If you’ve ever been on a long approach to a remote crag, you know that sometimes the climb begins before you reach the rock. Sweat drips from your brow while you lug a heavy pack full of metal from rock to rock, hoping that your shoes stick when it matters the most. Some climbers opt for an approach shoe for added grip in environments like these. Others grab a pair of trail runners to prioritize comfort.
The Black Diamond Technician Pro offers adventurers a third option: a shoe with a flexible forefoot and sticky rubber sole that accommodates edging and smearing while also providing comfort up front and cushion in the back. It’s a blend between an approach shoe and a trail runner — at least, that’s how Black Diamond designed it.
I wore the Technician Pro shoes all spring, traipsing from home to my local hikes and crags. As someone who’s historically snagged a trail runner on the approach, I was pleasantly surprised by the dynamism and grip of this shoe. But I also found that it had some limitations.
In short: The Black Diamond Technician Pro approach shoe ($200) is durable, more flexible than a standard approach shoe, and made with some of the stickiest rubber on the market. It uses a tread similar to a running shoe, and still provides enough edge support to smear on rock. But it comes with the price tag to match its dual feature set, and it might not replace your dedicated trail running shoes.
Compare the Black Diamond Technician Pro to those on GearJunkie’s guide to the Best Approach Shoes or the Best Running Shoes.
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Flexible for long approaches or long days at a crag -
Comfortable to wear for long periods -
Sole is very sticky and edges well on rock -
Looks good
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Expensive -
Some heel chafing issues
Black Diamond Technician Pro: Review
Every time I encounter a piece of gear that’s designed with two purposes in mind, I wonder if it’ll be like a spork: decent in both capacities, but a master of none. Sure, it has multiple uses. But if it can’t tackle any of them well, is it really a better option? When it comes to the Black Diamond Technician Pro shoe, I found myself asking this same question.
However, this blend of trail runner and approach shoe is becoming more popular. Just this year, Salewa released its Wildfire NXT, which was similarly touted as a crossover approach shoe and hiker.
The Black Diamond Technician Pro isn’t intended to be a full-blown trail runner; the designers of this shoe utilized running shoes as inspiration while building the midfoot and heel of the Technician Pro. This manages to enhance the shoe’s flexibility without compromising the qualities that would allow you to scramble up to the crag. But its rigidity and weight make it less dynamic than dedicated running shoes.
Comfort & Fit
The Technician Pro’s fit is true-to-size. The toe box is narrow to support scrambling and climbing, but it’s not overtly constrictive. It is comfortable enough to wear while scrambling and belaying at the crag.
However, the heel of this shoe is taller than some approach shoes I’ve owned. It’s also really rigid, which isn’t uncommon for this style of shoe, but it contributed to a touch of friction around the heel on a number of recent outings. I wasn’t expecting to need a break-in period while wearing these kicks, but I did.
These shoes weigh about 30 ounces. Compared to another one of my favorite approach shoes, the La Sportiva TX3, the Technician Pro is about 10 ounces heavier. In light of the Technician Pro’s heightened durability, the weight isn’t unreasonable. But it also wouldn’t be my first pick for a long day in the alpine zone.
Sole & Grip
At the same time, while I noticed a bit of heel chafing while wearing these shoes, I also felt confident that the Vibram Mega Grip rubber would adhere to slick rock and gravel without batting an eye — and it did.
The Vibram Mega Grip is one of the best inventions in outdoor footwear because it increases traction in both wet and dry environments. This results in a superior level of control that can add confidence to your movements, which is ideal in places where smearing, edging, and precision are involved.
Finally, the tread of this shoe forgoes the lugs that you’d find on an approach shoe like the La Sportiva TX3. Instead, it adopts a pattern that’s more commonly seen in a trail runner, which would, in theory, support someone traveling at high speeds.
Build & Details
The front of the Technician Pro is shaped like a conventional approach shoe to maintain its technical strengths. The slightly narrow toe box caters to light edging. The back of the shoe is comfortable and more flexible than the La Sportiva TX3, but it’s still not as cushioned as most trail runners.
The upper of the Black Diamond Technician Pro is made with a 65% leather, 20% polyester, and 15% rubber construction. This makes for a super–abrasion-resistant design, ideal in settings where you have to rock hop or navigate canyons. The lining is 100% polyester for added breathability to accommodate sweaty feet or all-day use.
The midsole is 100% EVA, the plate is 100% TPU, and the outsole is 100% rubber. These elements work together to create a quality shoe with a better response than some approach shoes.
Trail Performance
I wore these shoes around the neighborhood, to my local crag, and on a multisport hike and scramble day.
To continue the spork analogy, the Technician Pro manages to be a great spoon and a tolerable fork. The Black Diamond Technician Pro undeniably boasts of a much more durable construction than just about any trail running shoe in my closet (and there are a lot of them).
It didn’t take long for me to determine that the toe’s precision would allow me to comfortably lead a 5.4 or 5.5 without slipping my climbing shoes on. What’s more, they responded well to a variety of terrain types, keeping me grounded and comfortable through gravel, dirt, and slick rock trails.
Black Diamond Technician Pro: Room for Improvement
With a price tag of $200, the Black Diamond Technician Pro is almost double the cost of the La Sportiva TX3 approach shoe. It also runs about $50 more than the standard trail running shoe. And it’s about the same cost as La Sportiva’s TX Guide — a similar hybrid approach shoe.
I’m definitely someone who’s willing to invest in the right pair of shoes. However, in my opinion, the upgraded features of the Black Diamond Technician Pro don’t warrant the extra cost. I’d be more inclined to stick with my TX3 or Altra Lone Peak trail runners than opt for a “spork” that costs this much.
I’m also curious to see how these shoes wear in over time. It’s possible that they’ll soften after extended periods of use, which could eliminate the heel chafing and make the shoe even more dynamic. But after a few months of use, this shoe still feels like more of an approach shoe than a trail runner to me.
Black Diamond Technician Pro: Conclusion
I love innovation. Most of the time, outdoor brands just shift color options instead of making improvements to gear. So, I’m appreciative that Black Diamond is looking for ways to serve multisport athletes. In many ways, the Technician Pro hits the mark. It’s a good approach shoe. It’s more flexible than many competitive options. And it does provide all-day comfort for people who spend long hours at the crag.
Would I use this shoe as a flexible approach shoe before scrambling across questionable terrain? Totally. Would I take it for a lengthy trail run? Not a chance. The price point also makes it less accessible than a number of approach shoes that already do a decent job of providing comfort and support on lengthy adventures.
In the world of approach shoes, the Technician Pro manages to add traction to your feet while supporting dynamic movements. Overall, this shoe is a great option for multifaceted athletes who prefer to use the same shoe for everything unless they’re looking to run long distances in the high country.
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