Shoes for the hill
Q
I’m confused about varying types of footwear, as I’ve noticed different retailers use different terms for similar shoes. So, what is the difference between a trail shoe, an approach shoe and a travel shoe? James Clarke, Cardiff
GT says Approach shoes were the first category to be established when climbers began using what were previously known as ‘training shoes’ to walk to, or approach, a crag – before then changing into their proper climbing shoes and roping up. Approach shoes are designed to perform well on rocky terrain, thus they often have durable rubber rands, sticky rubber soles with shallow lugs and a relatively narrow toe area to allow for more precise foot placement on rocks.
Travel shoes are another extension of the humble ‘training shoe’ but more for walking around tourist attractions, travel on trains and walking to valley-based locations. Travel shoes are generally wider than approach shoes, well cushioned and often have a relaxed, less sporty style.
Trail shoes also originate from ‘training shoes’ but are specifically designed for use on rougher tracks and muddy paths away from easier ground. As such they tend to have deeper sole lugs, reinforcement around the upper, as well as a sportier style that makes them ideal for backpacking on paths.
Despite these definitions, you may find a shoe assigned to a certain category by a retailer is actually ideal for your needs in a situation that would more suit another category of shoe. You may think that a particular trail shoe would perform better for approaching crags than a specifically labelled approach shoe, then there’s fit to consider... So it usually all comes down to personal preference.