Icon
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Pros Precise feel for climbing, supportive, durableStiff for edging and standing in aiders, light weight, excellent climbing ability, good hiking supportAwesome balance of hiking and climbing abilities, great supportExcellent for climbing, light and compact, comfortableComfortable for hiking, good climbing performance, high quality construction, multiple insole width options
Cons Heavy, thin sole makes hiking less comfortable, stiff leather upperNarrow fit is a problem for wide-footed users, major durability concernsRelatively heavy and bulkyNot the best for long distance hiking, not much supportMesh upper offers little support, toe box a bit sloppy, on the heavy side
Bottom Line A great all-round approach shoe that is supportive and great for climbing and comes at an attractive priceThis shoe can do it all, from precise climbing on mid-5th class terrain to rugged hikes to long aid climbsThis model combines high performance with the ability to handle big loadsThese shoes climb great, hike pretty well, and disappear into a pack while climbingThese shoes hike and climb well, and are a top contender for users with wide feet
Rating Categories Scarpa Crux La Sportiva TX Guide La Sportiva TX4 La Sportiva TX2 Evo Salewa Wildfire 2
Climbing Ability (30%)
8.0
10.0
7.0
9.0
7.0
Hiking Comfort (25%)
6.0
7.0
9.0
6.0
8.0
Support (15%)
7.0
8.0
9.0
5.0
5.0
Weight and Packability (15%)
6.0
7.0
5.0
9.0
6.0
Construction Quality (15%)
8.0
4.0
7.0
6.0
7.0
Specs Scarpa Crux La Sportiva TX Guide La Sportiva TX4 La Sportiva TX2 Evo Salewa Wildfire 2
Outsole Vibram vertical approach Vibram Mega-Grip Vibram Mega-Grip with Trail Bite heel Vibram Idrogrip Pomoca Speed Mtn
Upper Material Leather synthetic TPU, PU Leather Recycled knit, PU toe & heel Recycled mesh
Weight (per pair) 27.2 oz (size 9.5) 29.8 oz (size 13) 26.2 oz (size 9.5) 26.4 oz (size 13) 31.5 oz (size 13)
Width Options Regular Regular Regular Regular Regular, Narrow
Mid Height Available? No No Yes No No
Midsole EVA Dual-density compressed EVA, TPU Torsion Shank Traverse injection MEMlex Traverse lite injection MEMlex with co-molded TPU shank EVA

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Scarpa Crux provides the best blend of performance and value, making it our top choice for an approach shoe for budget-minded shoppers.

Performance Comparison


scarpa crux approach shoes review - sticky rubber and durable leather uppers are key to a good approach...
Sticky rubber and durable leather uppers are key to a good approach shoe. Some of our testers with narrow feet preferred these to offerings from La Sportiva.
Credit: Matt Bento

Climbing Ability


The Scarpa Crux climbs very well, thanks to its medium-stiff sole, sticky rubber, and precise toe box design. These shoes provide more confidence on dicey rock moves than most other models on the market. They climb almost as well as the top climbing performers and do it at a much lower price. If you need the best climbing performance for lots of 5th-class climbing, these might not perform as well as you need, but they're great for most terrain.


The Crux can easily edge on holds down to about an inch wide, and our testers felt confident climbing on most moderate routes while top-roping in these shoes. On the sharp end, they are confidence-inspiring thanks to their relatively stiff soles and sticky Vibram MegaGrip rubber that won't migrate off holds, smears, and cracks when placed precisely and weighted properly. We found relatively good sensitivity for feeling holds on the rock through the soles of the shoes, which is rare for approach shoes.

scarpa crux approach shoes review - we found the crux to be great for slabby approaches and even a...
We found the Crux to be great for slabby approaches and even a little easy slab climbing.
Credit: Matt Bento

Hiking Comfort


While there are more comfortable hiking shoes out there, the Crux strikes a good balance between climbing and hiking abilities. It performs about average compared to other approach shoes in terms of hiking comfort. It's suitable for short to medium-length approaches, but if you will be trekking through miles and miles of rugged terrain to reach base camp, these won't feel comfortable by the time you get there.


