New La Sportiva Shoe

I actually don’t know what I’ll use this year. I’ve always used the Exum Ridge for everything, and archived a couple pair when they started to develop the Xplorer, so it’s possible I may continue with them. Stray thoughts:

* The whole buckle thing eluded me – shoelaces work really well – why add weight and no function? * Having said that, I do note the 5.10 Canyoneer has a great look, quite distinctive, so they’re doing really well with that and won’t change. * I have a very wide foot – EEE – so I make the Exums work by pulling the laces out, then re-lacing skipping the first two eyelets – the Xplorer also has a low vamp (distance between the first lace and the front of a shoe is the vamp) – so that may work on them as well. * The La Sportiva X-Country is a bad-ass shoe you might want to check out – narrow, trim, with an aggro outsole. * The La Sportiva Vertical-K is truly amazing – 7 oz! – but with more cushion than 13 oz clunkers. Zero support, but wonderful on your foot. * Tony’s new design, the New Balance MT 110 is very impressive – very different concept than the V-K – it is bonier with excellent control on technical terrain.

So … nowadays we have the wonderful option of many excellent tools to chose from instead of almost nothing … each route might be best done in a different shoe.

Have Fun.

And RIP Micah – you were a wonderful soul.

BB

> Posted by: “Shaun” trackrunner83@yahoo.com trackrunner83 > Sat Mar 31, 2012 3:19 pm (PDT)

Thanks Buzz! Question what are you using on your running canyon adventures?

I’ve got narrow feet & need a different shoes for canyons with long approaches & not so tuff on the shoes. I’ll use my 5.10s for the skinny canyons.

— In Yahoo Canyons Group, Buzz Burrell wrote:

The Xplorer is long-awaited. Compared with the Exum:

* It is more “robust” – beefier, stiffer

* It is less of a running shoe – it is a classic “approach” shoe

* With a full front rand and the Italian “pointed” toe, it is capable of more technical climbing/scrambling

* The Vibram Idro rubber is outstanding – much stickier than other compounds, especially when cold

Summary:

* If you have a wide foot, this might not work

* If you like to run, hold on to that last pair of Exum’s

* This rubber is so good, I wish they put it on other models

BB

PS If you really like to run, the new La Sportiva Vertical K is amazing – 7 oz(!) with more cushion and better grip than shoes weighing 12 oz.

> New La Sportiva Shoe

> Posted by: “Jules” julbur@… ropegypsy

> Wed Mar 28, 2012 2:46 am (PDT)

La Sportiva’s long awaited Xplorer that’s replaced the River Exums. They don’t look as robust to me.

> http://www.sportiva.com/products/footwear/climbingapproach/xplorer

>

The Xplorer is long-awaited. Compared with the Exum:

* It is more “robust” – beefier, stiffer * It is less of a running shoe – it is a classic “approach” shoe * With a full front rand and the Italian “pointed” toe, it is capable of more technical climbing/scrambling * The Vibram Idro rubber is outstanding – much stickier than other compounds, especially when cold

Summary:

* If you have a wide foot, this might not work * If you like to run, hold on to that last pair of Exum’s * This rubber is so good, I wish they put it on other models

BB

PS If you really like to run, the new La Sportiva Vertical K is amazing – 7 oz(!) with more cushion and better grip than shoes weighing 12 oz.

> New La Sportiva Shoe > Posted by: “Jules” julbur@tpg.com.au ropegypsy > Wed Mar 28, 2012 2:46 am (PDT)

La Sportiva’s long awaited Xplorer that’s replaced the River Exums. They don’t look as robust to me. > http://www.sportiva.com/products/footwear/climbingapproach/xplorer