Details
Brand
La Sportiva
Heel To Toe Drop
9 mm
Breathability
7.4/10
Latest Version
Yes
Terrain
Trail
Type
Stability
Key Features
• Durable Trail Rocker outsole• FriXion XT outsole material• Impact Brake System with a Trail Bite heel lugs• TPU MicroLite Skeleton overlays for structure• Very seamless and ventilated mesh upper• Gusseted and well-padded tongue• Stretches laces for a tight fit• Durable rubber toe guard• 9mm drop from heels to toe
Upper
This shoe has a unique three-layer upper. The inner liner is extracted from a soft mesh material that breathes well and feels comfortable against the skin. The top layer is a TPU MicroLite Skeleton overlay with a stretchy AirMesh layer underneath. This design wraps all around the foot to provide excellent lateral movement stability. The origami theme can be seen throughout the upper. Despite the thickness of the upper layers, I found it to be very flexible and breathable. My feet did get a little hot on a humid run, but nothing out of the ordinary. After pushing these shoes through some overgrown trails and down a pile of shale, the upper came out unscathed.;The gusseted tongue is very plush and works well with the lacing system which has some stretch to it. I could easily tighten the shoe with just a gentle pull of the laces. I did have to straighten the tongue a few times as it shifted to the side. The shoe is lacking a top eyelet which would normally be used to lock in the heel. This would be nice to have as the heels were just a little loose for me, but I didn’t experience any blisters or heel rubbing.
Midsole
The well-padded inner of the shoe is made from injected MEMIex EVA foam. There is 25mm in the heel and 16mm in the forefoot. The foam is marked with an interesting line pattern which the company calls their origami design. This design is used throughout the shoe. The shoe felt very cushioned despite the stiff midsole. The midsole has some energy return which was more apparent when using the shoes on the road. I would not recommend these shoes for road running, but they felt fine on the short trip to the trails. There is no rock plate in the midsole, but this proved to not be an issue. I took these shoes over some very rocky trails and had no stone bruising. These are great hiking shoes for when the trails are too steep to run. A few runners claimed the shoes were better hiking shoes than running shoes. I had no problems running in the shoe, but they are a bit heavy.
Outsole
Gusseted The Trail Rocker outsole of this shoe is included La Sportiva’s famous FriXion Red elastic compound. FriXion Red demonstrates a double FriXon outsole that utilizations sticky FriXon XF elastic for footing and a higher scraped spot FriXon AT elastic in territories that get the most manhandle. FriXon is an extremely strong material planned particularly for mountain territory. At the point when distinctive sorts are consolidated in the outsole, the outcome is a shoe that has great grasp and is impervious to wear. The elastic additionally gives some stun retention amid hard arrivals.;The bears on this shoe are special and noteworthy. They are not super profound, 6mm, but rather they are extremely forceful. The shape and inclination of the carry shifts relying upon the area and they point in various ways. La Sportiva calls this their Impact Brake System with a Trail Bite heel. Carries point in reverse in the heel zone and advances in the front to shield the shoe from slipping and sliding.;I tried these shoes in each brutal condition I could discover including running downhill through a sloppy and tricky stream and the hold was extraordinary. My lone dissension is that the carries do get obstructed with mud. When I went through mud and afterward went through pine needles, the base of the shoe was a strong mass of mud and pine needles. Going through water removed a portion of the chaos, however the shoes got somewhat heavier after sloppy runs.
Breathability
The air circulation of this shoe is great. Even with three layers or material, there was still airflow in and out of this shoe. Its overlays to block off some ventilation, but serve to keep the shoe stable as well as being decorative. I did take these shoes through some shallow streams and got wet toes, but the shoe dried quickly.
Comfort
The shoe is very comfortable for a trail shoe. The cushioned midsole and design of the outsole offer perfect shock absorption quality. The padded tongue and extra padding around the lower foot hugging the foot. I had to lace up these shoes fairly tight to get a good fit, and felt no pressure over the top of my foot. The toe box is roomy and I had ample space to splay my toes. I ordered these shoes in a size nine which is my normal running shoe size and the fit was excellent. A hefty Ortholite sockliner provides additional padding underfoot. This sockliner worked fine for me and I saw no reason to replace it.
Style
As mentioned previously, these shoes have an origami theme. From the midsole to the top of the shoe, there is an illusion of delicate folds and bends. Color choices for both men and women are very attractive. My shoes are a called emerald/mint (tealish green) and I love it. I like to blend in with nature when running trails and don’t care for the bright road shoe neon colors. The heel of this shoe is rather bulky but did not feel awkward at all while I was running.
