LA SPORTIVA TRAIL RUNNING 2022: COMPLETE MOUNTAIN RUNNING RANGE REVIEW.

Posted by Héctor Rubio on June 29, 2021 in la sportiva, trail running spain | 1 Comment

LA SPORTIVA TRAIL RUNNING 2022: New Akasha 2 and Ultra Raptor 2 + Review full range. Our TRAILRUNNING SHOES brings us today the thoroughly review of the full catalogue of the Italian brand for 2021-22. The new Akasha 2 and Ultra Raptor 2 are part of a catalogue with up to 20 different shoes, with gore-tex versions included.

LA SPORTIVA TRAIL RUNNING 2022: FULL RANGE REVIEW

La Sportiva, an Italian brand born in Alto Trentino in 1928 by Narciso Delladio, a footwear artist dedicated to clogs and shoes for lumberjacks. After imposing itself as a leader in the world of climbing shoes from the 1990s onwards, it continues in this 21st century to progressively expand presence in mountain shoes, trail running and skimo material while maintaining the essence of a family business that has gone so well in almost 100 years of history.

La Sportiva Trail Running: As you can see in the official diagram below, the Italian brand for Mountain Running, as they called this sport (“Mountain Running”) is structured on two mayor axes or less volume, both long, short or medium distance.

At more volume, more relaxed and popular use. At less volume, more racing and elite.

LA SPORTIVA TRAIL RUNNING. ANGE STRUCTURE.

Today, the italian brand offer shoes from the VK Boa for short distance in vertical kilometers, passing through the Mutant, Bushido2 and  UltaRaptor  for any kind of mountain races. Therange of the Sportiva 2021-22 is structured according to short, medium and long distance, according to its chasis/fit for narrow feet, width or regular, depending on its midsole in more and less reactive and according to its sole in soft terrain, ice, stone or all terrain and depending on duration and grip.

The range of trail shoes La Sportiva in short distance maintains the shoes we had until now, from the VK Boa that won the #premiospatron 2020 as well as the helios III sports, Helios SR. In this same segment, and also being halfway to the middle distance are the Bushido II and the Lycan.

LA SPORTIVA VK BOA

Weight and volume reduced to the minimum to give the maximum performance on the rise. The Sock-Like construction is based on bi-elastic mesh to give maximum freedom of movement. It fits the foot as if it were a cat’s foot, giving a feeling of freedom and lightness at all times. Many more technical elements, which we will detail below, that make these VK BOA innovative shoes and very much to take into account.

DATA SHEET

• Weight: 180 grams, the lightest of the Italian brand. And it is that have less than 180g. for a 42.5 size, that is to say very light. Being a specific competition shoe, perimeter protections have been reduced as much as possible, in addition to the cover and heel area
• Closing BOA: fit lateral asymmetrical system. As we are used to this type of closure, the adjustment is millimetric, very easy to adjust and easy to release. Cable lacing, which is distributed asymmetrically on the side of the instep, giving the greatest security in all types of movement.
• Drop: 4mm, a low drop, very typical of this type of shoe.
• Lugs: 3.5mm predisposed to give us the most traction in each stride that we give with positive slope. All of it is designed for this purpose.
• Ground hight: 11mm forefoot – 15mm heel, medium-low damping. A priori shoe designed for light runners, specialists in this type of tests, or why not, anyone who wants to get more out of it and is starting in this specialty.
• Width support: 10cm forefoot – 7cm heel, shoe that does not seek the greatest stability, but speed and dynamics when it comes to gaining unevenness.

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LA SPORTIVA HELIOS III Y HELIOS SR

The history of LA SPORTIVA HELIOS is a pure paradox. Born as a “rest” shoe in the style of salomon clogs that the elite of its French rival wears, it was the Italian team’s own competitors who began to roll with it and ended up betting on this winning horse in the big races. Its lightness, great adjustment to the foot, multipurpose sole in almost any terrain and drop of 4mm made it a fierce rival both in Vertical Kilometers and alpine Marathons.

La Sportiva Helios was, in fact, the protagonist of the greatest milestone in the world history of the Vertical Kilometer, when Urban Zemmer became on October 25, 2014 the first human being to ascend a vertical kilometer in less than 30 minutes. An athletic feat comparable to Roger Bannister’s legendary mile in less than 4min.

