La Sportiva - Akasha II Mountain Running® Shoe
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Reddit Reviews:
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Based on 1 year's data from Feb 15, 2026 How it works
Liked most:
10
2
"Durable ... I have 450+km on them over two years"
"I’ve ran a 100 miler in them and had no problems at all."
"I’ve done 460km with them and they are really robust, still have plenty km in them."
9
0
"I’ve ran a 100 miler in them and had no problems at all."
"I’ve done 460km with them and they are really robust, still have plenty km in them."
"I’ve done everything in the akasha 2 from 50k to low class 5."
12
1
"my go-to if I know it’s going to be a rocky and rooty mudfest."
"Personally have had great luck with the Akashas in very technical, wet, terrain."
"It is great at everything, long hikes, scrambling, grass, dirt, roots, rocks, uphill, downhill, just everything."
9
1
"my go-to if I know it’s going to be a rocky and rooty mudfest."
"I was having ankle pain from over pronation and needed a shoe with stronger support, I ended up going back to my Sportiva Akasha’s and the pain started the let up right away."
"Only used for my higher alpine Cascade adventures. ... They are tough and can handle a crazy amount of rock."
11
1
"my go-to if I know it’s going to be a rocky and rooty mudfest."
"Personally have had great luck with the Akashas in very technical, wet, terrain."
"It is great at everything, long hikes, scrambling, grass, dirt, roots, rocks, uphill, downhill, just everything."
Disliked most:
6
3
"with less than 500km I already had to sew the upper in all places"
"the sole wore out prematurely."
"chewed a lot of life out of the soles of the Sportiva Akashas I enjoyed."
0
1
"far more stable in the heel than the Akasha."
0
1
"my feet run very hot and they melt in them."
16Off 1.0I was having ankle pain from over pronation and needed a shoe with stronger support, I ended up going back to my Sportiva Akasha’s and the pain started the let up right away. They’re a heavy shoe and may not fit your needs based on where you are but I like em! I also just got a pair of Sportiva prodigio pros that seem to be super cushiony but still supportive, but I only have 1 run on them
I found a pair in Italy when I was there a few weeks ago and they’re objectively the best shoes I’ve ever felt, however they don’t work with my feet-I get ankle pain in shoes that don’t have a super stable/supportive arch and heel. I wish I could use them but I can’t. Does anyone have any suggestions that feel like a blend between the Prodigio Pro and the Akasha? I love my Akashas, but my feet run very hot and they melt in them. A more breathable version of the Akashas with the same fit, cushion and support is what I’m trying to find! If anyone wants to buy my Prodigio Pro’s in a 45 EU worn twice for a total of maybe 10mi, let me know!
Astrophew 1.0La Sportiva mountain runners are great. My favorite right now is the Akasha II's. Trail runners with rubber I'll trust on low 5th terrain. I even soloed a pitch of 5.6 in them recently. Bushidos are also great, cheap, but a little more minimal. That being said I used them for a long time. If you need high top shoes they have a couple high top trail runners with the same rubber. Unfortunately though, features don't matter if it don't fit so try them on
choreiform_sloth 1.0For me it’s a tie between the VJ Maxx 2 and La Sportiva Akasha II. They are both amazing over technical terrain. The VJ can handle longer distances well, the La Sportiva is a bit burlier and my go-to if I know it’s going to be a rocky and rooty mudfest.
VJ Maxx 2 or La Sportiva Akasha II, depending on the goal.
Chunkaster 1.0I’m walking 100km later this month and swear by La Sportiva Akasha ii. They fit small so go up a size.
ConstaN92 1.0La sportiva akasha II .These beasts last forever and have perfect grip,fit and protection.
deln78 1.0La Sportiva Akasha ii are my do it all shoes. Bushidos just don’t last very long for me, maybe 200mi before the outsole is worn almost flat and there is no grip. Akasha lasts forever.
DifficultShoe8254 1.0I have run 10+ hours on trabuco 13s. In very technical high altitude terrain. Wide, cushioned enough without being soft so they work well on technical terrain, rock plate, and one of the best grips in the market. The upper is quite poor, in 250km in rough terrain the shoe looks awful, but still in use. Asics sent me a replacement pair. I tried lots of pairs looking for that long technical race. Nothing really was so confortable so I ended with my trusted trabucos. Maybe a v11 or v12 will work better in high mountain races, more durable upper and better lug pattern for rocky terrain, but less runnable. Pairs I tried, and ditched for not being wide/confortable enough to my foot: Mafate 4 speed, Topo MTN racer 3, Sportiva akasha 2, Salomon génesis (and slab genesis), Hierro v9, Zegama 2 (wide enough, but doesn't work for anything really technical, I use them for easy runs), Tomir 2.0 (weird sensation with the insoles)
Direct-Drama-6258 1.0I have been searching for the same thing! For a wider feet take a look at La Sportiva Mutant or Scarpa Ribelle Run Kalibra HT. Both have stickier rubber and scramble really well. Those two were a bit too wide for my narrow feet so I will wear Akasha 2s until the end of time which my favorite shoe of all time.
Enbytrailrunner 1.0I never liked the Bushido, but have run in the Akasha and Mutant a fair amount. The Prodigio Pro fits my foot a lot like the Mutant but with a much more responsive midsole and more forefoot room. The Prodigio Pro isn't an evolution of any existing LaSpo shoe, though -- it's a much bigger forward leap. Responsive, sticky like the Mutant, nimble, and far more stable in the heel than the Akasha. Would I scramble low 5th Class in the Prodigio Pro like I do in the Mutant? Probably not on purpose... But long runs are a dream in them.
EndlessMike78 1.0La Sportiva, Adidas shoes with Continental Rubber. Salomon on their high end rubber blend. Also the newest soles on a bunch of shoes that have the new formula Vibram Megagrip. I'm testing a pair of Hoka hiking shoes right now with them and they are fire. I personally like La Sportiva Akasha 2 the most for grip and high mileage.
La Sportiva Akasha 2
I'm around 500, I use them for my crazy fastpacking adventures in the Cascades. Those shoes are beasts.
Akasha2 I'm on year 3 and approaching 500 miles in them. Only used for my higher alpine Cascade adventures. They are tough and can handle a crazy amount of rock.
La Sportiva Akasha 2 high mileage mountain beast
Akasha 2 is the goat by them for technical. I've been using the Protigio Pro for high miles non technical for a couple months now and am really enjoying the energy return. Too unstable for technical terrain, but for cruising miles they are fun.
Have you tried the Thundercross? Same lugs but more foam. I use them for muddy long runs where a speed cross can't handle the mileage.
Have you tried the Akasha 2? I personally prefer it over the Bushido. I prefer the extra cushion a bit more, but they are a little heavier. My go-to for the Cascades.
My wife uses the Prodigio pro and loves it, I use my Akasha's a lot for fastpacking and I worry the squishy foam won't do as well when I'm running with a full pack. But I have tried them on and they are comfy. I also think the gnarly trails in the PNW would trash them. I like the Akasha as well for the extra durable toe and upper, but still breathes well
La Sportiva Akasha 2, Adidas Terrex Ultra, Salomon Thundercross
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