Bushido III

I like Topo a lot in general, but for off-trail I have a preference for the Bushido III Wide which is much more enjoyable than any other Sportiva shoe. I wear the same size in them as Topo and they fit toes better than my upsized Mutants and Akashas did.

Fellow wide-footer here 😀 I only started running a few months ago. I tried Bushido 3 wide, which fit well, but unsure about size - I seem to be between 2 sizes. Do you go for more tight fit or rather a bit more space?

Date: 9/26/2025 Location: Yosemite, loop from Cathedral Lakes TH Distance: \~30 miles Vertical gain: \~7400 ft Video of the route: [https://youtu.be/pBVaz3DQ0Us?si=kYgLnNR7KrdYR19m](https://youtu.be/pBVaz3DQ0Us?si=kYgLnNR7KrdYR19m) **Overview:** The Cathedral Range High Route is an idea I’ve been working on since last year, and the area has multiple viable options for a fun short high route. I've done two variations on this route now and can think of at least one more that makes sense. This one begins at the Cathedral Lakes TH and passes Cathedral Peak, Matthes Crest, Nelson Lake, and the Vogelsang area, after which point it gains a broad ridge which it follows to Parsons Peak and returns to Tuolumne via Ireland and Evelyn Lakes and the Rafferty Creek Trail. The variation we did was about 28 miles (we cut off 1.7 by leaving a car at the Tuolumne store), which we completed in 13hr42m.  We went for this shorter version so we could do it with daypacks. To get the full effect, one would continue over Amelia Earhart Pass and traverse over to Maclure Lake to see the glaciers, then return to Tuolumne via Lyell Canyon (adds \~5 miles compared to what we did on this trip). The other variation I did accessed the Maclure Glacier via Hell Hole, but this route is much less fun than the ridge walk. Even though this trip was done in a day, the last time I did a similar route it was as a 2 night backpacking trip, which felt perfect and is what would likely appeal to most people interested in the route.  **Route description:** We started at Cathedral Lakes TH and took the JMT until we could pass Cathedral Peak on its south side. We passed Budd Lake and climbed a slabby pass and headed to the pass west of Cockscomb. The pass itself is very steep and it’s better to stay far to the west. It was class 3 how we did it. Great views of Matthes Crest up here.  We headed down to Matthes Lake and climbed the pass to its east-southeast. We passed Nelson Lake and climbed the pass south of Rafferty Peak. We hiked to Vogelsang Pass, continuing on trail until the view opened up of Gallison Lake and the basin leading to Hell Hole/Maclure Glacier access.  Hell Hole is an okay pass, and puts you out right at the Maclure Glacier, but it’s not as fun as the ridge walk option. For the ridge walk, we left the trail and climbed up to the ridge that leads to Parsons Peak. Incredible panoramic views from up there.  From Parsons, we descended to Ireland Lake and worked our way back to Tuolumne Meadows, and I think this is the ideal ‘short version’ of the route. Last summer I took the Hell Hole route and traversed from Maclure Lake to Amelia Earhart Pass and then to Ireland, etc. The traverse from Maclure to Amelia Earhart is fantastic, so I think the most optimal route for a long weekend backpack would be to take the route as described above until Parsons, go over Amelia Earhart Pass, traverse to Maclure Lake, and then hike back to Tuolumne through Lyell Canyon on the JMT.  **Difficulty:**  Mostly very easy cross country, with the exception of the pass west of Cockscomb. Even that one isn’t too bad, but there are easier options in the area if you look around the map. The Cockscomb Pass is cool though because of the view of Matthes Crest. Wilts Col is another way to get from Budd Lake to Matthes that I haven’t tried but looks fun and probably has an even better view.  **Gear notes:** We carried almost nothing except for a layer or two, headlamps, filters, but I’ll give a shoutout to the La Sportiva Bushidos in wide. In the past I’ve tried to use the Bushidos and wished they worked for me but they were too narrow. The wide version is the best off-trail hiking shoe I’ve tried and I’m so glad they finally made it. It’s just barely wide enough for me, and I can see it still being too narrow for some.

Same for me, although men’s. I tried the Inov 8 Trailton wide, Hoka Speedgoat 7 wide, Topo Mountain Racer 4, and La Sportiva Mutant. None of them worked. I then tried the La Sportivo Bushida III Wide and it just worked! Wide toebox, narrower heel and supportive mid-foot. Everyone’s feet are so different so may not work for you but I was surprised as La Sportiva usually run narrower.

I wear the La Sportiva Bushido 3 (Wide) with the Superfeet Hiking insert. Has worked well for me.