Review: Zamberlan "The Nose" Approach Shoe

We outdoor folk tend to love things that are dual-purpose: a car that doubles as a camper, a backpack that’s also a dry bag, and a humble utensil that’s spoon on one end, fork on the other. And that's exactly why I love Zamberlan’s The Nose approach shoes—they're designed to handle both trail and rock, meaning I can go from hiking to Class 4 scrambling to low-grade climbing without breaking stride.

The shoe's self-adjusting and self-cleaning lugs (the diamond-shaped bumps on the bottom) make these transitions effortless, and I’m relieved to no longer slip, slide, and stumble over rocks while approaching a route. The climbing zone at the shoe’s toe affords maximum purchase on vertical terrain, and I’ll even swap my climbing shoes out for these during mellower pitches—anything up to 5.6, although you could push them at higher grades—to give my feet a break. Plus, they’re lightweight, comfortable, and stylish, with suede uppers (both breathable and water-resistant) and a sleek design that make the dirtbag aesthetic look sorta chic.

With how much fun I’m having just capering about in my Noses (my The Nose? my The Noses?), I’m beginning to wonder why I ever needed climbing shoes in the first place…

$240; zamberlanusa.com.