Trail-Running Shoes Buying Guide
Valyermo, California
La Sportiva Prodigio Trail-Running Shoes - Men's
$165.00
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Built for demanding trails, the men's La Sportiva Prodigio trail-running shoes feature nitrogen-infused supercritical foam technology to provide unparalleled cushioning, stability and energy return.
Key Details
Trail-Running Shoe Type
Rugged-Trail
Heel-to-Toe Drop (mm)
6
Running Shoe Cushioning
Maximum Cushion
Rock Plate
No
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- Engineered knit uppers are highly breathable to promote ultrafast drying in wet conditions and prevent your feet from overheating
- Big-hand, midfoot wrapping system snugly encases and secures your feet for maximum power transfer from foot to shoe to ground
- XFlow™ nitrogen-infused supercritical EVA foam has 15% more cushioning and 18.5% more rebound—yet is 18% lighter—compared to traditional expanded EVA foam
- Full-length polyurethane-coated nylon mesh FlowFilmâ„¢ inserts protect the midsoles and feet from rocks
- Foot rolling and stability are facilitated by a progressive rocker and wide footbed
- La Sportiva recommends sizing up a half size from your typical trail-running shoe size
Imported.
View all La Sportiva Men's Trail-Running Shoes| Best Use | Trail Running |
|---|---|
| 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 lb. 3 oz. |
| Gender | Men's |
| Sustainability | Contains recycled materials From a Climate Neutral Certified brand |
La Sportiva Footwear - Men's
| 34 EU | 35.5 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 | 43.5 EU | 44 EU | 44.5 EU | 45 EU | 45.5 EU | 46 EU | 46.5 EU | 47 EU | 47.5 EU | 48 EU | 48.5 EU | 49 EU | 49.5 EU | 50 EU | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Men's | 2.5+ | 4 | 4.5+ | 5 | 5.5 | 6 | 6.5 | 6.5+ | 7 | 7.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 8.5+ | 9 | 9.5 | 10 | 10.5 | 10.5+ | 11 | 11.5 | 12 | 12.5 | 12.5+ | 13 | 13.5 | 14 | 14.5 | 15 | 15.5 | 16 |
| U.S. Women's | 3.5 | 5 | 5.5+ | 6 | 6.5 | 7 | 7.5 | 7.5+ | 8 | 8.5 | 9 | 9.5 | 9.5+ | 10 | 10.5 | 11 | 11.5 | 11.5+ | 12 | 12.5 | 13 | 13.5 | 13.5+ | 14 | 14.5 | 15 | 15.5 | 16 | 16.5 | |
| EU | 34 | 35.5 | 36.5 | 37 | 37.5 | 38 | 38.5 | 39 | 39.5 | 40 | 40.5 | 41 | 41.5 | 42 | 42.5 | 43 | 43.5 | 44 | 44.5 | 45 | 45.5 | 46 | 46.5 | 47 | 47.5 | 48 | 48.5 | 49 | 49.5 | 50 |
| Mondo | 24 | 24.5 | 25 | 25.5 | 26 | 26.5 | 27 | 27.5 | 28 | 28.5 | 29 | 29.5 | 30 | 30.5 | 31 |
Sizing Notes
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.
Buying Advice
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Most Helpful Favorable Review
Dang near my favorite shoe ever
anklexpress1 year ago
That ankle collar as many have mentioned is quite the annoyance. However it does break in. Its not that there isnt enough padding, I feel like more padding and foam and then the show would lack the precise fit and also hold on to sweat and water more. Its that the heel counter wraps around the heel and way far foreward of the ankle bones. That is great because it adds a crazy amount of stability to the shoe on some seriously technical and off-camber sections. However, the height of that counter comes up maybe a couple of millimeter too high on the lateral side of the shoe, which hits my ankle bone and on longer runs can cause almost a bruise as well as a blister. However, after kind of playing with that and bending it back and forth to loosen it up and wearing the shoe a few more times, after about 30 or 40 miles, it is no longer an issue. Absolute banger of a shoe. I live in Tucson, and the trails here can eat shoes alive with the technical and super vertical running and scrambling. The sole grips great, the upper locks the foot in while also feeling like a sock and doesnt require you to crank the laces down. the cusioning is plenty for 5+ hour runs, while also somehow feeling very precise and perfect for scrambling. Upper dries quickly, but the insole feel like a sponge after going through a stream crossing and I wish it would dry out a little faster. I went up 1/2 a size from normal and its almost perfect if I dont wear socks. Perfect width, but a little short. Ill try going a full size up from normal and see if that works with socks on.
anklexpress
Tucson, AZ
7 people found this review helpful
Most Helpful Critical Review
Almost a good shoe
spot1 year ago
Poor upper design, causes tons of friction at ankles. The rest of the shoe is great but unfortunately I can not run in it, as it makes my ankles bleed, not kidding. Tried different insoles, different socks, and anything i could do to get it to play nicer, but the height of the upper part that goes around your ankles just bites into it on technical off-camber trail. If you plan to run only on very very gentle trail or road they will work great, but trying to run thru rocky off-camber terrain is a no go. The foam is great and responsive, the weight is nice, La sportiva is onto something but wait for the next version.
