Approach shoes – there aren’t many footwear categories with a more specific function than these sticky-rubber hiking/climbing kicks that are meant to get you to and from the crag. Personally, I’ve never understood the need for them as I’ve always just worn a pair of light hikers to the base of cliffs, then tossed ’em in my pack for the ascent. Well, turns out my luddite tendencies have been against me as approach shoes really are better than a pair of beat, old sneakers. The Patagonia Splice are the approach shoes that changed my mind.
The Patagonia Splice is a lighter-weight version of an approach shoe, that the company says is better for stuffing in a pack or hanging from your harness while on the sharp end. Key features include:
- Suede leather and canvas upper
- Traditional lacing
- Self-centering tongue
- Rubber toe bumper and heel
- Ventilated Dri-Lex® air-mesh collar and tongue lining
- 20% recycled EVA anatomical footbed with Aegis Microbe Shield® supports,
- 20% recycled dual-density, die-cut EVA midsole
- Patagonia extra sticky rubber sole
- Weight: 9.1 oz
I’ve been testing the Splice for weeks now, and have come to like them in surprising ways. First off, they are extremely comfortable. Wearing them is like wrapping your feet in a pair of slippers. As such, I’ve made it a habit to wear them around the house after work. These are great post bike-ski-hike shoes for the drive home from the mountains or kicking it at the local brewery.
On the trail though, I was a bit disappointed. Yes, they are approach shoes, but because they are a lighter version than I’ve seen, foot and ankle support are very low. As a result, I found that hiking to a crag that requires a long scramble (I’m talking miles) made my feet hurt. However, these shoes do climb really well with the sticky rubber soles and climbing-style edges on the toes.
To further test their climbing abilities, I took the Splice to the climbing gym. I first ascended a 5.8 route and found the soles more than adequate and had plenty of traction to reach the top. Stepping up the game, I jumped on a 5.10b. There, the shoes still performed admirably, though they were less aggressive on small, edgy footholds that required finesse. They’re not climbing shoes, but they work better than I expected.
Back to the comfort theme, I wore the Splice on a recent trip to Alaska. These shoes are perfect for traveling! They are easy to get on and off through security, and the slipper-like qualities and low profile made them ideal for stuffing my dogs under the seat in front of me. Who knew the Patagonia Splice would be good for approaching AK?
Now that I’ve been converted to the benefits of wearing an approach shoe, I’m totally sold on the Patagonia Splice. They’re suited for short approaches to the boulders in Little Cottonwood Canyon, or down-climbing walk offs and raps on the Schoolroom Buttress. Plus, they are so easy to stow in a pack or dangle from a harness using the heel loops, there’s no reason not to bring them along. However, I’ll still be rocking the standard hiking boots on longer approaches.
The Good: Light weight, low profile, packable, sticky rubber sole and sharp toe-edge is good enough for easy to moderate rock climbs and bouldering problems. Very comfortable.
The Bad: Not enough support for longer approaches, especially if you’re hauling a pack full of climbing gear.
Final Word: The Patagonia Splice are an approach shoe best used for climbs not far from the road, or to have handy on a gnarly walk-off where extra traction is needed.
For more or to purchase, check them out at Patagonia.com