Product review of the Asolo Eldo GV approach shoe

Asolo Eldo GV Approach Shoe: Product Review

There’s an old saying about having the right tool for the job. As climbers, we know the importance of having sticky rubber on climbing shoes and cams to protect us. But what about approach shoes?

We’ve all crammed our feet into shoes that are too small for the benefit of climbing a little harder. But if your feet are screaming at you the whole time you are moving in the mountains, what’s the point? If you are like me, finding high quality shoes for the mountains is always a struggle. The perfect balance between comfort, durability, and performance is tough to find.

Often times approach shoes climb really well, but lack the comfort and durability that is needed for long days in the mountains scrambling, hiking, or moving through challenging terrain. The best part of climbing is oftentimes taking approach shoes at the end of the day and slipping on the flip flops.

But…it doesn’t have to be like that! Enter the Asolo GV Approach Shoe.

The Eldo GV approach shoe with mountains in the background

My First Impressions

You never get a second chance to make a first impression. Or so they say. But the Asolo Eldo GV Approach shoe didn’t need the second chance for me. My initial thoughts upon opening the box were:

Sleek! This pair of approach shoes has style. The green and black look really cool together.
Lightweight. Make that super lightweight.
Right out of the box, these were comfortable to wear.
The craftsmanship is remarkable.
It’s cool to see a true grip pattern similar to trail runners rather than the old dot tread pattern.

Some things I was potentially concerned about were:

The footbed doesn’t look comfortable for big days in the mountains.
The lacing system looks flimsy.
The toe box has a large amount of flex to it.
How is such a lightweight shoe going to hold up to the rigors of the mountains?

So what does Asolo say about this shoe?

Asolo recommends this shoe as a light and agile boot designed for technical approaches and day hikes. The low cut model of the Eldo family presents a technical seamless polyester upper and the Gore-Tex Extended Comfort Footwear lining guarantees waterproofness and breathability. The mono-density thermoformed EVA midsole guarantees the best support, stability, and cushioning. The Asolo/Vibram AG outsole features a self-cleaning design and excellent climbing area. It also uses the MegaGrip compound which offers excellent grip in both dry and wet terrain. To complete the model, the Pu rand adds additional protection, while the cordon lacing system and the thermo-shaped tongue provide a fast and precise fit.

All this to say: Asolo touts this is an excellent shoe designed specifically for alpine terrain.

So after a few months of wearing this shoe in tons of different terrain like Eldorado Canyon State Park and beyond, I can honestly say this is an excellent shoe that lives up to the hype.

Durability

Generally speaking, I destroy approach shoes. It’s not uncommon for me to go through a few different pairs every summer season. I’ve been wearing the Eldo GV’s since July and have been pleasantly surprised at how well they have held up.

I’ve crammed them into sharp Pikes Peak granite cracks, dragged them up 1,000 foot multipitch routes in the Vegas desert, and climbed more ridges in them than I can count.

Bottom line – this shoe has held up incredibly well. The thread pattern is still in-tact along with the designated climbing zone at the front of the toe box. There’s no peeling of the barge cement and no holes of any kind in the Gore-Tex material despite extensive use.

The tread pattern on the bottom of the Asolo Eldo GV approach shoes is very durable

Comfort

This is where the Asolo Eldo GV really shines. My initial impression was that the footbed that came with the shoe would in no way be comfortable. But I was wrong.

These shoes are downright comfortable for a technical approach shoe.

I’ve hiked, scrambled, and climbed tons of rough terrain and am still amazed at how good my feet feel after a big day out in these shoes. Normally, I have to switch out the footbed for a custom one to keep my feet happy. But this is not the case with these shoes.

I still wouldn’t want to wear them out and about for a night on the town, but they certainly get the job done comfort wise in the mountains.

When the laces are cranked down very tight, the small diameter of the laces creates a weirdly tight feeling on the top of the foot. While it isn’t downright uncomfortable, I could definitely see it leading to blisters over really long days back to back.

One other thing to note is the relative lack of comfort and support around the low ankle cut.

Overall, I am very impressed at the comfort of this shoe. The narrow fit and wider toe box create an almost ‘slipper like” feeling when putting this shoe on.

A guide wearing the Asolo Eldo GV Approach shoe while rock climbing

Performance

The Asolo Eldo GV approach shoe climbing rock

So how does the Asolo Eldo GV climb and scramble?

The soft midsole of this shoe provides realtime feedback, and you can feel everything underfoot. This is true not just when hiking, but when scrambling and climbing. This is nice as you can feel those small edges under your toes.

However, the soft midsole lets the outsole of the shoe bend and conform to the rock leaving an unsupported feeling while standing on razor thin edges. Strong feet and ankles can help this.

The wider toe box relative to the rest of the shoe is excellent for smearing up slabs and provides tons of friction with the Asolo/Vibram AG rubber on the bottom. Thinner cracks can be challenging though as you can’t get your toe into them like other models with a narrow toe box.

All in all, the performance of this shoe is excellent. They can handle any terrain thrown at them and then some. Perfect for a day of hard scrambling or a technical approach to the crag!

Pros and Cons

Final Thoughts

4.5/5 stars for the Asolo Eldo GV approach shoe

I’m thoroughly impressed with this shoe. The construction and materials are spot on. The comfort is unparalleled. The performance and climbing ability is great. The design is sleek and the colors are rad.

If you’re looking for an all around approach shoe that can get the job done, then look no further. The Asolo Eldo GV is a welcome addition to my quiver of shoes and without doubt, the lightest and most comfortable.

I highly recommend this shoe to anyone looking for a solid scrambling shoe or technical approach shoe.

Ben Coryell
Owner and Guide
Golden Mountain Guides

ben@goldenmountainguides.com