LA SPORTIVA HELIOS III DATA SHEET

• Weight: 220 grams. The lightest in the history of the saga, 20 grams less than its sister.
• Closing: Classic laces, somewhat asalschicado to yield a little without oppressing.
• Drop: 4mm
• Lugs: 2mm A misleading fact because the waves of the Morphologic sole make it actually bite more.
• Ground Height: 11m front – 15mm behind (More cleats)
• Sole: Blue FriXion rubber compound. “High Durability” Premium durability over grip. Rubber concentrated only in the wave that touches ground, to reduce total weight.
• Breathable cover with side braces.
• Tongue and padded neck.

LA SPORTIVA HELIOS SR

The Sportiva Helios SR on the other hand, is an evolution designed for competition. Veteran more than consolidated.

LA SPORTIVA HELIOS SR DATA SHEET

• Weight 230 grams
• Drop 2 mm
• Lining: Non skid mesh
  
• Midsole: Injected MEMlex EVA with Endurance Platform
  
• Footbed: Ortholite Mountain Running Ergonomic 4mm
  
• Sole: FriXion XT ultra grippy

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LA SPORTIVA BUSHIDO II

Slipper halfway through the short and medium distances, he looks to perform in both. Evolution of the first saga that has undergone significant changes in terms of hardness, since the main complaint it suffered was the rigidity and narrowness of last, and that managed to modify to get a shoe highly valued for short distance in competition.

DATA SHEET

• Weight 305 grams
• Drop 6 mm
• Footbed: Ortholite Mountain Running Ergonomic 4mm
  
• Sole: Red FriXion
• Recommended use: all terrain
• Normal width

2. LA SPORTIVA MIDDLE DISTANCE

In this category we can include the Bushido II that we just talked about in short distance and also The Sportiva Lycan II, kaptiva and Mutant. In addition also the first of the novelties 2021, La Sportiva Cyclon.

LA SPORTIVA LYCAN II

DATA SHEET

• Weight: 255 g half even, size 42
• Uppers: Breathable mesh with microfiber reinforcements with abrasion resistant coating + protective TPU toecap
  
• Lining: abrasion resistant mesh
• Footbed:4 mm Ortholite® Mountain Running Ergonomic
  
• Midsole:Shock absorbing, injected EVA
  
• Sole: FriXion® Blue with Impact Brake System
  
• Weight:305 g
• Drop: 6 mm

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LA SPORTIVA KAPTIVA

La Sportiva Kaptiva comes to expand the range of the Italian house better covering the gap for a quick ride with maximum grip, doing it with less technical demand also than its sister the Helios SR whose 230 grams and 2mm of drop and more versatile sole are more demanding. This Kaptiva is a shoe for short and medium distances, with much in common with its sisters Helios SR2.0 and Lycan (255gr/Drop6)

DATA SHEET:

• Weight: 280 g (half pair, size 42)
• Upper: Tongue in wraparound, stretch knit fabric + front part in stabilizing mesh fabric
  
• Lining: Slip resistant, breathable mesh
  
• Midsole: Compressed EVA and TPU stabilizers and anti-torsion inserts + dual density EVA rock guard insert
• Sole: Frixion White with Impact Brake System with lugs designed for use with AT Grip Spikes
  
• Footbed: 4mm Ortholite Ergonomic
• Drop: 6mm
  
• Cushioning: 8-9

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LA SPORTIVA MUTANT

Within the axes in which the La Sportiva Shoes are designed, these Mutants were born thinking about medium distances, with an average volume of standing and the sole “Mud” that having prominent multitacos behaves wonderfully in mud and water, but that also when mounted on a rubber compound FriXion XF ultra grippy, premium grip and traction in rocks and loose earth , before the durability of the sole.

DATA SHEET

• Weight: 320 g
• Upper: Single breathable, abrasion resistant mesh + integrated gaiter
  
• Lining: Non skid mesh
  
• Midsole: Injected MEMlex EVA with stabilizer
  
• Footbed: Ortholite Mountain Running Ergonomic 4mm
  
• Sole: FriXion XF ultra grippy
  
• Drop: 10 mm
  

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LA SPORTIVA CYCLON

If you’re a fan of the Mutant and you’re looking for something tighter to get juice out of every race, this is your shoe. Or, if you come from other mud shoes and you are one of those who value having good grip and foot well held above a few grams or so.

