A truly useful tool can do more than one thing. That seems to be the philosophy behind the new Æscent from Five Ten. Five Ten says that they have made this classic “approach” shoe the lightest, strongest, best-performing kick available. After spending a few months putting miles on the shoe, we’d be hard pressed to disagree. Simply put, when you need surefooted stability, the Æscent has got you covered every step of the way.
On Performance and Design…
Today’s outdoor enthusiasts seemingly live in a world of categories. One shoe for hiking, one shoe for approach days, another shoe for cruising around town on your longboard. Not only does this take a toll on your closet space, but puts a massive crush on your wallet.
So it’s easy to see why our testers were so impressed with the Five Ten Æscent. From the California Mountains to the Nevada desert; from Park City Utah to the rural roads of Missouri, we dragged the Æscent halfway around the country and back again. Whether our plans entailed a day hike, some mountain biking, or a day of bouldering, the Æscent shoes handled it all with ease.
The beauty of the shoe starts with the truly legendary traction of Stealth® S1 rubber. Five Ten’s Stealth Rubber was developed for rock climbing shoes, and remains the favorite of many top climbers providing high friction and excellent edging. So if you’re one who thinks that open rock face along the trail is issuing you a challenge, the Æscent’s 1mm lugs which enhance the smearing capability of these shoes, are ready to go.
But these shoes aren’t just for weekend boulder hopping. In our time with the Æscent, the sticky rubber provided a sturdy and reliable grip on everything from granite to concrete; from gravel riddled fire trails to sun-baked sandstone. When we weren’t out exploring the great outdoors, they became our go-to shoe for days on the longboard. So you can expect them to handle whatever you toss their way. Moreover, the stealth rubber on these Five Ten kicks will outlast the gum rubber sole on that conventional skate shoe you’ve been holding onto, and stick better to your pedals when blitzing down the mountain.
The molded EVA midsole absorbs the shock of impact while the innovative arch support provides the torsional stability and mid-foot support our crew needed to attack every obstacle with confidence. In terms of durability, our commendations go to the Five Ten design team. Even on the most demanding approaches, the split grain leather upper and rubber toe rand held up to our feet dragging and stone kicking, while the breathable mesh toe chamber added comfort and breathability to summer rock hops.
Bottom Line…
Occupying that coveted gray area between rock, approach, and lifestyle footwear, the Five Ten Æscent shoe is one shoe that loves to live life on the move. Simply put, it’s the best do-everything shoe in our gear stash.
*Gumption Gear Review received the item featured in this review from Five Ten at no cost and receives no monetary compensation for this or any related review. The item featured was provided solely in return for our honest views and opinions.