Name: El Chorro [Mens] Men's technical approach shoe
Brand: Alpkit
Price: 99.99 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Size
- UK 7
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- UK 8
- UK 9
- UK 10
- UK 11
- UK 12
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Colour
- Sterling
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Details

The approach shoe that approaches properly

El Chorro is built for the days that blur the line between hiking and climbing. Rocky walk-ins, rough mountain paths, scrambles that grow more technical as the day unfolds and your hands join your feet in the work.

Developed with footwear specialists in north-east Italy, it combines a sticky REACT Grip sole with a protective upper and precise lacing to give you secure footing on slabs, scree and uneven ground.

Highlights

REACT Grip sole - holds firm on rock and loose ground
Precise fit - 8-point lacing helps fine-tune the fit on technical terrain
Tough upper - split leather construction stands up to rough use
Toe protection - reinforced rand helps shield against rock strikes
Long-day comfort - PU midsole cushions rough tracks and walk-ins
Supple feel - flexible enough for hikes, scrambles and crag days

Performance on rock and rough ground

El Chorro sits in that useful middle ground between a walking shoe and a climbing shoe. Supportive and comfortable for long approaches, but precise enough to hold firm when it matters.

The REACT Grip sole is designed for mixed mountain terrain, with sticky rubber that gives you confidence-inspiring grip across damp rocky paths and loose scree. Underfoot, the PU midsole adds cushioning and shock absorption to reduce fatigue on longer days.

A 1.6 mm split leather upper balances durability with flexibility, with a reinforced rand to protect the areas that take the most punishment. The close 8-point lacing system lets you adjust the fit for greater precision on smaller footholds.

Trail tested

Choose El Chorro for a direct line up the north or south ridge of Tryfan, or head round to the Heather Terrace before swapping into climbing shoes. They're equally at home on Stanage Edge, three and a half miles of the UK's finest gritstone. Wander the edge or pick a line to climb.

Think Lake District approaches, crag days moving between routes, and out on the hill when you want more precision and grip than a walking shoe without the stiffness and weight of a full mountain boot.

Comfort, guaranteed.

Love 'em or return 'em. All our footwear is backed by our 28-day Comfort Guarantee, allowing you to return your shoes if they're not right for you.

Developed with mountain footwear know-how

El Chorro was developed with bootmakers in north-east Italy who've spent generations getting mountain footwear right. That experience shapes the details throughout - and the result is an approach shoe that feels precise and dependable on technical ground with comfort that lasts all day.

Lower impact by design

El Chorro uses a durable split leather upper with a C0 DWR and an Eco insole made with Arneplant Bio maize oil, retaining the quality of standard EVA with lower impact materials. Built for repeated days on rock and rough ground, season after season.

El Chorro: a technical approach shoe for hikes, scrambles and proper walk-ins

Features

Product overview

Built for rocky walk-ins, scrambles and technical crag approaches
REACT Grip sole holds firm on rock and loose ground
8-point lacing system fine-tunes the fit for precise footing
1.6 mm split leather upper shrugs off abrasion
Reinforced rand protects against rock strikes, scree and rough ground
PU midsole cushions longer approaches
Breathable construction keeps feet comfortable on warm crag days
Designed and developed with footwear specialists in north-east Italy
Made in Europe
28-day Comfort Guarantee
3-year Alpine Bond

Technical details

Construction

Upper: 1.6mm split leather
Lacing points 8
Waterproof membrane: None
Rand: 1.5mm rubber toe and heel rand
Insole: Arneplant Bio Maize
Midsole: PU, injection moulded
Outsole: REACT Grip
DWR: C0, PFC-free

Weight

408g (UK size 8)

Origin

Made in Europe

Sustainability and Product Care

Product Care

Brush away dirt and dust after use, especially around the rand and outsole. Clean with lukewarm water and allow footwear to dry naturally away from direct heat. Use an appropriate leather treatment periodically to maintain performance and durability.

Comfort Guarantee
Love 'em or return 'em. All our footwear is backed by our 28-day Comfort Guarantee, allowing you to return your boots if they’re not right for you.

Sustainability

Lightweight and durable approach construction
El Chorro uses durable split leather with a fluorocarbon-free C0 DWR finish for weather resistance with reduced environmental impact. The dual-density REACT sole unit is manufactured in Europe and engineered for long-lasting cushioning, grip and comfort across mixed terrain.

Lower impact materials
The Arneplant® bio-based footbed uses maize oil to reduce dependence on petroleum-based foam materials while maintaining comfort and durability.

Where It Is Made
Our products are made in the best factories in the world. We know the factories personally and they have all signed up to our Code of Ethics in our supply chain.

Reducing our carbon footprint
We are carbon neutral under PAS2060 and offset our Scope 1, Scope 2 and Scope 3 operations and transport emissions.

End of life
When your partnership with this product is over send it back to us and we will pass it on to someone that needs it through our Continuum Project.

FAQs

Why isn’t my size available?

We’ve focused on stocking our most popular sizes to begin with. Where possible, we’ll look to expand the size range in the future.

How do your footwear size conversions work?

There’s no single global standard for converting UK and EU shoe sizes, so conversions can vary slightly between footwear brands. Our sizing follows the manufacturer’s recommended conversion to help provide the most consistent fit possible. For example, some well-known brands, including Nike, list a UK size 8 as an EU 42.5, while others may label the equivalent fit differently. If you’re between sizes or would like extra reassurance on fit, our stores are always happy to help you find the right size.

Men's footwear size guide

Sizing Guide
UK	7	8	9	10	11	12
EU	42	43	44	45	46	47

If you are between sizes, we generally recommend sizing up. Find out more about measuring your feet if you don't know your size.

Understanding fit

Shoe size is your starting point, but a good fit also depends on foot width, arch shape, and overall foot volume.

Our boots are designed around a standard mountain footwear fit and can be fine-tuned with insoles, socks, and lacing techniques.

Foot width

Our footwear is designed around a standard width of approximately 98–102 mm.

This is not a strict limit, as fit also depends on toe shape, arch profile, and overall foot volume.

If you consistently find standard footwear narrow or restrictive, we recommend trying boots on in-store where possible.

Toe shape

Our toe box accommodates a range of foot shapes.

If you have a particularly pronounced Greek foot shape (long second toe) or square toe profile, we recommend trying footwear in-store with one of our qualified boot fitters.

Arch and Volume

High arches and flat feet do not usually require a different boot size, but they can affect how much internal space feels comfortable.

Low-volume feet may benefit from a thicker insole for a more secure fit
High-volume or high-arched feet may prefer a thinner insole or adjusted lacing

The right insole can dramatically improve comfort, support, and heel hold.

Read our boot fitting guide to learn more about how to achieve a comfortable and performant fit with insoles and lacing techniques.

What to check at home

Always try boots on wearing the socks you intend to walk in.

Walk around indoors and check the following:

Toe Room

You should have a small gap in front of your toes
Your toes should not contact the front of the boot on descents

Heel Hold

Your heel should feel secure
Slight movement is normal, persistent slipping is not

Width & Comfort

The boot should feel secure without pinching
There should be no major pressure points or excessive looseness

If the fit doesn’t feel right, try another size or model.. We have a 28 day comfort fit guarantee.

El Chorro Men's technical approach shoe