La Sportiva - Prodigio Max

I tried on all three and they fit roughly the same size for me (+1 euro size from typical). The toe box felt wider but less vertical room in the max compared to the pro.

Completely different shoes! The Prodigio Pro was designed for speed and handles technical trails really well. For me when I put the Pro on I feel like I am being propelled forward! It has a super critical eva cage a TPU core. That combo gives it more rebound and nice cushion. The other thing is the Pro is strobelless meaning your foot sits directly on the midsole keeping rebound high. The Max has a similar super critical cage but differs with a eTPU where the "e" is for expanded, where they start with little tpu beads and expand together. That core material provides more cushion and less rebound. Also has a traditional strobel lasting vs. strobelless. My understanding is the Max was designed with 100m in mind. I now have both and I really like the Max for day-to-day running and recovery and the Pro for racing, fast or technical days. They are really different shoes and work well together. Definitely a reason for being!

La Sportiva Prodigio Max's! I am loving them so far! Taken them on a fair few trails (I don't run, at all)

I recently bought a pair. I am a 10 1/2 but a little wide in the middle and had to get a Eu 45 to fit. La Sportiva are narow shoes. I have worn them twice. 2nd time my were squeeking. It is not due to a heel slip, it really feels like the foam is squeeking. It is a little annoying. Hopefully will get better not worse.

Mine were squeaking and the sizing was odd. Length was okay, still narrow. The La Sportiva last isn't for slightly more than standard width, I am afraid. Given the spectacular reviews this shoe got, I can only say it was a grave disappointment. Will rather run again in my unspectacular but absolutely reliable Xodus Ultra 3, Salomon Ultra Glide 2 or Arc'teryx Norvan. For Hiking I would say the fit is just too firm and the foam squeaky, it got even louder after some 22km in both shoes.

I’ve got a whopping 20 miles in my pair but I like them so far

I ran 28.5 miles up to King's Peak and back in Utah straight out of the box with them a couple weeks ago. This shoe is really nice. Had no issues with them. This trail is pretty rocky and rough and it handled it like a champ. Some thoughts. Shoe is on the heavier side, but it sure doesn't feel heavy when running with it. It has a nice transition to it that makes it feel lighter under foot than it really is. Cushioning is superior to almost any trail shoe I have ever used. Soft but not like a marshmallow and it has just the right amount of energy return/bounce. Feels amazing on the downhills. Pretty stable and can handle technical terrain quite well or a max cushion shoe Traction seems good and entire bottom is covered with rubber No rock plate but doesn't need one. There is enough cushion I didn't feel the rocks Fits "normal", meaning it is wider than any La Sportiva shoe I have used, which is very much welcomed for my hobbit feet Upper seems very durable with overlay reinforcements at all the weak points. My only knock with it, is it could be a little more breathable, but it does keep debris and dirt out and it dries pretty fast. Lock down is really good, the laces hold things in place well. sizing... Well it's La Sportiva, still have to go up in size. I did a full size bigger (44 or 10.5+) I normally wear 9.5 in most brands. So far I love them, have about 100 miles on them already and are holding up very well. I think they will be a nice option for 100+ mile races and a great every day trainer.

LS Prodigio should fit the bill for you. Light shoe, fun, great outsole and nimble enough for techy stuff. If your mud is heavy clay you'll struggle to find a shoe that deals with it well, though - clay is impossible.

Bushidos are a good choice. It might take you a bit of time to get used to the lower stack height if you're used to a more maximal shoe. Consider the Prodigio. More cushion, but not enough to get in the way or lose precision. Outsole is a combo of Frixion Red and Megagrip so it's nice and sticky.

La Sportiva Prodigio. Enough cushion for ultra distances, comfy, responsive midsole with good energy return, grippy outsole, and low enough stack height that you retain groundfeel and proprioception. They're a great shoe for technical stuff.

LS Prodigio, Merrell Agility Peak and Topo MTN Racer as my go-tos. LS Bushido for techy shorter stuff. Saucony Peregrine ST for mud. Old pair of Cascadias with screws for the snow and ice.

