A stop in with my friends at La Sportiva while at Outdoor Retailer yielded a sighting of a really cool new Winter trail runner, the Crossover GTX. Built on the awesome Crosslite platform, the new Crossover GTX is well, Gore-Tex and comes with a built-in 4-way stretch upper gaiter. While this short gaiter may not replace full-size gaiters for all conditions, it will do a great job for most winter trails.

It’s hard to beat the traction and capability of the Crosslite (read my review), but adding Gore and a small gaiter makes these trail runners truly unique for Winter training.

Available Fall 2010, the Crossover GTX will retail for $150.

Buy Now: Search for La Sportiva Trail Running Shoes

Climbing season! It’s here! Much like a kid at Christmas, I’ve been anxiously awaiting the days where it’s light enough that I can climb for 4 hours after my 5pm class, and it’s finally here! For my longer routes and all my crack climbing, I’ve been using my La Sportiva Mythos Climbing Shoes.

The Mythos are the classic climbing shoe. Uber- comfortable yet high performance, these guys will get you up anything and you’ll still have your toes afterward. For both beginners and experts, this is a shoe you’re going to want to have!

Fit Info

The Mythos are notorious for stretching, as the are made of unlined leather, and I’d say mine definitely stretched. Be sure to size your Mythos down from your street shoe size (opposite of several other climbing companies, like 5.10, who say to size the same as your street shoe size). I’m normally a 37.5 in street shoes (and also my 5.10 Anasazis. Go 5.10 for being accurate with sizing!) and bought a pair of size 35 Mythos. the first 30 minutes or so were uncomfortable, but they’ve stretched out a ton and now fit just right. The Mythos are also significantly more narrow than any other climbing shoe I’ve tried on, especially through the ball of your foot. Again though, these shoes will stretch, so if you’re a bit on the wider side, worry not. Narrow footers, rejoice! The shoes expand to the needs of your feet, but won’t stretch past the tension you put on them, so they’ll stay narrow for you.

La Sportiva also incorporates their sweet Mythos lacing system into the shoes, keeping your heel locked down. It may take a bit of finagling before you get the fit just right for you, but it’s worth it. This keeps your heel down without having to create a shoe with a large and squeezing heel cup. This makes the shoe comfortable enough to wear all day on multi-pitch routes, yet snug and performance-oriented enough to use for those techie finger crack/slab climbing combos we find so often here in the Wasatch.

One side note about fit- I seem to have a small air bubble under the arch of my foot, and as I walk around after a bouldering problem or before I start a climb, that air squeaks out, making a lovely farting noise as I walk. It seems that I’m not the first person to get a case of the “Mythos Farts,” either. Doesn’t affect fit or performance at all, but it does seem to occur to several people who own the shoes…

Features

• Low profile toe fits easily into thin splitter cracks. Beware though- as you continue to jam those toes in, you’re wearing at your laces. Don’t be surprised if you’ve got to replace the laces once within the life of your Mythos.
• Vibram XS Grip outsoles- grippy grippy and perfect for smearing up Wasatch Slabs….
• Mythos lacing system- keep that heel locked down.

These are my go-to shoes for any multi-pitch route, smearing routes and all my crack climbing! For tech-heavy sport routes requiring very exact toe placements, I usually reach for my Five Ten Anasazis. My Mythos are definitely the most comfortable shoe I’ve owned. I’m psyched to see such a great hybrid of performance and comfort!

Check ‘Em Out! La Sportiva Mythos Climbing Shoes

As promised when I wrote my quick review of the La Sportiva Women’s Wildcat Mountain Running Shoes, I have put several miles on them and can now provide you with a more extensive review! To get the basic specs and review of the general info about the shoe, check back in on my quick review.

First, lets talk about when this shoe excels. After running these in a variety of conditions for a variety of lengths, the Wildcat seems to have one area of expertise- short runs with relatively level ground. If you’re heading out for a 45 minute run up the foothills on your lunch break at work, up a well beaten path, these shoes are awesome. So lightweight that you can barely feel them on your feet, they’re idea for short runs where you’re looking to move fast and save weight. They’re my first choice shoe for my lunch break runs, or late evening jogs up on the Bonneville Shoreline Trail.

Now, let’s talk about when this shoe would not be my first shoe of choice. While the rubber and traction provided by the sole are grippy, the shoe itself does not offer enough support for more varied terrain. If you’re stepping on or over rocks larger than a grapefruit, the Wildcat’s lightweight mesh doesn’t seem to provide quite what your feet will need to have a great run. The same holds true for long runs (in my case, anything over an hour and a half). I reach for a more supportive shoe when I’m out for my longer days. Thought I’m sacrificing the lightweight advantage that the Wildcat’s provide, my choice is more support.

After running in the shoes for a while, the soles are still holding up great. Mud, dirt, trail and a bit of pavement, these shoes have seen a lot in the past few months. Since I’ve had them, I’ve logged about 100 hours in them, and they’re still holding up great. Overall, I have only 1 gripe with the shoe: No pull tab on the back for easy on and off. I’m constantly crushing my fingers or the back of the shoe in an attempt to get them on. The integrated tongue makes it a bit more snug of a fit, and with that added snugness, getting them on without a pull tab is a bit of a chore.

Bottom line: La Sportiva has made a great lightweight trail running (oh, excuse me, mountain running) shoe that excels for shorter runs on well established trails. They stay in my truck as my lunch break running partner!

