Customer Reviews

Garmont Men's Sticky Dragon Approach Shoe,Grey/Dk.Grey,9 M

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Wore them only a couple of times (mainly sitting on a bench in a park) and now I've just noticed a large tear in the gray leather, on the inner side, right next to the third "eyelet". Don't even know how happened as I didn't tie the shoelaces tight. Anyway, it seems that Garmont lowered the standards lately...

My sticky dragons just arrived today, and I have a few comments that might help you as a potential buyer. I also intend to update this review in 6 months after putting these shoes to the test.

I read a lot of reviews before buying these. I was looking for a shoe for ascending 14ers in Colorado that would withstand 10-20 miles of hiking and still perform well on class 4-(low)5 climbs. And, I didn't want to spend much more than $100. It seems like the sticky dragons will fit the bill.

They were pretty comfortable right out of the box. The arch seems a tad high, putting some pressure on my arch, but they should be comfy after a short break-in period. (EDIT: 2nd day of wearing them around the house...no discomfort at all...very comfy!)

I ordered 1/2 size smaller than my previous pair of ascent shoes, the FiveTen Savant. (BTW, I like the savants, but the thin breathable fabric turned into windows after some city parkour and mountain play. Anyone wanna see my toes? Nope?) Ok, so I bought the sticky dragons which are made of a more durable material. Most reviews said their sizing was accurate, while a few said they run 1/2 size large. I'd say that the sticky dragons run about 1/4 size large. I believe this is because a feature they call "FMA" (first metatarsal accommodation). They've added a little length to the area of the toebox for your longest toes to stretch out a bit. It doesn't feel unnatural...just 1/4 size longer. Going with 1/2 size smaller than usual, I think I made the right choice. We'll see how they feel after putting some miles in while wearing a pack.

After walking around the house, I hit my climbing wall. Aside from actual climbing shoes, these by far outperformed any other shoes I've tried climbing in. The last is rigid enough and the rubber on the sole is firm enough to edge remarkably well. Many other hiking shoes have lugs on their sole that go right up to the edge of the shoe. That set-up is terrible for climbing since the lug between your foot and the stone rotates under your weight, causing your foot to shift away from the rock's surface. The sticky dragon's didn't do this at all. They held their edge quite well.

The real test will be the Maroon Bells when I get out to CO in 6 months. I intend to update this review after that trip.

In looking for an alternative shoe for hiking the Grand Canyon I settled on the Garmont Sticky Dragon. After wearing them daily for 3 weeks I decided to give them a shot and I'm glad I did. They were perfect for the 16 miles of dry, rocky trails in the Grand Canyon. Contrary to other feedback mine ran a bit small. I sent them back for a 1/2 larger size which solved the issue. The fabric portions of the shoe take away some stability in exchange for ventilation - probably an equitable trade for the hot weather I encountered. Overall a reasonably sturdy, lightweight, trail shoe at a fair price.

I have gone through quite a few shoes looking for the right one for ultralight backpacking with a fair amount of off trail use. These are the best so far - by far. They are very comfortable, light and good for scrambling around on rocks with or without a pack. They even worked well on a fairly long steep trail descent with a pack. The sizing seems pretty standard so whatever you usually take should work. I tried doing a little bouldering with these and they are not climbing shoes so I would not be expecting too much in that department but for low fifth class climbing they are certainly better than a trail running shoe.

Extremely Comfortable, uplifting and fun. Not a running or cross training shoe and looks quite classy and well made. It's an "approach shoe" like when you're "approaching" K2 with your team of Sherpas and equipment preparatory to climbing it. When you do be sure to bring your warm mittens and a heavy sweater. When you're done it's going to feel really good to put your Approach Boots back on and have some hot chocolate.