Kayland Crux Grip - GearReview.com

Kayland Crux Grip approach shoe - GearReview.com
By Matt Smith

As the canyoneering specialist at Gearreview.com, I eat approach shoes for lunch. The tough, demanding conditions, highly abrasive environments, and not-infrequent technical footwork puts most shoes out of their misery in one season or less. The Crux Grip closely resembles a custom made shoe I came across, and was impressed with, nearly a decade ago. I couldn't wait to rip them out of the box.

The first thing you may notice about the Crux Grip is the attention grabbing lime color (This has been toned down a little for the 2009 model). The lacing is decidedly technical, and extends nearly to the toe. The laces and thinner diameter, and have a tight weave so they are quick to put on and get a nice fit. The sole is Kayland's Hexagon Grip, with a generous toe rand, and heel strap/rand.

Kayland
Crux Grip

Now that I've given you all the superficial information, lets get down to the nitty gritty. The fit of the upper is great, even right out of the box. The suede has been tanned to be relatively soft and supple. The mid-sole and out-sole on the other hand are quite stiff. This allows the shoe to function very well for technical approaches, but I found the cushioning inadequate for very long trail approaches. I tried to mitigate this by using a third-party insole, which helped somewhat. After about 6 miles with a fully loaded technical pack, the bottoms of my feet were quite sore. However, when I wore the Crux for day full of short, technical slots in Arches Fiery Furnace the shoes performed superbly. Because the upper is primarily natural suede, the Crux Grip isn't best suited to wet approaches or climbs, although with proper care, no lasting damage should occur.

The Kayland Hexagon Grip outsole is about average for sticky-ness. I found it performed as well as Montrail's Gryptonite and La Sportiva's Frixion rubber on similar approach shoes. It isn't as sticky as 5.10 stealth rubber, but it is more durable.

Summary: The Kayland Crux Grip is a fantastic shoe geared towards more technical use and less mileage. It would be well suited to big wall climbs, and short technical excursions. You can find the Crux Grip for about $90, which is in line with similar approach shoes.

For more information contact:
www.kayland.com
Kayland USA
387 Lafayette Rd, Ste 206
PO Box 1391
NH 03842
(603) 758-6486
EMail: info@kaylandusa.com

Matt Smith Is a contributing editor at Gearreview.com and abuses himself exploring the dark, nether regions of the Colorado Plateau. Check out his blog with his latest trip reports and product test updates.


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