Five Ten Guide Tennie Shoes

The ergonomic last and stiff construction of the Guide Tennie provides great foot hold and a snug yet comfortable fit. With laces from the start of the toe box all the way up the arch of the shoe, your foot is embraced as if it were in a real climbing shoe but without the pain. The slimmed down toe box provides the performance you need on rock without being over the top when you are putting in the miles on a long approach. A good combination of comfort and climbing shoe prowess which has only been improved in this new version is what makes the Guide Tennie even better than before.

The nubuck leather upper is durable and also water-resistant so it can take the abuse that scrambling or climbing will dish out. The wrap around rubber toe cap is also effective at deflecting rocks, protecting your toes from abuse and keeping them dry.

Have a look at this overview video straight from Five Ten:

• Upper - Abrasion-resistant nubuck leather with waterproofing
• Midsole - EVA
• Sole - Stealth C4 rubber

• Water-resistant leather upper keeps light moisture out.
• Compression-molded midsole provides long-lasting comfort.
• Mesh lining keeps air circulating for temperature control.
• Ergonomic last.

• Ankle to toe lacing for enhanced fit and improved edging performance.

• Extra rubber on toe adds protection on the incline

• Durable, comfortable approach shoe for your next climb.

The Five Ten Guide Tennie approach shoes were tested in a number of environments. I wanted to see how they would perform not only as an approach shoe but also as a hiker and bike shoe. Thanks to their Stealth C4 soles, not only do they stick to rock,  but they also work well with bike pedals. I found the Guide Tennie shoes to be ideally suited to each of the disciplines mentioned above. While they weren’t so ideal on wet rock or frozen ground—due to the tread pattern they stuck to pretty much everything else. The generous toe rocker and rounded heel eliminates that Frankenstein feeling when hiking even though the toe is still very much squared off. 

Although I have a slightly wider foot than average, the narrower fit of the Guide Tennie wasn’t an issue. I did, however, give them some time to break in and warm up before any considerable mileage was put on them. The new Guide Tennie version is said to be not as stiff as its predecessor which is a good thing as I found them to be plenty beefy and anything more would have been overkill. The full lacing system and heel pocket reinforcement provide a great foot-hold, while again not being overpowering, just enough to be able to scramble and climb while still comfortable enough for hiking and biking.

If you are looking for a reasonably priced approach shoe that can perform as intended then look no further. If you are looking for a comfortable shoe that’s super durable and able to bike, hike and climb all in one day, then again, look no further.