Paul Gallaher
The new La Sportiva Prodigio trail running shoe has some new features in store this season. I’ll go over these features and my opinion of how the shoes perform below.
Design:
La Sportiva makes some serious mountain gear, including trail running shoes.Let’s check out what makes these shoes different from other versions of their trail runners.
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This shoe has a new foam underfoot that La Sportiva calls; “XFlow”. This foam is a nitrogen infused foam that offers significantly improved cushioning, better rebound and it is 18% lighter than previous foams. This seems like a win-win situation!
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They have integrated a mid-foot wrapping system in this shoe that keeps the foot securely in place allowing for confident power transfer from foot to the ground.
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There is a polyurethane coated mesh insert placed to protect the foot from sharp objects like roots and rocks.
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Tough, breathable knitted uppers keep feet cool yet secure in the shoe.
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The most cushioned and reactive of the thirteen models of trail-runners La Sportiva makes. These shoes are designed to go the distance.
Performance:
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I tested these shoes out in various conditions this fall here in the high mountains of Colorado. I wore these on hikes over varied terrain with a light pack, and also did some running on both pavement and trails.
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Hiking: For the type of long day-hikes I do, these performed very well. Anymore, I very much prefer trail running shoes over any kind of hiking boots as I travel light and the places I hike do not really require the support of a heavy, over the ankle boot. These shoes are very lightweight, comfortable and have a secure grip on the terrain.
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Trail running. These shoes really shine when running on mountain trails here in Colorado. Whether running on uneven surfaces with roots and rocks, dusty trails or loose rock these performed very well. I feel very sure-footed wearing them on differing types of terrain.
Final thoughts: The La Sportiva Prodigio is a wonderful mountain trail running shoe, and light hiking shoe as well! I like that in the intense sunlight and sometimes heat here in the higher elevations where I live, these shoes are well-ventilated and keep my feet cool.
For hikes of 10 miles or so with a hydration backpack, I have the utmost confidence wearing these. Sometimes I combine my hikes with trail running as it’s difficult for me to run UP mountains above 10,000’ on steeper grades. One comment about fit; I’ve read other reviews that were critical about the top of the lacing system being uncomfortably rigid on these shoes.
I have narrower B-width feet and narrow ankles. With my physique, I could not recreate the problem others have reported with chafing, particularly on uneven surfaces. These awesome shoes are on the top of my list to wear, heading out to the trails. They’re available in four colors and sizes ranging from European 38 to 49.5. Find them online or at your favorite outdoor store.
Paul Gallaher
Paul grew up in Minnesota where he learned to love the outdoors, riding his bike, fishing and canoeing in the summers and skiing in the winters on Minnesota’s 300 foot-tall “mountains”.
After finishing college, he was commissioned as an officer in the USAF eventually becoming a special operations and reconnaissance instructor navigator flying and serving around the world for twenty-two years.
Living and traveling around the world has given Paul opportunities to explore outdoor passions. He is an advanced scuba diver, a pilot, a sailor and has skied in the United States, Canada, France, Italy, Austria and Switzerland.
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