spot
Salt Lake City
13 people found this review helpful
Customer Images
Doc81012d
Received free product
Monmouth County, NJ
I wish they were a little bit wider
1 year ago
The white/neon green/neon orange colorway really stands out! They are bright but not too gaudy. The fit on these shoes is very narrow and pinched my feet which are wider. The tightest point was at the base of my toes. Other than that they are very comfortable and have a lot of cushion and spring. Walking and running in them provided a lot of support and rebound. I just wish they were wider so I could fully enjoy the comfort of the sole. The laces are a bit short. The internal design slips on like a sock and is well designed. The soles are great for walking, running, and trails with lots of good grip.
Age:35–44
No, I do not recommend this product
RockMan30
Received free product
Loveland, Colorado
Good for the rain or shine trail runs!
1 year ago
These shoes have been great for the muddy/uneven trail conditions we have had in this current, warm, and wet winter. The traction on the bottom of these shoes hold nicely on flat, slightly hilly, and moderately steep terrain. Length wise the shoes fit to size (I wear a 12 mens), but the width is a bit narrow. The mesh feel of the shoe does make up a little bit for the narrowness, but these shoes will definitely be for my shorter mileage days on trail (3-6 miles). Overall, the shoes are lightweight and reactive to each step, and they provide breathability which is nice for the warmer running days.
Age:25–34
Yes , I recommend this product
Jeff
Received free product
Sherwood, Oregon
Comfy trail runners
1 year ago
I like these shoes. I used them both trail running and road running. It was easy to transition between both surfaces. The shoes were stable and comfortable in both situations. They have a good amount of cushioning in the heel so foot strikes coming downhill felt good. Midfoot there is plenty of cushion but also stiff enough to provide support on uneven surfaces. The fit is appropriate but you might want to consider going up a half size. Going downhill my toes were close to the end of the toe box. The shoes are remarkably light considering the support and cushion they offer on the trails. I like them and would recommend them.
Age:65–74
Yes , I recommend this product
Luke
Seattle, WA
Great shoe, terrible durability
8 months ago
As usual, Sportiva makes the best shoes, with the shortest life. Primarily use these for cross-country (off-trail) hiking and backpacking. They are well cushioned, great grip, but always break down after 100-150 miles. This is primarily delamination of overlays, fabric failures, and soft rubber deterioration. Are they the best shoes? Yes! But it sucks their durability predictably lacking. I only buy when they are on sale, but it sucks to feel like they are part of the fast-fashion genre. As others have stated, runs half to a full size small.
Typical Shoe Size:Mens 10
No, I do not recommend this product
mparker91
Received free product
Boulder, CO
I love these shoes.
1 year ago
These are my second recent pair of La Sportiva's, the other being the Cyklon cross and I love them both. Starting at the bottom - La Sportiva outsole are still best in class in my opinion. I wish they would just license it out because it's so good. Grip is amazing and confidence inspiring. Lugs are huge and well spaced, but don't feel prominent when running hard packed dirt or pavement sections. They also shed mud well. Midsole is on the responsive side of the spectrum, but plenty for my tastes. Apparently it's super critical foam, but don't expect cloud like cushion. For me, they are probably good up to a 50 mile distance, but that's a very personal preference. Upper is probably the standout part. Foothold is precise without being uncomfortable. I have no heel slip with simple double knotting. It helps the shoe disappear on my foot and not get in the way. I also happen to love the Nickelodeon orange and slime colorway. Highly recommend, my favorite trail shoe in a while.
Age:25–34
Yes , I recommend this product
Luke
Received free product
Atlanta GA
A great stylish trail runner
1 year ago
To start I think these a really good trail running shoes. I normally wear minimalist shoes which are flatter and have a wider toe box than most shoes. These certainly were more narrow and had a larger drop from heal to toe than I am used to. My size in minimal shoes because perhaps because they are more roomy is typically between 7.5 and 8. Luckily I got these in 8.5 otherwise they would not have fit. I would say they run small but for a normal style shoe they might be normal. I wore these exclusively for two weeks for both walking and running. I took them on mountain gravel trails and all around town. They have held up just fine in the two weeks I have had them. I like that the support is firm and maybe what I would describe as springy. They feel like they provide good support and are not squishy or feel like I am walking on clouds. Personally shoes that are to soft and squishy feel good to start but I will end up with aching feet at the end of the day so I like how firm these feel a lot. I will say that despite not being a minimalist shoe I was still able to run with a minimalist style landing on my forefoot/midfoot instead of my heel and the running felt very normal. Most minimalist runners would probably find these way to narrow but if your looking for more support and want something that holds up on rough terrain these are good. I like the thickness of the shoe since I didn't feel any of the hard gravel and bigger rocks on my feet where I was running. I know minimalist running is all about feeling the road but I run in some rocky areas where minimalist shoes just don't cut it.
