The La Sportiva Traverse X or TX series has been around since 2016. The innovative line provided different types of shoes depending on the objective at hand. However, this line was trying to pick up where the La Sportiva Ganda left off and in many peoples mind came up short. Pairs of the Ganda still appear on Ebay every once in a while for astronomical prices and people do get what they are asking for the shoes. Well that time might be over!
The TX Guide is here and the performance is pretty unmatched. It preforms like the TX series from a breathability standpoint, has a way better price point than the Ganda did, and dare I say, climbs like the Ganda but approaches better??? Yup, Im gonna say it! It does!
When I first put the La Sportiva TX Guide on it hurt my feet, albeit I did have a broken toe and had run 20 miles in the two days previous. One day later, I did not even notice them on my feet they were so comfortable so they either broke in or maybe some swelling went down.
After 10 guiding days in the shoes I took them out on a run I do sometimes after work called the Trifecta. It is 3 different multi-pitch climbs in the Linville Gorge with a fare amount of trail running from the parking lot. When I got back I sent my times over to a friend thinking I was getting close to his times and he replied back: I always knew someone could do it in under 90 min. I had done the Trifecta in 1:24, and at the time thinking, I think I could have gone faster!
I have more than 80 days in the shoe. I get home from guiding and forget to take it off when I go out to do yard work. So it is very comfortable. It is also durable, with a fairly lugged sole on the back allowing it to perform in muddy trail (or wet yard) terrain.
Sorry Ganda you met your match, I might be putting my last pair on Ebay!