There are two potential problems with high stack shoes when it comes to lateral stability. First, they're just higher off the ground, so even though they typically have a wide base, it still affects stability since you're essentially on a platform above the ground. The second and potentially more important thing is that the thick layer of foam drastically reduces proprioception. If you can't feel what's under your feet, your brain can't react to it quickly enough and your body is more likely to become unbalanced = twisty ankles. Your proprioception in high stack shoes is trainable as you get used to the shoes, but in my case and I think for many other people, it'll never be as good in a high stack shoe as it will in a more moderate one. You could consider the LS Prodigio. Good cushioning, but they still feel close to the ground and precise.

The newer ones, the Prodigio line, are definitely roomier than the older models. I would never have been able to be comfortable in LaSpo ten years ago, but now I have three pairs and I love them. Definitely size up at least a half size from your usual though.

Came here to say this, obvious choice for OP as long as the price is within their range. The Prodigio Max is also slated to come out later this year and it's even more cushy.

Consider the La Sportiva Prodigio or Prodigio Pro. I've gone up to 85k in the regular Prodigio and could have gone farther; I wore the Pro for a 100M this year and they did well. The regular Prodigio will probably be more similar to what you're already wearing. Both have good energy return but the Pro foam feels much "faster". Of course, none of this matters if they don't fit you well, so you have to try them on.

It's very early still - they are a fall release and haven't shipped to retailers yet. You likely won't hear from too many people who have them at this point. That said, I was able to try on a sample for a minute last fall. They're roomier than the OG Prodigio, which is sensible as they're positioned as a long-distance shoe. Plenty of cushion, obviously. Looking forward to actually running in a pair soon.

The Prodigio Max is a good suggestion as well. The Pro is awesome but the Max has more cushion and a more conventional upper.

The More Trail is terrible, way too much exposed midsole and the lugs are garbage. But you know that now, haha. Consider La Sportiva. I've run two ultras in my Prodigios so far and they're great; they grip very well, they're great on technical stuff, and the foam has good energy return and cushion. It may not be enough cushion for 100M for some, though for me it's a good balance between cushion and nimbleness/agility on rocky/rooty stuff - but there is a new max stack version of the same shoe coming out for spring 25 that could be worth looking at. I would suggest the Agility Peak but you said they didn't fit you well - I also find them to be very generous in the fit. I normally wear men's shoes but had to go to women's AND size down to get them to work for me. If your feet are in the size range that this is an option for you, maybe consider it. They're really on the high end of stack for really technical stuff, for me anyway, but they're a comfy shoe for long efforts and they actually feel much more capable on technical stuff after about 100km than they did right out of the box when they felt like blocks of foam strapped to my feet.

They are different shoes for sure and will have some overlap in use, but they do serve different purposes. I know what you're saying about the pressure with the Pro - I have a high volume foot - but in reality the collar/tongue design means you don't have to crank on the laces to get a secure fit, which generally means less pressure points for me than with a conventional tongue. For myself, the Pro has sufficient cushion for 100M, but I've heard lots of people say that they wish it had a bit more for those longer distances. The Max is that shoe. It has a bit more generous fit, as well, in my opinion, which is good for accommodating swelling at the end of those long efforts. The Max uses a slightly different version of the midsole foam than the Pro does - still has great energy return and feels really fun and fast, but not as racey as the Pro. I find with both shoes I feel like I'm "in" the shoe and not on top of it - I struggle with high stack shoes sometimes because I hate the feeling of running around on top of a foam block, but both of these shoes do a good job of feeling like they're "part of you."

I bought the max (already owning the pro) mainly because I couldn't get another pair or pros. I love the pro! I don't love the max. It feels heavy and dead compared to the pro, and will probably sell them. In principle I liked the idea of having them as a training shoe, but they just don't do it for me

Big Prodigio Pro user/lover. Tried on the MAX at a local shop and it is MAX. The thing is absolutely huge. I haven't worn Hoka for a few years, but it felt like La Sportiva's Hoka but heavier than a modern Hoka. Fit wise, the sizing seemed the same, but slightly more roomy (for me) in the same size. But, I could not bring myself to purchase them. Just too clunky for me. They may very well run well though.