Buy Now! La Sportiva Women’s Wildcat Mountain Running Shoe

Wearing a quality made trail runner feels like drinking crisp water when you had no idea how unbelievably dehydrated you were. Like the water refreshing your throat and spreading replenishment through your body to the belly, the La Sportiva Fireblade first makes your feet feel well, easy entry of the foot against a mesh, well fitting heel.  Then the hugging contours snug your feet to alignment, with well balanced pronation control (you don’t want too much or it could promote a bad habit).

I have been continually impressed with the La Sportiva Fireblade. I have run my feet through, sand, moss, high desert trails, icy roads, uneven scree, wet creeks, and in the foothills.  Mile after mile the lightweight, low profile, Fireblade can withstand, nicely.  The triple midsole provides a long enduring stability and the construction of the shoe hugs the foot to the midsole without being restricting.  The Women’s La Sportiva Fireblade is designed for women.  They are not updating the mens shoe with dainty colors, but building the shoe around a women’s specific last.

La Sportiva Fireblade Rundown:

• Lightweight, low profile
• Triple midsole for long endurance
• Shoe built around a women’s specific last
• Well-constructed upper to promote proper form
• Resilient to weather
• Sticky well wearing FriXion® AT/ Racing sole

My feet are hard to fit.  I have a slightly widespread foot.  They used to be generally low volume, until I broke them in a climbing accident, now they are low volume, high volume where the bones over lap, and medium volume  near the break.  This shoe fits (that is saying something).  A friend of mine who runs in her Fireblades daily has a narrow foot, and chooses to insert an orthotic to assist in the abuse she puts her feet and shoes through and they fit her as well.  The only adjustment I would recommend is someone with very high arches may like to add an insert.

La Sportiva reduces their carbon footprint with the application of wind power.  To top it off with each pair of La Sportiva runners, hikers, or approach shoes a dollar is donated to the Grassroots Outdoor Alliance, and you the consumer can choose where your dollar goes.

I have worn many other trail runners, from a variety of brands.  When I was young I was distracted by a snazzy boa or wild lacing systems.  I did not see the others poor quality uppers as I was misdirected with the flashy mesh covering.  My feet harshly learned the cost of poor quality after taking a few steps in water in another shoe. While wearing “the other guys” trial runner, the upper, dried and stiffened, then shred through the flesh of my heels and Achilles.

Many athletic shoes and trail runners cannot live up to their claims of holding up well in the Backcountry.  I had previously accepted a high level of discomfort as your coach screams, “Push through the pain!”  Endure, yes, but there is no need for additional pain or suffering due to a poor quality shoe.  Please learn from my mistakes and critically evaluate early on.  If you want to learn more about your feet and what to look for in a trail running shoe.  Check out this link for running shoe basics, from Runners World.  The La Sportiva Fireblade was Runner’s World Best Debut in 2007.  The La Sportiva Fireblade it the top choice for top athletes and will rise to the occasion.

Buy Now: La Sportiva Fireblade

While I was at the OR show, I also had a really neat meeting with La Sportiva, learning about all the new products they will be releasing within the next 6 months or so. Out now, and of great interest to me as an avid trail runner (or, as La Sportiva would call me, a “Mountain Runner,”) is the Women’s Wildcat Mountain Running Shoe.

The Wildcats look like a great cushioned trail runner. An entire mesh upper will offer great breathability and an integrated tongue will keep the rocks and crud out of your feet as you’re cruising up rocky trails. The soles of these shoes look like they’re in it for the long haul; aggressive enough to give you the traction you need yet burly enough to last you more than 3 runs before you’ve worn them down to nothing.

I just picked these guys up last week, so I’ve yet to have the opportunity to really give them a beating, but here’s the basic specs for now. Look for an update in a few months when I’ve had the chance to put some mileage on them. Also, be sure to check out Jason’s impressions of the Men’s Wildcat.

La Sportiva Women’s Wildcat Shoes

• Sizes: 36-43 with half sizes available.
• Width: Medium
• Colors: Grey/Mint and Grey/Plum
• Price: $100

Check ‘Em Out! La Sportiva Wildcat Mountain Running Shoes

Trail runners to the rest of us, but La Sportiva has coined the phrase “Mountain Running” for their trail running shoes.  The all-new La Sportiva Wildcat trail runners are built for long training runs with excellent breathability, stability and traction in mind.

The entire upper is built from a combination of a mesh outer and a soft wicking liner with strategically-placed materials along the lower edges to improve water and abrasion resistance.  With a built-in scree-guard tongue and a reinforced heel cup, these shoes mean business.

Traction is second-to-none with the Impact Brake System and Frixion sole. I’ve been surprised thus far with how well these grip in all conditions thus far.  One interesting thing about these shoes is they feel a little ramped, which seems to facilitate a natural rolling motion–I like it.

I’ve only had these shoes for a day, so long-term thoughts will be posted later. Here are the specs on the La Sportiva Wildcat:

• Breathable mesh uppers
• Impact Braking System
• Frixion outsole
• TPU stabilizing heel
• Wildcat GTX (Gore-tex) available Fall 09
• Colors: Grey/Green or Grey/Yellow
• Weight: 12.1 oz each
• Price: $100

Read my long-term review of the La Sportiva Wildcat…

Buy Now: La Sportiva Wildcat – Wildcat GTX