Trail-Running Shoes Buying Guide

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Ideal for mid- to long-distance trail runs or races on more technical terrain, the women's La Sportiva Jackal II trail-running shoes are breathable and cushioned for comfort on your off-road miles.
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View the La Sportiva Jackal Product LineView all La Sportiva Women's Trail-Running ShoesBest Use | Trail Running |
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Trail-Running Shoe Type | Rugged-Trail |
Running Shoe Cushioning | Maximum Cushion |
Heel-to-Toe Drop (mm) | 7 |
Heel Stack Height (mm) | 29 |
Forefoot Stack Height (mm) | 22 |
Footwear Height | Ankle |
Footwear Closure | Lace-up |
Upper | Recycled sandwich mesh/nylon inserts/TPU reinforcements |
Lining | Recycled mesh |
Midsole | Compression-molded EVA with Infinitoo polyurethane (PU) inserts |
Outsole | FriXion XT 2.0 rubber compound |
Rock Plate | Yes |
Vegan | Yes |
Weight (Pair) | 1 lb. 1.2 oz. |
Gender | Women's |
Sustainability | Contains recycled materials From a Climate Neutral Certified brand |
33 EU | 33.5 EU | 34 EU | 34.5 EU | 35 EU | 35.5 EU | 36 EU | 36.5 EU | 37 EU | 37.5 EU | 38 EU | 38.5 EU | 39 EU | 39.5 EU | 40 EU | 40.5 EU | 41 EU | 41.5 EU | 42 EU | 42.5 EU | 43 EU | |
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U.S. Women's | 2.5 | 3 | 3.5 | 4 | 4.5 | 5 | 5.5 | 5.5+ | 6 | 6.5 | 7 | 7.5 | 7.5+ | 8 | 8.5 | 9 | 9.5 | 9.5+ | 10 | 10.5 | 11 |
EU | 33 | 33.5 | 34 | 34.5 | 35 | 35.5 | 36 | 36.5 | 37 | 37.5 | 38 | 38.5 | 39 | 39.5 | 40 | 40.5 | 41 | 41.5 | 42 | 42.5 | 43 |
Mondo | 24 | 24.5 | 24.5 | 25 | 25.5 | 26 | 26.5 | 27 | 27.5 |
For boots: Add one half size to your street shoe size. You should be able to slip one finger behind your heel when you are standing up with the boot unlaced and your toes touching the front. If the boot is too short, your toes will get smashed walking downhill. Too long and your heel will slide up and down and give you blisters.
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These shoes felt quite protective yet still pretty light. I do a ton of hike/trail runs where ya hike steep uphills and run the flats n downs and it had good grip in several terrains of slick rock and decent showing in sloppy snow. Toe box seemed wider than usual for la sports which was great for me as it wasn't super wide in the midfoot I did have one issue on the right side heel rubbing even with lacing with heel locks etc. But this is common for my right foot which is a hair different size than left. I'm going to try double socks next as I like the general feel of these shoes out on the trail. Nice cushion without feeling unstable. Overall check your personal fit at REI but I think they are a great trail run option.
Took these for a couple of runs in the santa monica mountains after rain and they were super comfy and super grippy. Previous trail shoes were hokas, and in comparison these shoes are very narrow, and not as cushioned. So, a great responsive shoe for someone with a narrower foot, but a little too narrow for me. Pic w Hokas for comparison, both shoes are womens 8.
The pros: I’ve hiked with these over several different terrain types, and they are really grippy! I maintained good contact with the trail in dusty, rocky and even muddy conditions. In some of the steeper sections of my hikes I rely on solid traction, and these deliver. They also look good—it’s nice to find a hiking/trail shoe that isn’t neon. The cons: Definitely order at least a half size up if you are used to shoes with a wide toe box. I usually run and hike in zero-drop shoes with a wide toe box, and these are not wide. Because I had to go up a half size, my heel ended up slipping more than I would have liked, causing some hot spots on longer treks. Overall, though, a really solid, lightweight hiker with fantastic traction—perfect if you don’t have wide Hobbit feet.
My first impressions of the Jackal II are that it's a light shoe, coming in at just under 1 pound, with an ample toe box and solid materials that engulf your feet. The shoe provides breathability, as well as waterproof material in the tongue and the wear was comfortable right out of the box. I took this shoe on some winter trail runs, so we experienced plenty of snow, mud, ice and packed dirt. The sole of this shoe is very grippy if you're going to be boulder-hopping and it provided good traction in the mud and snow. There was not a lot of cushioning in the sole, as well as arch support, so I might use this more as a light hiking shoe, rather than a trail runner; I like a bit more cushioning for runs. My feet felt fine during and after the trail runs, so the shoe is comfortable enough for trail running, it just depends on your preference. Definitely go up a half-size from your usual shoe size to protect your toes from getting squished on downhills.
Excellent shoes for trail running, hiking and even some road running. Shoes are super comfortable. The cushioning level was perfect, absorbing the impact of the terrain. Traction is also next level. I was able to take on some challenging trails with a sense of stability. As far as sizing, I see a lot of reviews mention these run small. As I do with all my running shoes I ordered a half size up from my everyday shoes and the sizing was perfect for me. To sum up, if you're searching for new trail shoes I recommend the Sportiva Jackal II. It checks off all the boxes: comfort, traction, durability, breathability. As a plus they
These shoes we’re comfortable right out of the box. The toe box is nice and wide. They have a rugged bottom which is perfect for trails. They are lightweight and flexible yet feel sturdy for hiking and trail running. The tongue wraps around the ankle in a supportive way. Cushioning is adequate. Carbon/lagoon color is sharp.
These shoes are the bomb. Incredibly light (for trail shoes!) and extremely comfortable. The cushion lacks nothing and my steps always felt stable on the trail. I got them all muddy and they cleaned up very nice, important because they are so comfortable I also wear them to work. I can rack up a lot of miles per week at the high school I work in and so comfortable shoes are almost a job requirement. My feet are neither wide nor narrow and the only thing I haven't loved is the way the toe box looks bit wide compared to the rest of the shoe but to me that is minor.
I purchased these for an extensive walking/hiking trip this coming fall. They are very comfortable, and have room for my orthotic when the shoe's insert is removed. I typically wear a women's US size 9.5 narrow in street shoes and a 10 in running shoes. These run very small. I ended up purchasing a EU43/11US women's as the EU42 was a running short in the toe. So far, they've been very comfortable and cushiony. Also very lightweight considering the heavier tread. Very happy with this purchase so far. Has narrower heel and a wider toe which is perfect for me.
These were comfy to for the first while after wearing them both for around and about and to run in; however, I found the toe bed to not be tall enough, if that makes sense. I didn’t encounter bumping into the edge of the front toe box, but the top of the upper fabric was consistently pushing down on the top of my toes. Maybe my large toe curls up too much, I don’t know. But that pressure was very noticeable after longer wear, and wasn’t great to deal with. I think these can be perfect for some and maybe not for others.
La Sportiva has always made a great shoe. Ive been wearing Altras for the last 5 years but wanted a change. Having said that I had to size up one size in the La Sportivas being they are more narrow than Altras. Other than that, a great shoe.