The prodigio shoes are supercritical foam top of the line. The cushion is amazing but the toe box was a little too small for me hiking in mountains and also backpacking with long 4000ft downhills over many miles. They would be fine for regular trails, just not 6 hour down climbs. I have got used to larger toe boxes. I love the hokka speedgoat 6 - one of the best shoes I’ve ever owned and I have over 1200 miles on a pair and the uppers are in execelent condition but the cushion is totally flat and my feet hurt after 10 miles.. I would recommend the speed goat 6. It’s extremely stable, bomb proof construction, and probably the best grip of any shoe I’ve ever worn. I have ordered the hokka speedgoat 6 (again) and topo athletic vista which are both max cushion shoes highly rated. The return shipping is typically free so I would recommend ordering a few pairs of shoes and trying them on in your house and choosing one to keep. Everyone’s foot is different!

Vibram does seem to vary model to model, both in the actual compound and the implementation. Zegama 2 also has quite a lot of rubber missing in the heel. Prodigio Max is a model with full coverage rubber and is pretty close in stats to the Zegama 2 if you want a close replacement. Otherwise I found the Norvan LD4 has fantastic grip, but it's more minimal. The lightbase material is much more tacky than the regular megagrip of the Zegama 2 which is formulated more for durability.

New Prodigio Max also looking awesome.

The rim and core shoes like Prodigio Pro/Max, Zegama, Xodus Ultra, bypass this limit as they offer a softer cushion inside without losing stability by having a firmer rim of foam on the outside.

Probably the Prodigio Pro or Max

Also take a look at La Sportiva Prodigo MAX. Great, cushy foam, roomy toebox, and super secure midfoot hold, similar to how Topos hug the midfoot. Just make sure you size correctly (likely a full size up from your typical true to size).

La sportiva Mutants have been the standard mountain running shoe in Colorado since their release. If they are good enough for Anton they will be good enough for you. Don’t waste time with the bushido, it’s trash. I personally use the mutant or the prodigio pro/max for mountain running up to low 5th class.

They were much too narrow for my slightly larger than average width foot.

Just getting ready to ship mine back. My normal size is 13 w and ordered a 14 (47). My big toe hit the front and it felt narrow. Not sure I’ll try a 15 as I don’t know if that would solve the narrowness.

I actually find that making sure you have a good fit around ankle and midfoot does more to 'save your toes', especially where moving forward downhill is an issue. For example, I recently discounted the Nnormal Tomir due to excessive forward slip, even when trying on. I've never experienced excessive 'swelling' in the forefoot per se either. Does it actually happen to you? My only consideration in forefoot is width to splay, and then a thumbs width gap at the end of the toes. I do have a slim ankle/midfoot so getting a shoe that doesn't move around has been difficult at times, as I always need mine to feel more like a running shoe than a specific 'ultra' shoe. The best one recently is the Salomon Genesis, as well as the La Sportiva Prodigio. Proper locked in feel at the back, comfy in the front.

Given your experience with Salomon and Brooks combined with the desire for stability: Try Salomon Genesis or Brooks Catamount 3. The Genesis is one of Salomon's most stable trail running shoe I've had, while the Brooks Catamount runs incredibly well and stable on moderate trails. The Genesis is softer and has better grip, while the Catamount is more responsive. Horses for courses, really. Since you also have La Sportivas: I can recommend looking at the Prodigio, which is a well rounded shoe that I like picking up for versatility in terrain that is mixed.

Gravel is a tricky surface, I agree. It probably depends on the the percentage of a certain terrain in a run that I choose the shoes. Generally, for steep grass I like Mudtalons with 8mm lugs, for snow the Genesis and for barely runnable rocks Bushidos. But then again, there is always a trade-off, since a run is usually composed of different surfaces. As an allrounder in alpine environment, I often go for Dynafit, Prodigio or Ribelle Run. YMMY. (And yes: I might have too many shoes).

Bought a pair a month ago, my first La Sportivas.  Tried them in the store and fell in love.  Had them for 2 weeks and liked them so much I ran Chuckanut 50k in them after only a few short runs.  It was a muddy shit show and the shoes were great. No idea how they perform in the desert, and no idea about longevity, but so far I love this shoe.  I come from topos and altras, and usually have trouble with fit.  Everyone says half size up, but I tried both and stayed true to size.  YMMV.

