La Sportiva - Wildcat Mountain Running Shoe

La Sportiva Wildcats (non-GTX) are my favorite trail runner for backpacking. They have a thick heel cushion that helps alleviate the soreness in my feet I typically get from trail runners vs. boots. But they are much lighter than a boot and flex with my feet well enough that I feel my traction is greatly improved.

i favor la sportiva - trail runners designed not to be too heavy on your feet & soles have the best traction - often on sale and last a long time. bushido comes in all black and wildcat is plain gray. Second someone’s comment about skipping goretex, it is more expensive & doesn’t breathe, which makes your feet sweat, i.e. defeats the purpose & puts you at risk of getting blisters. When the weather is so bad you’ll basically have to go wading, stick your socked foot into a thin plastic shopping bag/the free shower cap provided at hotels, put on your shoes, then stuff shoes with newspaper when you’re not wearing them to quickly dry them out afterward. The too-trendy Hoka/fat sole might attract “here’s an out-of-towner” attention when traveling & could even cause you to trip up on lil stairsteps.

So I need to replace my old La sportiva Wildcat shoes. These survived several 5ks, but on the road to trifecta I realized at 10k they are heavy, slow, too narrow and uncomfortable on distance. I am missing a few lugs and this shoe doesn't owe me anything. When reading reviews on this page and trailrunnung subreddit, shoe reviews fall into one of two brand camps: Camp 1 - Hoka, Brooks, Nike, Saucony, Topo, Addidas Camp 2 - Norda, La Sportiva, Altria, Salomon, Inov-8 Going off assumption, Camp 1 is the trend brands based off road running hype. Camp 2 seems to be the more intense brands. There doesnt seem to be any reviews that really cross between these two camps. Eventhough my 21k is in muddy flat land Florida I usually race in US North East with elevation, rocks, trees, etc. With well over 30 models to choose from kind of overwhelming. Any advice on which brand provides a solid all around trail running shoes? Which brand knows ball and which is just jumping on the band wagon to make sales?

La Sportiva Wildcat trail runners when it’s warmer, sole is very good w excellent grip in most conditions. Crispi Nevada with a wide rubber rand for off trail bushwacks, trail and construction work. I like real leather, with the fewest seams possible, and European fit- narrow heel.

LA Sportiva Wildcats. Fit like a glove. Great traction.