Trail-Running Shoes Buying Guide

Built for demanding trails, the women's La Sportiva Prodigio trail-running shoes feature nitrogen-infused supercritical foam technology to provide unparalleled cushioning, stability and energy return.
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View 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) | 6 |
Heel Stack Height (mm) | 34 |
Forefoot Stack Height (mm) | 28 |
Footwear Height | Ankle |
Footwear Closure | Lace-up |
Upper | High-tenacity engineered knit; cushioned tongue; nylon midfoot cage/forefoot reinforcements; thermoformed toe cap; recycled laces |
Lining | Heel: recycled air mesh; forefoot: recycled sandwich mesh |
Midsole | 2.4 mm LaSpEVA; compression-molded XFlow nitrogen-infused supercritical foam; polyurethane-coated nylon mesh FlowFilm insert |
Outsole | Bi-compound FriXion XT 2.0 rubber with FLEX inserts and 4 mm Laspo lugs |
Rock Plate | No |
Vegan | Yes |
Weight (Pair) | 1 pound |
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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This is such a beautiful shoe! I love the detail and the sole. I have hiked and gone trailrunning in these shoes in two states, and they held up perfectly! I normally wear an 8 in street shoes, but sized up to 8.5 to accommodate hiking and running socks. The shoes have a high in-step and really comfortable padding to accommodate long trail runs and hikes. The only critique I have of the shoes is I wish they were softer around the lace eyelets and the ankle bones. If the shoe doesn't sit perfectly around your ankle bones, there is a small chance of the shoe rubbing and blistering. Other than that, they hold up well for hiking and trail running!
Really pleased with the Prodigio’s grip! They performed well in mud and even packed slush. The forefoot is very plush but the shoe is still stiff enough to comfortably scramble in. The heel collar rode a little high on me, but only needed a couple miles and some thicker socks to break in. I was also very pleased to find that the toe box was large and comfortable without the rest of the shoe being wide. I’d recommend going up at least half a size, maybe more if you have a wide heel. I typically have to lock lace my running shoes to keep my narrow heels in place, but these shoes were perfect out of the box.
Great shoes right out of the box. These are my new ‘go-to’ shoes for running/hiking/walking. The first day I wore them on 2 different walks totaling about 7 miles. They perform well on both trails and pavement. The next day I wore them on a 6 mile trail run and they were great. They have a tongue that wraps around your ankle a bit, which really helps if you find your shoe slips on your ankle. This is a problem for me and this design solves that problem. The traction is rugged enough for trails, but works fine on paved surfaces also. The rubber toe edge helps to protect the toes from any rocks you might inadvertently hit. I love the color scheme of these shoes. All in all - a great shoe that I expect to get a lot of use from.
I have worn these shoes in several terrains now, both trail running and hiking with my lack, walking and running in town. Right away out of the box these were super comfortable and actually true to size unlike a lot of running shoes. I did find the outer ankle support a smidge high for my foot as I could feel the exterior of the shoe on challenging terrain on the trails, but it also was a reminder to not over roll my ankles. Also ran through mud, water and rocks, dirt, roots and these have held up really well so far. The laces almost never come untied and they’re super lightweight too. Definitely recommend for trail running.
I had the opportunity to test the La Sportiva Prodigio trail running shoes. I've been breaking these in across the eastern Sierra desert trails. Although I have not been able to take them up any steep terrain yet (too snowy), I was able to take them out on some 5k-10k length trails mixed with mud, sand, and rocks in the valley. I'm usually a minimalist shoe runner, but sometimes run in trail shoes for more technical terrain and backpacking (including long-distance backpacking). I immediately noticed the strong rocker in the forefoot which is beneficial for running or hiking up steep, technical terrain and avoiding bumping into rocks. The cushion feel just right in terms of support for long-distance terrain - not too stiff, but not too soft. Additionally, these are very form-fitting around my narrow ankles but with enough width in the forefoot for swelling at high altitudes. I also love the design of the tongue which stays in place! After checking historical reviews on this brand, I picked one whole size up from my normal shoe. I normally wear size 8 running shoe or 8.5 for backpacking, but got these in size 9 (40.5). They fit perfectly! One area of concern that I should mention is that the outside edge of the shoe is really close to the bottom of my ankle. I have not noticed it rubbing on my ankle while running on flatter terrain, but I am concerned that it could be an issue descending down hills. I also noticed that these shoes seem to build up some sweat in cooler temps, so I am not sure how breathable they will be in the hot, high altitude Sierra sun in the summer. Despite those two things, I have at least enjoyed running in these shoes right out of the box on the desert trails.