The midsole doesn't cushion very well, especially in the forefoot, meaning users feel many of the rocks and irregularities on the trail. The leather upper has good cushioning within but still feels stiff compared to other options on the market. The shoe breaks in nicely over time and becomes more comfortable, but it doesn't stand out from the competition in this metric. We noticed that the shoe is on the narrow side, which may be an uncomfortable problem for wide-footed users.

Support


These shoes have a medium-stiff midsole that offers the support we expect from a good hiking shoe. They are also stiff enough to be comfortable over long days spent standing in aiders or hanging out on belay ledges, though they are not our top choice for this application. They are supportive enough for schlepping heavy loads, and the leather upper is stiff enough to provide good support to the top of the foot and ankle.


A rubber rand around the heel keeps the back of the foot locked down into place, and a stiff rubber toe box around the forefoot provides resistance to lateral movement in the forefoot. The lacing pattern could be tighter, but overall, they keep the foot from moving around too much. The midsole doesn't offer much cushioning, but this also means the foot feels closer to the ground and less likely to roll on uneven terrain.

scarpa crux approach shoes review - though shallow, we felt secure on all sorts of terrain with this...
Though shallow, we felt secure on all sorts of terrain with this face-melting tread pattern.
Credit: Matt Bento

Weight and Packability


The Scarpa Crux has an average weight and packability compared to its competitors. These are not the best choice for hanging on your harness and carrying over a multi-pitch route, but they fit nicely into a backpack and won't weigh you down, either. If weight is a major concern, look elsewhere, but if you need a daily driver for reasonably long approaches and won't have to carry these shoes up and over difficult climbing routes, the weight won't make a difference.


The Crux features a robust clip-in tab, so they will remain securely attached to your harness with a carabiner if you choose to do so. The cushioned leather upper doesn't compress as easily as the lighter mesh uppers found on other shoes, so they won't squish down to a small package inside a pack. In general, these shoes perform better when they are worn on your feet than carried inside your pack. They are a better choice for objectives that require approach shoes to be worn most of the day.

scarpa crux approach shoes review - heavy and supportive, these shoes are excellent for big wall...
Heavy and supportive, these shoes are excellent for big wall climbing but aren't the best for climbing with them clipped to the back of your harness.
Credit: Matt Bento

Construction Quality


The Crux uses high-quality rubber and leather on most of its exterior and features reinforcements in locations that are likely to wear down fastest. They are a durable choice, and therefore a great investment, for anyone who wants their approach shoes to last a long time. We did not find any construction concerns during our testing, and we've been testing this shoe for years.


The sole is made from Vibram MegaGrip, which we have found to be long-lasting and durable, in addition to providing plenty of friction for secure climbing. The leather upper withstands dirt, dust, and rock abrasion better than most other materials, and the rubber reinforcements around the forefoot and heel protect the most commonly worn areas. Some of the midsole foam is exposed, but we didn't notice uncommon wear to the foam during our test period. After years of climbing and hiking in these shoes, we can confidently say that they last a long time. This makes them a great long-term investment, and coupled with their attractive price, these shoes are a great value.

scarpa crux approach shoes review - these tanks are not going to fall apart from crack climbing.
These tanks are not going to fall apart from crack climbing.
Credit: Matt Bento

Should You Buy The Scarpa Crux?


A solid all-around performer, the Crux also costs less than most of its competitors and is the highest-performing approach shoe for the price. Budget-minded users looking for a great approach shoe should look no further, as this pair nearly matches the performance of the best options on the market, and costs a lot less. Great durability means these shoes are a reliable long-term investment. There are more specialized options on the market, but few come close to providing as much versatility, and none do it for less money. That said, if you need a high-performance approach shoe for climbing low to mid-5th class terrain, or need a lightweight shoe for carrying up and over difficult multi-pitch rock climbing routes, we recommend you check out a more niche option.

What Other Approach Shoes Should You Consider?


If the versatility of these shoes appeals to you, but you aren't limited by budget, the La Sportiva TX Guide is our favorite all-around approach shoe, offering more climbing performance and a lower weight than the Scarpa Crux. If technical climbing ability is less important to you, and hiking comfort is needed, the Scarpa Rapid is an excellent running shoe and approach shoe hybrid. If you have wide feet and want great all-around performance, we'd recommend the Salewa Wildfire 2, which is a very similar shoe, with even more hiking comfort, that accommodates wide feet.

Jeff Dobronyi & Matt Bento
 

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