I ran in the Pro's today, just an easy 5k to test them out and I did get the same size as my reg Prodigos annnnd I need to exchange them for half a size up. They seemed fine when I put them on but once I started running they def squeeze my toes in a bit too much and I felt sore on the base of my foot afterwards. That is just my personal experience, you may have a different experience due to foot shape, etc.

What type of trails do you run on? La Sportiva Prodigios tend to be well-liked in my neck of the rocky woods, and I love my Merrell Long Sky 2 Matryx, but neither may be appropriate if you're running over smooth trails with your Ultraflys.

I used the La Sportiva Prodigio when I had a carry-on only trip last summer. Worked in mud and didn't wear out too much on pavement either!

I did a techy 50k in Ontario in the La Sportiva Prodigio. Only downside is they’re not amaaaazingly secure on wet rock but they’re not bad 

La sportiva prodigios. Spacious toe box, deep heel cup, plenty of cushion but a firm ride, and great traction like all la sportiva shoes. My holy grail. The topo mtn racers are nice too

Or the Prodigeo is excellent too

It‘s a different concept. Prodigious for La Sportiva a more runningshoe like „Jackal“. The prodigio pro is another Level in the Trailrunning industry regarding supershoes. For normal runners, the normal prodigio is a cool shoe you can go everywhere over every distance. The pro is more the Über-Shoe right now especially for alpine and rocky trails with long distance where other plated models have their issues regarding groundfeel. Pro Testers write: The prodigio pro is there where a Speedgoat 6 should be. If you‘re looking for a well priced shoe line Speedgoat - Brooks Cascadia?

Colorado trail/mountain runner here. I would prioritize what you think would be most suitable for your running and backpacking adventures. The truth is most trail running outsoles will perform adequately on class 3 scrambling. Some outsoles are better than others (Vibram, VJ shoes, La Sportiva). I would avoid really max cushion shoes if you’re really worried about scrambling performance. If you like La Sportiva, def give their Prodigio a look, that’s more of their mountain running shoe some cushion for backpacking

For the pressure problem under the laces+padded tongue, you can cut the top of tongue to remove paddings. I had the same problem. You can have a look at here: [https://youtu.be/rmXp9c6EArE?t=928](https://youtu.be/rmXp9c6EArE?t=928) at 15:28. I removed both 4 columns and it's just perfect. I run 50K and 100K races and never had a problem with the shoe.

I have the Prodigio (not pro) - for the Pro, should I order the same size or also go up 1-1.5 sizes?

La Sportiva Prodigio 👌

Rocking these as well but really not a fan! Not burly enough for tech terrain and not very fun for rolling forest trails. Love my genesis but missing that forest shoe

Try the La Sportiva Prodigio line. The normal one is a good shoe but I would highly recommend spending the extra cash on the Prodigio Pro. Go a half size up in US sizing from your normal size. I have two pairs and almost 600km combined in them. One half size up and one full size up and I like the half size up more after the toe bumper broke in but I did run a 100km race in the full size up without touching the shoe once in the whole race. Looks like a pretty durable shoe too. Did not run in the Max yet but looks promising as well.

asphalt and mud? both end of the range... why not buy 2 pairs (cheaper ons maybe or from last years collection - who cares about the color?) I would guess that a pair specialized on dry ground with 3-3.5mm profil could be at half price better for your need than an expensive one that wants to fitt every condition at once. than ad another pair for wet and muddy condition maybe with less bumber/thinner sole (sorry but english is not my fav language) I have asics cumulus for asphalt <-- number 24 or 25 should be cheap already La sportive prodigio for dry conditions adidas soulstride flow gtx for wet conditions <-- have been very cheap on sale so maybe there is n o need for the newest hightech one fits all at the crazies coloring if you choose them wisely for different usecases. your daily runner should be your best shoe. all my shoes also work on asphalt. I also have Salomon sensride 5 with Currex Run Pro insoles, but after a lot of streching and more knowlage i think they are one number too small and I only wear em when i am not running know. They also fit all conditions for me.

I have had similar experiences with the Prodigio. Great fitting, very good cushioning while not being sloppy, and much stronger than they appear. My only regret is that if you walk a lot of kilometers in the street, the outsole which is designed for trails, is not durable. The shoes are so comfortable that I wish I could wear them for the streets. I guess I could with the expectation of replacing them more frequently. I really like the feel of the nitrogen infused mid sole.

