FiveTen’s New Shoes: Approach, Or What?
What’s up with FiveTen’s new line of approach shoes? Are they strictly approach shoes? Low hikers? Free-riders?
All of the above, says one of our lead climbers, Ross Prince.
“They’re all pretty amazing on rock,” he said.
Unlike the ever-popular Guide Tennie, the Impact, Savant and IQ Insight have taken very untraditional approaches to the approach shoe.
To understand the differences, you also have to understand the two different types of Stealth-brand rubber used — C4 and S1. The C4 rubber is the hardest and stickiest, so it’s unyielding on tiny edges and yet grips the rock extremely well. The S1 rubber exchanges some of that toughness and stickiness for more absorption, making it ideal for hiking. The Guide Tennie uses C4 rubber, while the Impact uses S1. The Savant and IQ Insight use both rubbers on different parts of the soles, for the best of both worlds.
This classic approach shoe combines the midsole and supportive structure of a hiking shoe with the sticky rubber of a climbing shoe. There isn’t nearly as much between your toes and the rock as there would be in a hiking shoe, however, so you can still feel the rock and power off those little edges.
In a lot ways, this shoe visually resembles a climbing or approach shoe — the lace-to-toe styling and the slingshot rand, for example. The overall shape of the shoe clearly resembles a hiker, however, and the “rocker” shape of the sole definitely serves to propel the foot forward while walking. Still, it’s amazingly versatile on the rock, especially thanks to the sticky rubber that you won’t find on any low hiker.
Take the IQ Insight and give it a meshy, synethetic upper, and you’ve got a breathable, quick-drying version of the Insight. Talk about multisport. You can paddle in these, and then go find some boulders by the river.
The Impact puts S1 rubber on a freeriding/downhill mountain biking shoe. Triple stitched for durablility, with extra padding and a toe guard to protect the feet. Freeriders love them because the sticky rubber doesn’t let go of their flat pedals, and climbers love them because the last comes from the old Mountain Master approach shoe.
Ross uses Impacts as his approach shoes.
