Product test
Why I rely on shoes by a Swedish brand for trail running
by Siri Schubert
With my first ultra marathon on the horizon, La Sportiva’s Prodigio shoes are boosting my motivation
3.9.2024
Translation: Katherine Martin
Next year, I want to run a 50-kilometre trail with an elevation gain of almost 2,500 metres. So, it’s time to really get stuck into training. In other words, targeted runs and a change of equipment. With this in mind, I tested La Sportiva’s Prodigio running shoes. The experience left me pleasantly surprised.
I’ve set myself an ambitious running goal for next year. I want to run my first 50-kilometre race: the «Trail d’Outremont» at the Mont-Terrible trail running event in April. I’d actually planned to take on that particular route this year. However, an accident followed by an injury recovery period threw a spanner in the works. Instead, I opted for the much shorter 23-kilometre route through the hills of Jura. Though not the distance I’d originally wanted to do, I still enjoyed it to the fullest.
Besides, there’s always another time, right? As a matter of fact, «another time» has already rolled around, so I’ve restarted my race prep. To determine my fitness, I’ll be running the Hallwilersee Half Marathon on 12 October. Then, if everything goes to plan, I’ll up my distance to 50 kilometres. As I’m gearing up for the race, I’ll regularly test and write about new running equipment, techniques and sports nutrition.
Are La Sportiva’s new shoes the solution?
I’ve always preferred shoes with less cushioning. Think models like the Pytho 6 from Icebug, which allow you to feel the ground under your feet on trails for better balance and control.
Meanwhile, I’ve traditionally given shoes with a soft, spongy feel a wide berth. In fact, I still do. What I want now is a shoe that offers more cushioning for distances beyond 30 kilometres, so that my joints and bones have an easier time of it. At the same time, I want to preserve as much of that feeling of the ground underneath as possible so that I’m safe and balanced while running.
The new Prodigio shoes from mountain sport brand La Sportiva captured my interest because of these very characteristics. They’re made for ultra trails and cushioned to suit just that environment. Although I’m still at the lower end of the ultra-distance range at 50 kilometres, it still seemed worth giving the La Sportiva shoes a try. I used to think the brand’s trail running shoes were a bit too stiff and heavy. With this latest model, however, the tradition-steeped Italian manufacturer is beginning a new chapter.
Well made, with a good fit
I feel comfortable in the shoes as soon as I slip them on. The upper wraps around your foot like a sock. While the shoe fits snugly at the heel and in the midfoot area, the toe box has a wider cut. As someone with really wide feet, this is an important factor for me. Not only that, but I also appreciate being able to spread out my toes in the shoe for extra balance. Although feet swell when under prolonged strain, these shoes should still be spacious enough to accommodate that.
Source: Siri Schubert
The upper, made of recycled mesh fabric, is comfortable to wear and, as it turns out later, quick-drying and breathable. The shoes also have a reinforced heel cap. This is cut higher than the cap on trail shoes such as the Kjerag from Nnormal, which reaches below the ankle. It’s a good fit for my feet, but I’ve heard that some runners have ended up with nasty chafing as a result of the plastic reinforcement.
At 240 grammes in a women’s size 40, the shoes are light for a well-cushioned trail running shoe, but not ultra-light. The cushioning is 34 millimetres thick at the heel and 28 millimetres at the forefoot. This puts the drop at six millimetres – slap bang in the middle of my comfort zone. That’s bound to be one of the reasons why the shoes feel so good when I put them on.
The rocker (the slight curvature at the forefoot), on the other hand, initially feels a bit unusual. Out on a run later, I find this subtle support as my foot rolls really pleasant – especially on longer distances.
The substructure is a pleasant surprise
The key component of any running shoe is its sole, and this is where the Prodigio shines. The midsole is made of a new, nitrogen-enriched type of foam called Xflow, which is light and soft, but not spongy. In fact, the midsole feels firm and responsive. Xflow is also 15 per cent lighter than EVA foam, which La Sportiva used in its previous trail running shoes.
The shoe’s flexible and bendable from the heel to the forefoot. Viewed lengthwise, it has a very high torsional rigidity, meaning it hardly twists at all. This provides greater stability and better control when running. Yet another crucial factor for me.
The outsole consists of two different rubber compounds. There’s a softer (in this case blue) material on the forefoot and inside, and a more abrasion-resistant, harder material on the outside. At four millimetres, the studs are in the mid range for trail running shoes.
Source: Siri Schubert
Time to hit the trails
For my first run in my new footwear, I picked a route in the Grisons mountains. The shoes won me over immediately. On dry, stony trails, they had good grip and felt really good to run in.
With most shoes, you have to make a choice between good cushioning and getting a good feel for the ground. In my book, the fact that the Prodigio shoes offer both is their biggest plus point. It’s exactly what I was looking for as part of my 50K preparation. In that respect, they get a definitive «yessss!» from me.
Source: Siri Schubert
Later, I also tried out the Prodigio shoes on wet forest paths and trails strewn with tree roots. Again, they had good grip and felt enjoyable to run in. As a result of the cushioning, my feet weren’t as quick to tire out. That means they’ll be suitable for my upcoming training runs spanning longer than 30 kilometres.
I’m yet to wear the shoes on really muddy, slippery trails. However, given that the four-millimetre studs are on the low side, I wouldn’t expect them to have the best slip protection.
This aside, I’m thrilled with the La Sportiva Prodigio. Mine came in Rose-Springtime, but they’re available in a number of other colours, including toned-down black and bright green.
If you want to know which shoes, running clothes and sports nutrition strategies will be helping me on my way to that 50-kilometre ultra marathon, follow me for updates and tales of my running adventures.
In a nutshell
Good combination of cushioning and firmness
La Sportiva’s Prodigio running shoes are made for longer distances. The Xflow foam in the midsole provides good cushioning, so your foot doesn’t tire as quickly. At the same time, it’s responsive without feeling spongy as you run. Other plus points include the shoes’ good torsional rigidity and grippy outsole.
Overall, the shoes are well suited to trail running on dry, stony ground or on winding forest paths.
Pro
- Good torsional rigidity
- Grippy outsole
- Responsive midsole, with a good feel for the ground
- Good cushioning without feeling spongy
Header image: Siri Schubert
Siri Schubert
Senior Editor
Siri.Schubert@digitecgalaxus.chResearch diver, outdoor guide and SUP instructor – I love being in, on and around water. Lakes, rivers and the ocean are my playgrounds. For a change of perspective, I look at the world from above while trail running or flying drones.
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