Age:35–44
Yes , I recommend this product
Stinky
Received free product
Southern California
From a Brooks devotee
1 year ago
I have been a loyal Brooks runner for a few years now. The roomy toe box, ample cushioning and smooth ride just keep me coming back for more. My go-to trail runners have been the Cascades, which are not perfect, but I've been happy with them. But I got a chance to review these as part of a promotion so I tried them out. My first thought was that they appeared narrow, which normally is a dealbreaker for me because I need a roomy toe box. But when I put them on, I realized the toe box is much more roomy than first appeared. They fit very similar to the Brooks. The tongue on them is surprisingly thin. No padding whatsoever. I've never owned La Sportivas before, so I have no idea if this is their thing, or if it's unique to this model. Anyway, I prefer the cushion of the Brooks. These shoes do feel significantly lighter than my Brooks though, so if that matters to you, then it's something to consider. The cushioning on them felt odd at first. It seems to be mapped in a way that favors a lot of arch support, so I can see that benefitting a lot of runners. But I prefer a more cushioned, neutral feel. These don't have as much cushion or plushness as the Brooks. Having said that, they do a much better job of preventing negative trail feedback. Maybe it's a tougher rock plate, or maybe it's the harder cushioning, but they did a much better job at preventing those little sharp rocks from hitting the bottoms of my feet. Which on a long run could be a huge benefit. It also means the significant lugs don't feel awkward on pavement. I won't even run on pavement with my Cascades because the cushioning won't stop the lugs from digging in to the bottom of my feet. So for rougher trails, the La Sportivas would be a better option. And those lugs are tough. They are big, deep and grip like mad. I didn't have any slippage and I was running on some fairly steep sections of the loose-over-hard trails which dominate the Southwest. They breathed very well. I avoid waterproof trail runners because here in the Southwest heat is waaaay more common than water crossings. Anyway, these were more comfortable than I thought. They won't fully replace my Brooks Cascadia's. Those will continue to be my go-to for average terrain. But for really rugged terrain, or anytime I expect to have any amount of hard pavement on my run, these will come into rotation. I really don't think there is a perfect trail runner. Unlike road trainers, there is always a compromise with trail runners. So having these in my rotation will definitely be nice when conditions demand it.
Age:45–54
Yes , I recommend this product
spot
Salt Lake City
Almost a good shoe
1 year ago
Poor upper design, causes tons of friction at ankles. The rest of the shoe is great but unfortunately I can not run in it, as it makes my ankles bleed, not kidding. Tried different insoles, different socks, and anything i could do to get it to play nicer, but the height of the upper part that goes around your ankles just bites into it on technical off-camber trail. If you plan to run only on very very gentle trail or road they will work great, but trying to run thru rocky off-camber terrain is a no go. The foam is great and responsive, the weight is nice, La sportiva is onto something but wait for the next version.
Age:35–44
Weight:150–175 lbs.
Height:5'9"
Average Weekly Mileage:30+ miles
Typical Shoe Size:Womens 11
Running Experience:Competitive
No, I do not recommend this product
thornfoot
Not a hiking shoe
4 months ago
Around the office or walking down the street, this shoe is soft and comfortable in the trendy Hoka style. But it is not suited for hiking at all. Firstly, I was doing some hillside gardening and I noticed when pivoting my ankle side to side as you do on a hillside that the tops of the shoe were painfully cutting into my ankles. I almost returned, but was too lazy for that specific design flaw. Then I was out on a trail and a long sharp thorn/branch pierced through the bottom of the shoe and into the bottom of my foot. There is a soft spot - made only of foam, in the shape of a coffin - right in the middle of the rubber sole. This allowed the branch to easily puncture the shoe. After that I returned them. If you want to get these shoes - don't do anything that requires you pivot your ankles side to side and don't take them on hikes.
Average Weekly Mileage:11–30 miles
No, I do not recommend this product
Tmo
Boulder, CO
The prodigy indeed
1 year ago
FINALLY! Soft midsole and outsole to meet the demands of Boulder's rugged terrain. IMO this is the best ftwr model LP has released to date for short to Long(er) running efforts. 2 runs in and I can see its versatility and adaptability running on all kinds of trail conditions. I've run in the Mutant, Akasha, Jackal, Cyklon and these are far better comfort and tech wise for going thru all kinds of terrain. Great traction, lockdown and fit. Ok, the not so good. I've got a high instep / arch and the laces felt short, could barley doublek-not them(Had to put other laces in from my TNF Vectiv Pro's). Heel collar is stiff, I mean way stiff..for some could be a deal breaker. I had to "crush" it a bit just to allow it to loosen up and not bite my ankle. Its feeling better than my first run but just be aware. Give them a chance, try to run 2-3 sessions before passing, cuz everything else is perfecto!
Age:45–54
Weight:150–175 lbs.
Height:6'0"
Average Weekly Mileage:11–30 miles
Typical Shoe Size:Mens 10.5
Running Experience:Experienced
Yes , I recommend this product
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