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The One-Shoe Quiver Five Ten Access
Five Ten was a climbing shoe company that also became a bike shoe company by leveraging its sticky rubber soles—nothing grips better on pedals—and now it’s created a remarkably versatile shoe that combines the best of both those activities. The Access mixes DNA from an approach shoe, trail runner, and skate shoe to find a happy middle ground that’s ideal for hiking, scrambling, and bikepacking. The S1 rubber is a little firmer than Five Ten’s dedicated bike shoe, but it should hold up better over rocks, roots, and peak-bagging attempts. The shoe is narrow through the heel and mid-foot, then widens in the toe box (note that it runs a half to full size small)—it’s snug where it needs to be, roomy where it doesn’t.

There are two versions—leather and mesh. If you want a more secure fit (if climbing is a priority), the leather will give you more support. If you’re looking to ride your bike or day hike with a little boulder hopping thrown in (or you live in warmer climes), the mesh will breathe better. Get It: $130-$140; fiveten.com

Photograph courtesy Five Ten

Gear of the Year: Fall/Winter 2016

This season, the best gear sheds ounces while upping performance. How about a drone the size of a water bottle? A sleeping bag that works in tandem with a puffy jacket? Or a ski boot that loses 25 percent of its weight? Less is definitely more. —Steve Casimiro