They have an authorized distributor and re-soling shop in Chonburi but they don't respond to emails. Poor service. I wrote to Italy letting them know their distributor customer service sucks but they didn't get involved.

I would really only recommend boots if you are going to encounter a lot of snow, or if ankle support is critical for you. I have done lots of hiking in boots and trail runners and can say I have had way less issues with trail runners. They are much lighter which makes a big difference on long days. Regarding a specific shoe, would recommend La Sportiva Prodigio personally. Pretty universal fit, good amount of cushion, and they are very durable. I have also tried various Altra shoes before, which are maybe a fraction more comfortable, but they have gotten shredded to bits in terrain where the sportivas remain like new.

My regular prodigios have been wearing very quickly on the rocks in the Vegas desert. The outsole is smooth at the forefoot after 100 miles.

La Sportiva Prodigio do have wide toe boxes. They are a delight to walk but after more than 2000km the soles are really getting thinner 😢🤣 When raining I use them without the inner soles but with waterproof socks by Dexter. Now getting colder it put some wool socks first and then the waterproof Dexter socks.

Look at the Prodigio line of shoes of la Sportiva. Their toe boxes are wider than most and they have a good tight fit for your heels. You can use a runners knot but I don’t that because of their well fitting.

I took one size bigger than I need. And I removed the insole because I use them also in the winter and in the rain with waterproof Dexshell socks over my merino socks. That way my feet stay dry even when walking through water. And in the winter my feet stay enough warm. Those waterproof socks function as vbl, so my feet are getting a little bit humid from the inside by them. The insole stayed wet when walking through water, so after a while those Dexshell socks didn’t function the way they should because of those wet insoles. In the summer it’s a delight to feel the wind blowing over my feet.

The Prodigio shoes of La Sportiva were the first trail run shoes for me. They surprised me with their excellent fit, their very light weight and their upper mesh (can really feel the wind blowing through my shoes!). At a rainy day I noticed that the insoles stayed too long wet for my taste where as the waterproof Dexshell socks over my thin merino socks kept my feet dry. So I removed those inner soles, I don’t need them. I was surprised to notice my feet stayed dry even when my whole shoes went under water.

I have done 30k of a mix of off trail and on with scrambling with 4k ft gain and >7k ft decent in a day on them and they seemed to do fine. That was mostly more hiking speed other than some jogging when I could. I could’ve been more comfortable at the end of the day but then again I loved the stability when I was in the scrambling parts. If I did that again, that would be the shoe I chose again. I am seriously considering them for a 28k mountain running race in the fall that has almost 8k ft of vert because of how technical the trail gets. I may also look at La Sportiva Prodigio Pro for that race because I like the normal Prodigio for longer runs (but not technical or too steep because of the upper). Normally if I doing those types of distances, I am doing more hiking than running, so the Bushidos seem great for that. The race will be a long one for me. If I was running that long, I may want something with more cushion, but I am old now! 🤣 I feel like for hiking, the Bushidos would still be my go to for now.

They are wider and have more room so they feel a little bigger. Not as snug as Bushidos (I have same size in both). That seems to be a good thing for longer runs though. I have a narrow foot so La Sportiva works well for me. They are also pretty light and well padded - run great. The only downside I see is the uppers are kind of hard plastic and it digs into my ankles on steeper grades. Love them for longer runs as long as the grade is not too steep because of that. I am looking into the Prodigio Pros for that one reason - the uppers look different. Hope that helps!

Yes, Salomon and La Sportiva fit narrow feet better than many other popular brands. I recommend La Sportiva Prodigio or Salomon Genesis if you want a bit more cushion.

Salomon S/lab Genesis is my choice for ultra long distances. I like La Sportiva Prodigio and Prodigio Pro too.

A lot of people recommend highly cushioned shoes like Hoka Speedgoat or Nike Zegama, but in my opinion if you want to improve your technique and agility when running on technical mountain terrain you should learn to run in moderately cushioned shoes because they provide a better degree control and feedback. Also you are much less likely to twist ankle or have other injuries when you are lower to the ground and better feel the terrain. My current favorites are NNormal Kjerag and Salomon S/lab Ultra 3. If you need a bit more cushion - La Sportiva Prodigio or Salomon Genesis. And if you need to go on a very rough mountain terrain - La Sportiva Mutant.

