La Sportiva - Jackal II BOA

Great feedback. La Sportiva runner here too. The Jackal can also be used for hiking though personally I find the tongue in version II pretty thin for going long distances, regardless of whether it's hiking or running. I am getting the Prodigio Max next week, can't wait to test it If it performs well, I'll use for a 200 miler in the Alps in September. By the way, the Jackal II is not built on the same last as the Prodigio Max. It is build on the same last as Prodigio and Prodigio Pro. The lasts used for La Sportiva long and ultra distance shoes, should be the following: Tempo Max last: Prodigio Max Tempo Ultra last: Jackal I & II + Prodigio + Prodigio Pro Tempo 2 last: Ultra Raptor II & probably Akasha II (though the official web info still reads Tempo last) Tempo last: Ultra Raptor, Akasha, Akyra (though LS catalogs read Tempo 2 for the Akyra)

I’d recommend trying the jackal 2 with the boa system. I’ve never tried the original jackals but don’t find them overly stiff. Foot is held in place very firmly and a very stable base with a wide toe box (for la sportiva). Also have the cyklons but your race might be at about the outer limit for those as they’re not as supportive. If I were you and you say it’s rocky if there’s any chance of rain I’d steer clear of anything Salomon. Please feedback on your choice and enjoy the race!

The TMT is good. Has a longer lug design than other GS models. The Jackal is great for technical running and scrambling. May be too agressive for a race or regular running but maybe not for your local terrain. Prodigio Pro is a killer shoe. Also check out Nnormal Tormir.

A durable trail running shoe for all hiking, unless you’re trudging through snow. LaSportiva Jackals have served me well.

Thank you! I’ve been the same size in the Jackal 2 and the Prodigio and I’m looking at getting the pros 

Ah okay that makes sense! It could be the shoes then. Or, more likely, you just need practice. I remember years ago when my city-boy of a husband moved to the mountains near my family, he fell down a lot just walking around. He was early 20s, an avid hiker and rock climber, but had never lived somewhere persistently hilly. It took him a while. My family and I laughed at him a lot, but eventually he got his footing, so to speak. I think you just need to slow way down. Also look at trail runners with sticky rubber on the bottom. I run in La Sportiva Karacals or Jackals and they're very grippy. I still have to have common sense and not step on a slanted wet root at top speed, but sticky rubber makes a big difference.

I used in the past La Sportiva jackal. They didn't work well for me. I have never used Hoka, but if they are wide enough maybe the high stack is more tolerable. I see lots of hokas around here

For me in wet terrain with rocks, the best is Asicsgrip (6). After that, probably Vibram (tried in Hoka and Nike shoes), Contagrip in Salomon Speedcross 4 and Continental in various Adidas models. Here, some variation between them (for example, Continental in Adidas Terrex Two Flow is better than in Adidas Terrex Agravic Flow 2.0 (so a 4 for them). After those, probably the outsole by La Sportiva (in Jackal model) and various Nike outsoles (Kiger 8, Wildhorse 6, Pegasus 4 TR) in wet terrain (btw, in mid Spring to mid Autumn, Nike are pretty nice shoes here)

UK13 tried a bunch of shoes, from Salomon to NNormal to Inov8 and La Sportiva. The old Wildcross, if you can still find them, were great for muddy English trails. Never versions not so much. I'd steer clear of NNormal and their Kjerag as their (lack of) cushion doesn't suit heavier runners. Killian is 60 kilos, you and I aren't :) La Sportiva Jackal did wonders for me, very stable like all their shoes. Probably because their DNA is mountaineering. I've tried the Prodigio Pro for last year's CCC but had heel pain - could've been from training in Korean, though. Last but not the least - Inov8 G270 is a great local catch, if your Achilles can handle zero drop. Plenty of cushion and graphene traction to go.

La Sportivas are my “go to” shoes for rocky stuff, Jackals or Mutants. My Topo MTN Racers would work well on this too.