These shoes have a little more substance to them than many recent pairs I’ve owned and I wasn’t sure if I’d like them, but I’m actually very happy with the quality and feel of these shoes! The base of the shoe provides some really nice support and stability, with the slight rocker-shape providing a lot of comfort with each stride - very smooth transition from one foot to another, whether you’re walking, jogging, or running at a faster pace. They’re supportive without being too stiff. The material also seems to be waterproof, or very water resistant. Not sure how well the mesh section on the top of the shoe would hold up to this, but much of it seems like it would keep your feet nice and dry. There is one spot on the top of the shoe, where the tongue connects to the body, that felt a bit tight on the top of my foot when I tried these on. It didn’t bother me during my run, however, and I think this might stretch out over time. For sizing - I usually wear a W8 running shoe, but my la sportiva approach shoes are a 7.5 so I went with 7.5 and they fit perfectly. Great colors with this model too! Overall, I think this is a great trail runner that will hold up for many miles, whether I’m running or hiking. Looking forward to using these more!
I took the La Sportiva Prodigio mountain running shoes out on a local St. Louis-area single-track trail in mid-February. The trail is highly used, and the surface was primarily well-packed dirt, with a few leaf-covered spots. The fit of the shoe is true to size, and the upper is very comfortable. I love the sure-footed feeling of the shoes - the lugs ensured there was never an instance of slipping along the trail. The sole, while offering solid protection from rocks and roots, still allowed me to feel a good connection with the ground. I used the default lacing technique on this first outing. Although I didn't experience any actual slipping/rubbing on the heel, on my next run, I will likely use a heel-lock technique (which I use on my road-running shoes) to feel a little more stability in the heel.
Quickly fell in love with this shoe. Excellent ergonomics, sturdy ankle support without cutting into my heel (which I always have issues with). I have hilariously weak ankles so the moderate height is appreciated as well, didn’t feel like platform shoes. Solid arch support, great wear. Sturdy enough shoe but still quite light for trail running/hiking, didn’t feel like I was lugging them around. Enjoy the vibrant colorway, very unique. Awesome traction/grip which I expect from the brand, didn’t let me down. Tested on dry trail, mud, snow, and paved trail- all A+.
I really, really wanted to love this shoe. Great colors, and incredible running support. Unfortunately, it just didn’t work for me. I’ve loved all of my La Sportivas in the past but this particular shoe came up higher on my ankle bone than other models and rubbed so bad after one 6 mile hike that the skin around my ankle was completely rubbed off. When I initially tried on it felt good, but a mile in I realized the fit was wrong. I took these shoes on a few shorter 5k runs hoping I would break them in but material is just to high on my ankle and it caused me pain on every run. Besides that it’s a comfortable shoe but something to consider before you purchase.
Absolutely adore these shoes!!! I initially was looking to find something comparable to my Brooks shoes so I could have some variety. These just blew me away… perfect arch support, fits well (tight in places I need it and a slightly open toe box, but not like Altras), and they respond super well. I’ve taken these on 10+ mile trail runs, hiking 20+ miles in a day, backpacking and even in multiple rainstorms (they dry out super fast). My pair has over 500 miles on them and still going strong. HIGHLY RECOMMEND.