I don't think there is a shoe that is comfortable for long runs and stable on a technical terrain at the same time. You have to sacrifice one thing or another. When the stack is increased for comfort, that inevitably makes the shoe higher off the ground and therefore inherently less stable. I wore a lot of similar shoes to the ones in your rotation. Recently I have been moving away from Hoka. I have a very large number of shoes in rotation, but if I pick shoes that I gravitate towards the most, currently it would be the following 3 shoes: 1) NNormal Kjerag - very natural, stable, and has a great ground feel. I can wear it for up to 50k if it isn't too rocky. My first pair has about 320 miles and it still feels great and the outsole still shows not that much wear. Normally I wear shoes for up to 300 miles, but this one definitely has a lot of mileage remaining. My second pair of Kjerag has 60 miles. 2) Salomon S/lab Genesis is my unicorn shoe for longer ultras of up to 100M or shorter runs on gnarly mountain terrain. It fits me extremely well, like a sock with no hotspots. Even though it isn't the most cushioned shoe, it seems to work really well for longer distances. And while it isn't the best shoe for really technical terrain, it can handle it decently well. I like this shoe so much that I bought 4 pairs in the last 2 years. 3) La Sportiva Prodigio is a great choice in between the two above choices. It can handle technician terrain better than Genesis but it isn't as comfortable. It is stiff when new but softens considerably after the first 30-40 miles. The foot lockdown is excellent. I have two pairs of Prodigio and am looking forward to trying a new Prodigio Pro, which should be a more direct competition to S/lab Genesis.

As others said these are two very different shoes. Bushido is low stack and narrow, but good for really technical terrain, including scrambling. Prodigio Pro is much higher stack and more unstable because of that, and much wider, to the point that it is too wide for me. The ride is nice and energetic, however I think it is best used on runnable terrain. I really enjoyed running rocky dirt roads in it where it swallowed rocks very nicely. I'd have to be far more cautious running in Bushidos on the same terrain. I also really like regular Prodigio, that is perhaps closer to Bushido than Prodigio Pro, and it fits me a bit better.

Prodigio is a good balance of cushion and responsiveness, and stability. I like them overall. I ran in my second pair yesterday, which I have just bought on labor day sale with 25% off. It was a fairly rocky terrain, and the shoes were protecting my feet well. However there is one issue - when the pair is new the upper is quite stiff around the ankle, and that causes some discomfort. With my first pair I found that that goes away after 30-40 miles. Also I could feel the high stack as some instability in sharp turns, but that improves after 30-40 miles too. I used the first pair a few weeks ago on a trail run with several miles of complete off-trail with a talus field, bolder hopping and super technical and steep terrain overall, and I felt confident the entire time.

la sportiva prodigio and nordas 001 shoes. I have a nathan pinnacle vest for long runs and an On ultravest pro (super lightweight) for anything shorter than 3 hours.

Salomon Slab Genesis and La Sportiva Prodigio. I like a light upper and a cushioned midsole with lots of grip. Both are larger in the toe box than traditional La Sportiva or Salomon.

I found them very comfortable right out of the box. Mine have 300 miles on them and still lots of life left, which is pretty good for a trail runner. The reported stiffness might be bc they’re low cushioning. I like this as I like being able to feel the terrain beneath my feet so I can respond faster. This has only been a problem once, when my footpad started aching after 5,000 ft of vertical descent on a steep trail with tons of giant rocks instead of dirt. For extremely long steep descents I got the la sportiva prodigio- way more cushioning, slightly wider toe box, but only 3.5 mm lugs so not as great in thick mud (vs I think 4.5 on the bushidos)

I second the Mutants, I’ve ripped them up low fifth class solos and they’ve performed great, same goes for the prodigio. Love La Sportiva 👌

La sportive prodigio is perfect for this

I found the Prodigio has a hard piece that slices under your outside ankle bones on off camber terrain, so they were terrible for me but ymmv. They fixed it with the Prodigio Pro. The La Sportiva Mutant has been my go to tech/scrambling shoe since they released it but they seem to be sold out of most sizes everywhere so I’m not sure if they’re discontinuing it..