Trail running and hiking shoes aren't the only footwear trending toward the minimalist, approach shoes are as well. The Patagonia Rover gives you the security you need for those more technical scrambles and steep loose descents, all while keeping you extremely light on your feet.
Comfortable out of the box, you will really notice the feel of the terrain beneath your feet once you hit the trail. Don't worry, there is an ESS plate in the forefoot to protect you from anything sharp and a wedge in the heel to give you an extra bit of cushioning in these 4mm-5mm drop approach shoes.
Patagonia uses their extra sticky rubber on the Rover outsole with a climbing specific toe area and larger lugs at the back for traction on loose terrain. Like climbing shoes, the lacing system goes all the way to the toes, enabling you to crank them down for better edge control when clambering up more technical terrain.
The Rover have been the perfect shoe for playing around in the Sierras. For those of you in Colorado, I can see these approach shoes excelling on a variety of the 14er climbs such as La Plata Peak or some of the more technical routes on Grays and Torreys where trail hiking/running and a bit of steeper scrambling is involved.
The combination air mesh and synthetic leather upper keeps the shoe breathable, while wrapping around your foot for added stability. The soft, gusseted tongue helps to keep larger debris out of your approach shoes as you cruise up and down the trail.
The men's and women's Patagonia Rover lightweight approach shoes retail for $125 and are available for pre-order now, shipping November 20th.
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