• Weight: 330grm.
• Fit: Medium
• Upper: High-Abrasion resistant mesh / Thermo-adhesive TPU reinforcement / BOA® Fit System / Comfort heel with pull-tab / Internal heel counter / TPU toe cap
• Lining: Abrasion resistant micro-fiber
• Midsole Dual-Density Compression Molded EVA / Medial and lateral stabilizer inserts
• Sole: Frixion® XF 2.0 “Mudguard” Outsole with Impact Brake System™ / 7mm lugs
• Drop: Drop 8mm
• Csuhioning: Midsole: 32A

3. LA SPORTIVA LONG DISTANCE

In this strip we already have 2 veterans and the two key novelties for this 2022. We talk about the new Ultraraptor 2, the Akasha 2, as well as the veteran Akyra, Jackal of 2020 and the, Karacal of 2021.

When defining them, we will say that the Akasha is the most pistera of all, the Ultraraptor the most protected tankette for technical terrain and the Jackal the most versatile of them that was also designed with testers of such known as Anton Kurpicka and Jonathan Wyatt.

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LA SPORTIVA AKASHA 2

Designed for the long distance and ultramarathons, they have had a technical and aesthetic re-design for the super-cushioned endurance Mountain Running shoe come with 310 g of weight, a drop of 6 mm and expected to be in the shops for the next season. Lets go with the video analysis by jonathan Wyatt.

DATA SHEET

• Weight: 310 gr
• Drop: 6 mm (31 mm – 25 mm)
• Upper: Perforated AirMesh + PU Leather on the back and Dynamic ProTechTion™ on the toe
• Lining: Non-slip mesh
• Footbed: Ortholite® Hybrid Mountain Running®
• Midsole: Injection EVA and Cushion Platform™
• Sole: FriXion® Red dual-compound with Trail Rocker™

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LA SPORTIVA AKYRA

La Sportiva Sportiva Akyra comes to expand the range of the Italian house better covering the gap to be able to run long through multipurpose terrain with protection but greater ease and lightness than its sister the Ultraraptor, a veteran shoe, which enjoys great health.

DATA SHEET

• Weight: 380g
• Drop: 9 mm
• Lining: : Non-skid Mesh
  
• Uppers: AirMesh Ultra-Comfort + application of thermal-adhesive TPU MicroLite Skeleton™ + external, engineered breathable mesh with Flex-Guard™ microfibre inserts
  
• Midsole: Injected EVA
  
• Footbed: Ortholite Mountain Running
• Sole: FriXion XT mix
  

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LA SPORTIVA JACKAL

A mountain running shoe ideal for off-road running over ultra distances and workouts on medium distances thanks to the exceptional cushioning guaranteed by the innovative Infinitoo™ high energy return technology.

• Uppers: Sandwich mesh (toe and tongue) + thermo-adhesive TPU reinforcements + side panels in mono-burr Nylon + Lycra® cuff
  
• Lining: Abrasion resistant micro-fiber
  
• Footbed: Ortholite® Ergonomic
  
• Midsole: EVA with polyurethane Infinitoo™ Technology + rock-shield in high density EVA + additional internal cushioning platform
  
• Sole: Dual compound FriXion® Red with lateral IBS lugs
  
• Weight: 300 g (half pair)

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LA SPORTIVA KARACAL

DATA SHEET

• Drop: Drop 7mm • Stack: Heel: 29mm / Toe: 22mm
• Weight: 290 grm
• Upper: 3D Seamless Mesh and No-Sew Upper / Cushioned Tongue / Thermo-Adhesive framework / Thermo-Formed toe cap
• Lining: Abrasion Resistant Micro-fiber
• Midsole: 4mm Ortholite Insole / Compression Molded EVA / 1.5mm Dual-Density EVA Rock-Guard underfoot
• Sole: FriXion® AT 2.0 with Impact Brake System / FLEX Inserts / 3mm lugs
• Cushioning: Midsole: 35A (Heel) & 32A (Forefoot)
• LAST • FIT: Tempo Ultra • Wide

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LA SPORTIVA ULTRA RAPTOR 2

The veteran tank shoe born for mountain racing forks for 2022. One version is more focused on classic hiking and mountaineering, while another is fine-tuned to fit better into mountain running. They have been small changes to maintain the reliability of the brand icon, but bringing it up to date with new technologies.

• Weight 355 grams
• Ground height 19mm-28mm
• Lugs 4.5mm
• Drop 9 mm
• Sole: White FriXion sole
• Recommended use: long off-road training
• Wide last

LA SPORTIVA TRAIL RUNNING: DROPS SUMMARY AND GROUND HEIGHTS

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