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!

I would look at their max instead of the pro, more stable and more cushion

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

Re: La Sportiva, they did—the Prodigio Max. Gave up on Olympuses after 2 pairs of the 6s (4 was the best). So far, I’m very pleased: the toe is spacious and the rest of the shoe feels very secure yet comfortable. Not zero drop though.

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).

It's a lot better than the narrow Bushido fit for sure but the durability was a weak point for me. I used my pair on like 3 weeks total of Sierra cross country over the past two seasons (so like ~250mi total) and the sole started peeling a bit in places, plus the cage around the midfoot started getting some holes that let sand in. Really great shoe otherwise, it feels very stable and super grippy on slab and talus. I've been messing with the Prodigio Max shoes instead of cracking open my backup pair of Bushidos, they're kinda like a souped up Speedgoat with better stability, grip, and durability. I've used them on some cross-country routes in the PNW since my last Sierra trip and I'm leaning towards wearing those for my big Sierra trip next year, I didn't feel unstable while scrambling on talus and they were much more comfortable for the flat rolling terrain that comprises a lot of XC travel. The rock plate on the Bushido is nice but really wears down on my feet after a few long days.

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.

Between the Prodigio Pros and the Prodigio Max's, I think the Max might be better suited for what you want to do. They'll be more stable, more durable, and really are better as a daily driver. I think the Pros are *phenomenal*, but I think they're best as a race shoe or for when you wanna do some fast miles, if not due to the Pros being lighter. The Max's may just be a little more forgiving.

I have the Prodigio Max. Not sure what the difference is with Pros. Regardless I love them!

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.

Any trail shoe with a mesh woven upper like that pretty much fails in the same way, the Trabuco 13 included. Maybe look for a trail shoe with a Matrix type upper. Instead of the Merrell Peak Agility 5, look at the Merrell MTL Adapt. Its upper is Matrix. The La Sportiva Prodigio Max would also be a good option similar to the Caldera. Not a Matrix upper, but very similar. I have upper failures with most trail shoes after 200 miles and these two are proving to be bomb proof after 200 miles on each, the uppers show hardly any wear. The only issue with a Matrix type uppers is breathability, they are warmer than a shoe with a mesh woven upper, but way more durable. It's a trade off I can live with.

I have had the Prodigio Max for 6 weeks now, it feels great on gravel and dirt roads and handles trails like a champ. Lots of cushion. It's heavier than the Pro, but for daily running I think it's better. The standard Prodigio is pretty sub par compared to the Pro and Max imo.

I'm a long time user of La Sportiva shoes. I recently started running in the Prodigio Max and instantly loved them. It's a max cushion shoe without a crazy stack height, and only a 6MM drop. They are crazy comfortable and stable.

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.

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.

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."

Prodigio Max. No rock plate but doesn't need one imo. Well cushioned but not unstable or overly soft.

They're great shoes. Fit is obviously the most important thing, but the newer LaSpo models fit a lot more people than some of the older models did. You'll want to try them on, but depending on your preferences, any of the three Prodigio models could be a good choice. The regular Prodigio are a great all-purpose shoe, the Pro are a great option for races or faster paced stuff, and the Max are nice for people who need or want more cushion.

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

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.

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).

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.

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

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.

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.

Everyone is different - I LOVE my Prodigios but I’m not at all a fan of highly cushioned shoes. Also a big Bushido fan for the more technical stuff. But my runs tend to be 4-8 miles, so I don’t need a lot of cushion.

La sportive prodigio is perfect for this