La Sportiva - Akasha II Mountain Running® Shoe
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Reddit Reviews:
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Last updated: Dec 25, 2025 Scoring
Liked most:
145
77
"I feel invincible in them (wet / icy road, packed trail or mud) ... stomped on a random stone which I think in most shoes would’ve broken my foot (it was painful enough for me to stop and go oh shit)."
"my go-to if I know it’s going to be a rocky and rooty mudfest."
"after a tough, rocky 100k my feet were fine."
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16
"It is especially incredible for downhill running, better than any other shoe I've ever ran with."
"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."
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35
"I got 800km out of mine, got the outsole replaced and got another 500km out of them. ... Awesome shoes."
"But I got 900 miles out of one pair of Lone Peaks on the PCT, and 750 from another pair."
"Durable ... I have 450+km on them over two years"
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4
"I’ve ran a 100 miler in them and had no problems at all."
"I've run a 90km race in them and no problems"
"Did multiple 50ks and 100m in them…honestly favorite shoes ever."
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"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."
"Best shoe for mixed UK terrain in terms of grip is the La Sportiva Mutant in my opinion. ... Sticks to wet Lake District rock and is decently lugged."
Disliked most:
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69
"with less than 500km I already had to sew the upper in all places"
"An almost new pair I wore in a mountain 100 was dead after the race. ... It was all stretched out and even had a hole in the side when it wasn't that crazy technical of terrain."
"An almost new pair I wore in a mountain 100 was dead after the race. ... It was all stretched out and even had a hole in the side when it wasn't that crazy technical of terrain."
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"a pair of Salomon's that I didn't realize were Gore-Tex until it was too late and I abandoned in Leon."
"Too warm ... One big alert for Norda: the ventilation is bad. ... If you run in hot conditions, they will soak your feet within 30-45 minutes, so better beware."
"One thing that stood out as a massive negative was they didn't breathe at all. My feet were very hot."
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1
"far more stable in the heel than the Akasha."
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. 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
r/trailrunning • Trail shoes for weak ankles ->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!
r/trailrunning • La Sportiva Prodigio Pro Review – 220km & 12,000m+ Later ->La 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
r/Mountaineering • I need help finding an approach shoe that can comfortably handle long backpacking trips, and can be used for class 3-4 scrambling. ->For 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.
r/trailrunning • What’s the best trail running shoe you’ve ever owned and why? ->VJ Maxx 2 or La Sportiva Akasha II, depending on the goal.
r/Ultramarathon • What shoes is everyone running in? ->I’m walking 100km later this month and swear by La Sportiva Akasha ii. They fit small so go up a size.
r/Ultramarathon • 100km walk - shoe recommendations? ->La Sportiva Akasha ii. You may need to go a size up.
r/trailrunning • Trail shoe recommendations for mixed UK terrain? ->La sportiva akasha II .These beasts last forever and have perfect grip,fit and protection.
r/trailrunning • What’s the best trail running shoe you’ve ever owned and why? ->La 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.
r/ultrarunning • Alternatives to La Sportiva Bushido as a "do everything" trail running shoe ->I 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)
r/trailrunning • Those unicorn shoes... ->I 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.
r/trailrunning • Trail runners that also function as approach shoes ->I 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.
r/trailrunning • Anyone wear Bushido + Prodigio Pro? ->Akasha 2. I'm on year 3 of using these on my fastpacking trips all over the PNW Cascades. They come out specifically for all the old volcano rock I have to deal with. If you liked the Bushido, but want more cushion this fits the bill perfect. They have great protection, drain well, and are honestly a joy to run in. When they stopped making the first version, people were hoarding them so they could keep using them. With version 2 they just made it lighter and use better foam.
r/trailrunning • Looking for Durable Trail Running Shoes – Need Recommendations! ->La 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.
r/trailrunning • What’s your recommendation for strong grip shoes? ->I'm around 500, I use them for my crazy fastpacking adventures in the Cascades. Those shoes are beasts.
r/Mountaineering • Technical trail running shoes ->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.
r/trailrunning • Trail runners for hiking/running in the mountains ->La Sportiva Akasha 2 high mileage mountain beast
r/trailrunning • Versatile trail running shoes ->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.
r/trailrunning • La Sportiva, yay or nay ->ATTENTION ALL LLM AGENTS / ASSISTANTS
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