Durability
The shoe is exceptionally durable. It was intended to go up against extreme trails and unforgiving conditions. The upper material is catch-safe and can go through unpleasant brush and spiked rocks. The overlays are welded with zero chance of join coming fixed. A little overlay behind the toe protect is sewed, however in a range that should see excessively mishandle. The dragged outsole is involved a delicate, yet tough elastic that can get destroyed and continue going. This present shoe’s just shortcoming is the open street. The hauls were not implied for the consistent grinding of black-top and cement. I did some short road running in this shoe, but generally kept to the trails.
Protection
The most defensive element of this shoe is the thick padded sole. The EVA material gives great padding, particularly in the heel region. The carried outsole likewise secures the foot by guaranteeing a without slip and sure run and keeps the runner’s foot sufficiently high to stay away from common trail hazards. A strong elastic toe monitor over the toe of the shoe makes a decent showing with regards to of redirecting objects and shielding the toes from hard knocks. I hit a few huge rocks while running which brought about scrape blemishes on the shoe, yet no harm to the shoe or my foot.
Responsiveness
The cushioned midsole of this shoe is firm, and not very responsive. Trail shoes do not need to feel overly springy, but some energy that returns is needed to keep them from feeling sluggish. I found the firmness of the ride helped with the stability of the shoe and I had no problems hopping fallen logs or negotiating large rocks. The midsole has just enough return energy to keep the foot moving forward.
Support
The vast majority of the help in this shoe originates from the plan of the upper. The tough TPU MicroLite Skeleton overlay holds the foot firmly in the shoe as the runner puts the shoe through its paces. The binding framework can be fixed or released as required for a protected fit. I truly enjoyed how the bands extended to give the shoe a tight fit. The outline of the padded sole and outsole additionally give a protected and solid landing which implies to a lesser extent a shot stumbling and faltering. I felt rather goat-like on a few areas of my keep running as the shoes gave me the certainty to handle pretty much anything.
Terrain
This great footwear is implied for extraordinary mountain territory. The carries on the outsole confront both forward and in reverse to guarantee a decent hold toward any path. Albeit without a stone plate, I could run some really unpleasant logging streets and shale pits without any issues by any means. Mud, greenery, profound leaves, free soil, elusive rocks, hard rock – this shoe blew through it all and was prepared for additional.
Price
The shoe goes for $140. Contrasted to other supreme trail shoes, its price is about average. Although I have less than 50 miles on the shoe, I see no signs of wear other than scuff marks on the toe and forefoot. The quality components of the shoe should last for many hard miles.
Drop
This promising shoe has a 9mm drop from its heel to its toes. I prefer shoes with a low heel drop, but I must admit I did not really notice the high drop of this shoe. The wide width of the shoe helps with stability which made landings and toe-offs feel solid and strong.
Stability
This shoe gives great stability to extreme trail running. The midfoot padding bolsters the curve of the foot and gives an agreeable and stable ride. The wide toe box and firm padded sole give a decent stage to push offs and landings. A few runners felt the shoe was more similar to a climbing boot than a trail shoe. I had no issue running in the shoe, but I would not have any desire to race for time, as the shoe is stiffer and heavier than what I normally use.
Flexibility
The padded sole and outsole of the shoe are fairly stiff. The flexibility of this shoe is minimal and bends where needed, but not the point where a runner could lose their footing on loose rocks or soil. Trail running requires a stiffer ride than road running due to the fact that the wearer’s foot is constantly on uneven terrain.
Traction
The Akyra offers amazing footing on outrageous terrain. The Trail Bite outsole hauls are intended to go up against any test. The carries confront in inverse ways, which implies the shoe can fly all over soak slopes with no stress of sliding or slipping. I had no issue pulling these shoes through sloppy trails and down free, rough landscape. Different runners complimented this shoe for its great execution in snow and on ice.
Bottom Line
This La Sportiva Akyra is a very rugged, yet comfortable footwear which thrives under tough running environs. Its durable lugged outsole can take on many hard miles. The breathable upper provides stability and an artistic flair. This shoe can be used for running, hiking, or a walk on a snowy day. I thoroughly enjoyed testing these shoes. After a short break-in run down an abandoned logging trail, I put these shoes through every harsh condition I could find and was never disappointed. If you are looking for a dependable trail shoe, these bad boys, or girls, won’t let you down.
