Win Ski Boots from La Sportiva
The winner of this week’s Gear Giveaway will get the Skorpius CR II ski touring boot from La Sportiva!
La Sportiva
Stuff We Like: June 2023
For June’s edition of Stuff We Like we feature everything from daypacks to heavy-duty backcountry packs, shorts, lightweight mountain bike and ski apparel, bike helmets, espresso machines for on-the-go, river shoes, & more. Check it out to see all the latest stuff our reviewers have been digging.
La Sportiva Jackal II BOA
When La Sportiva and BOA collaborate, you can generally expect good things. With the recently released Jackal II BOA, an update to a model we crowned as La Sportiva’s best long-distance specific trail option to date at the time of writing, both brands hope to continue their track record of turning out some of the industry’s best high-performance mountain shoes. Check out our initial impressions to learn more.
John Kelly on Barkley Marathons Lore, Being Uncomfortable Being Comfortable, & Rebuilding Speed (Ep.157)
We recently sat down with La Sportiva Athlete John Kelly to talk about being only the 15th person to ever finish the infamous Barkley Marathons; the mindset required to run for several days straight; how he rebuilt his speed to run a sub-2:30 marathon; and much more.
Joe DeMoor on the Sub-Ultra Trail Scene, His Colorado Running Roots, and Riding the Red Line (Ep.147)
Joe DeMoor is about as Colorado as they come; running up mountains is in his blood. The Buena Vista native and La Sportiva athlete has had a breakout year of racing thus far, so we sat down with him to talk about growing up on Colorado trails; the ins-and-outs of sub-ultra-distance racing; graveyard shifts; pain caves; and a whole lot more.
La Sportiva Karacal
La Sportiva is synonymous with hardwearing shoes for running in difficult, mountainous terrain. However, the brand has lately focused on making more accessible models for runners who prioritize comfort over technical performance. With the Karacal, we think they’ve mostly succeeded in meeting that demand.
Blister Brand Guide: La Sportiva Trail Running Shoe Lineup, 2022
La Sportiva has made a name for itself in many categories, including the trail running world. Their trail running shoes range from minimal race shoes to burly options designed for rough terrain, and you can check out our 2022 Brand Guide to see what sets each La Sportiva shoe apart from the others.
La Sportiva Akasha II
The best decision La Sportiva made when updating the Akasha, their long-distance trail shoe, was not to change much about it. The Akasha II is strikingly similar to its predecessor, and will work really well for certain runners for the same reasons as before.
La Sportiva VK BOA
The Sportiva VK BOA is designed for something pretty specific — running up steep trails. That said, for the right people, we think it could be a really good option even if you're not always sprinting up mountains. Check out our review for more.
La Sportiva Jackal GTX
The Jackal GTX takes the more accommodating fit and long-distance-oriented design of the standard Jackal and makes it better for cold, wet trails thanks to a Gore-Tex laminate. Check out our review to see how it's been performing this winter.
La Sportiva Blizzard GTX
The Blizzard GTX is one of a few shoes on the market specifically designed for running on snow and ice. We've spent time in it doing just that, and in our full review, we go into who would really benefit from a specialized shoe like this, and who might be better off in something more versatile.
La Sportiva Otaki
The Otaki is an all-around climbing shoe that La Sportiva says is closely related to the Katana Lace. So how similar or different are these two shoes, and where does the Otaki really shine?
2nd Look: La Sportiva Solution
In our 2nd Look of the La Sportiva Solution, we examine its performance on boulders and steep sport climbs.
La Sportiva Katana Lace
The La Sportiva Katana Lace is a good all-around shoe that excels at trad and crack climbing.
2nd Look: La Sportiva TC Pro
Joe Mills evaluates the La Sportiva TC Pro in its native environment—technical trad climbing and big days.
La Sportiva Women’s Boulder X
In this head-to-head comparison between two top approach shoes, the La Sportiva Boulder X has the Guide Tennie beat when it comes to alpine climbs and quick peak attempts.
Five Ten Women’s Guide Tennie
Thanks in part to its super sticky outsole, the Five Ten Guide Tennie is one of the best shoes on the market for cragging days, short approaches, and easy climbing routes.
La Sportiva Solution
"The send is about the climber. But sometimes a shoe teaches us about our technique because it enhances what we’re trying to do as climbers. The Solution did this for me. "
Five Ten Stonelands VCS
Though not an edging machine, the Five Ten Stonelands VCS strikes a good balance between sensitivity and performance. It also marks a new step in climbing shoe design.