Trail-Running Shoes Buying Guide

Take on long and grueling trail runs in these La Sportiva shoes. They're designed for ultra-distance athletes. And they deliver max cushion with unrivaled comfort and protection.
Imported.
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) | 37 |
Forefoot Stack Height (mm) | 31 |
Footwear Height | Ankle |
Footwear Closure | Lace-up |
Upper | Comfort wire TPEE polyester with embroidered polyester and TPU yarn; TPU filament toecap; padded tongue; recycled laces |
Lining | 3D mesh |
Midsole | XFlow Endurance with EVA and NITRO (outer cage) and eTPU (inner core) |
Outsole | Bi-compound FriXion XT 2.0; 4 mm Laspo lugs |
Rock Plate | No |
Vegan | Yes |
Weight (Pair) | 1 lb. 2.2 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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I recently tested out these new pair of trail running shoes from La Sportiva and was impressed right from the start. Even just walking around on my wood floors at home, I could tell they had excellent grip. Out on the dirt and gravel trails, they performed really well—steady traction, even on uneven ground and when crossing over roots. The shoes look great too—eye-catching and stylish, with a color I absolutely loved. They felt surprisingly light on my feet, yet still sturdy and supportive, which gave me confidence on technical sections of the trail. One small downside: the laces don’t grip well on their own. You have to pull them tight and hold them firmly when tying to make sure they stay secure. Not a dealbreaker, but worth knowing. Overall, a solid choice for trail runners looking for a balance of performance, comfort, and style.
These shoes arrived at the perfect time. My last pair had seen better days and I was desperate for a new pair of running shoes for my weekly runs. These shoes lost one star because they take a while to break in and are a little less forgiving on feet that are a little wide. They have good support but I’d recommend hopping into your nearest REI if you’re worried about the width. They have stayed nice and clean which is a plus and the color scheme is very cute.
I received these products for free from the REI Trailblazers sampling program in exchange for my honest review. The shoes are relatively comfortable and true to size. I typically run in a neutral shoe, so while the extra cushion felt comfortable, it also felt like a big shoe visually. It does not have a lot of medial arch support, but I expect changing out the included insole could fix that. The tread was grippy and felt good on both pavement and crushed gravel. I doubt I would wear them for pavement much, but as I expand into more trails, I expect the extra cushioning will be appreciated.
I wore these shoes all day yesterday for a full day of outdoor activities. From running up (and down) a mountain to running around the dog park, to traversing the creek side while my husband fished, these shoes were SO comfortable, supportive, and the traction was A+. I did order half a size up from my typical running shoe size, and was worried they would be too big, but they fit perfectly. I will definitely be putting these into my running shoe rotation, as I just know they will get more comfortable and lovely as time goes on.
I have used these shoes for both trail runs and hikes. So far, I’ve found them to be very comfortable with great cushioning. My feet feel stable and supported. They’re also impressively lightweight for how much cushion they provide. One thing I really appreciate is the wider forefoot. I usually wear a standard-width shoe, and these fit well without feeling too roomy. La Sportiva shoes are often known for having narrow toe boxes, but this model is noticeably more forgiving up front—my feet don’t feel cramped at all. For the outings I’ve done, they’ve performed well and felt reliable. I’d recommend them to anyone looking for a cushioned, stable trail shoe—especially for longer efforts. I gave four stars only because I haven't had it long enough to judge the durability of it.
As a hiker and backpacker, these shoes are one of the most stable shoes I have worn on various and technical trails. Pretty impressive aggressive and grippy outsole. I overpronate and found the ankle collar to be very supportive and stable. Others may find it too stiff but I found it supportive to minimize ankle rolling. These shoes are well cushioned making the impacts comfortable enough. I also wore these for everyday walking on road and packed dirt. I have found myself going for these shoes for my everyday walks. I was satisfied with its overall fit, versatility and comfort.
These shoes are fantastic. Immediate impressions after putting them on for the first time was, “oh, these are nice.” With a very plush cushioning system, these babies are designed to go the distance. A wide toe box and forefoot allow for swelling in the feet when you’re out there for an extended amount of time. Rocks and roots disappear under the sole, never to be felt by your delicate feet. The ample lugs stick to the trail, making even the most slippery of substrates feel like flat pavement. The toe off feels nice and smooth, with a decent amount of spring. I thought that the very stiff tongue might begin to wear holes on the front of my ankles, but instead they provide an extremely efficient barrier to rocks, pine needles, general goop, etc. Great design element there. The integration of the tongue to the body of the shoe is placed in such a way that it doesn’t rub giant hot spots on the arches of my feet like some other heavily cushioned shoes. I normally wear a 6.5 and decided to stay with that exact size for these. They fit my smaller than average, but wider than average feet very well. The interior material is a bit “sticky” which makes for excellent heel lock but also means it takes a few in and outs to get my socks to feel like they are in just the right positions. (yes, I’m a princess when it comes to sock placement). I do miss a good heel loop for this exact reason as well. Beware if you decide to wear these into the office or other quiet environment. They make that oh so fun “squishy” noise we know so well from running shoes. Overall, these are lovely. I would totally get them again, maybe next time in a non-white color. White just does show the dirt so immediately and trust me, you’re going to want to take them out over and over and over again.
These trail shoes are ultra-cushy, super grippy, and tougher than your weekend hike. The dual foam setup gives bounce and comfort, and the wide platform adds stability without making you feel clunky. The upper keeps debris out while hugging your foot—plus, the roomy toe box is a win. Just a heads-up: breathability is limited, and they’re not the lightest. Sizing runs a bit small, so trying them on is smart. If you want durable, plush trail shoes that can handle just about anything, the Prodigio Max is a solid bet.
I received these products for free from the REI Trailblazers sampling program in exchange for my honest review. Seriously. I've been using La Sportiva Bushido trail runners for a while now and I love 'em. I'll use them as my benchmark for this review. First, these things are seriously expensive. So they'd better be good. The looks is a bit funky, but after having used them for a few weeks, I can say they look good while a bit grubby! The flat laces are great, with just a bit of stretch. Better than the round ones the Bushidos come with, which need to be double-knotted. I replaced the stock insoles with some SOLE ones because I tend to suffer a bit from plantar nastiness. I had to use the lower top lace holes to keep my heels down, but otherwise a good fit, with a bit more toe room than the Bushidos. There's a strong fore-aft rocking feeling as you move, which is slightly disconcerting at first, but then feels natural. See the pic of the footprints to see how little of the shoe touches the trail when standing still. I've now done a number of 10-12 mile jaunts which feels like enough to get a feel for them. I can't speak to longevity, of course, but I appreciate the rubber covering the big toe area - often a weak spot. They're very cushy compared to the Bushidos. It's like riding a plush full-suspension mountain bike rather than a cross-country hardtail! With the Bushidos, I really feel the trail. With these, nothing. One isn't better than the other: I get less fatigued wearing the Prodigios, but I miss the feel. There is less lateral support than the Bushidos. Thus, the Prodigios feel less secure on off-camber trails. On the other hand the grip is amazing, even on wet roots and rocks among the redwoods here in NorCal. Would I pay $40 more for these than the Bushidos? If I were a serious long-distance person, absolutely. For me, probably not. They are very good, though.