La Sportiva

Mutant Series

La Sportiva

Mutant (Original Model)

Overall

#38 in

Trail Running Shoes

according to Reddit Icon Reddit

User sentiment83% positive
24
5
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Last updated: Apr 6, 2026

Reddit Reviews

Reddit Iconajame5 1.0
r/trailrunningTrail running shoes with good wet rock grip
8 months ago

I’m surprised at the Zegama not performing - they have Vibram Megagrip on the outsole don’t they? Tends to work on wet rock. For scree you’d likely benefit from deeper lugs though. La Sportiva Mutant is probably your best shoe for wet Lakes in my experience. Generally the rubber that works on Lakes wet rock is VJ Butyl, La Sportiva Frixion White (the best I’ve personally tested) and Vibram Megagrip on various shoes. Edit: saw you ask about Salomon. Their Contagrip hasn’t been great at wet rock stuff traditionally but I know lots of people love the newer SLab Genesis. Lots of mountain runners wearing that particular shoe for big mountain races.

Reddit Iconalohkyn 1.0
r/trailrunningSalomon Speedcross 6 are too fragile? / Alternatives
8 months ago

The Normal Kjerag Brut has a fantastic outsole for muddy and wet slopes but you should expect premature wear if you run on more abrasive surfaces. The La Sportiva Mutant are a good compromise but not as light as the Kjerag

Reddit Iconbrandonblack 1.0
r/trailrunningWhat’s your recommendation for strong grip shoes?
9 months ago

I loved the Jackal 1 (haven’t tried the newer model but it looks great) and currently am in the Mutants for seriously rocky/bouldering/loose gravel and they’re like I have gecko feet on lol. I did have an issue with the Bushidos however; the middle of the sole doesn’t have any grip on the bottom, literally just a plastic plate with branding on it. I found myself slipping on rocks right jn that section of the sole which led to some of my biggest spills.

Reddit IconClittoryHinton 1.0
r/MountaineeringTrail Running Shoes
7 months ago

For technical terrain you probably want La Sportiva if you don’t have wide feet. Bushidos or mutants are the usual recs. Note that a shoe that is good for difficult terrain won’t be as comfortable for long miles, and vice versa so there’s a trade off there. If you aren’t actually running consider approach shoes too. They’re much better for climbing.

r/vancouverhikingTrail runner/hiking shoe recommendations for a beginner?
6 months ago

La Sportiva makes hands down the best runners for hard hikes or scrambling but they generally fit narrow. Bushido or Mutant are the usual recs I quite like my Altra Lone Peak comfort wise but they feel a bit shifty on hard hikes so I end up wearing my approach shoes

Reddit IconCluelessWanderer15 1.0
r/trailrunningJack of All Trades, Master of None: Shoe Recommendation
10 months ago

You could use the same shoe for trails, hikes, and easier/moderate scrambling but I would strongly recommend separate shoes for road. Roads will eat up trail shoe outsole lugs/tread and when they are worn smooth, you lose much of the traction you'd need for trails so they end up being heavier road shoes. La Spotiva Mutant has been ok but it is heavy for a trail shoe. Don't know exactly how wide your feet are, Altras and Topos fit my feet best but the Nnormal Tomir 2.0 has been good after breaking it in over 50-70 miles. Lots of outsole lugs, durable upper and midsole.

Reddit IconComplete-Patience-10 1.0
r/UKhikingAdvise trail runners vs what I wear. Real world experience ☺️
10 months ago

I think it's Horses for Courses with footwear. It's not a one size fits all solution, you've got to pick the right bit of kit for the job. In addition it depends on your level of fitness and getting your body used to hiking with loads  Generally for walking, I'll wear trail runners all year around. Grippy non maxed cushioned ones, generally I like La Sportiva Mutants or Karcals. These are really popular and designed for mountains/long distance. Yes your feet will get wet but they'll dry off, whereas goretex boots will never dry out.  For anything technical or day hiking, I'll take approach shoes. Great on rock and really supportive while being comfortable. The La Sportiva TX4s seem to be the most popular choice. For winter or when I know I'll be on rough ground or bogs. I'll take lightweight B2s, these are really waterproof, very supportive and the stiff sole is good for rough ground. Less comfy than trail runners, but still pretty good. My advice would be trail runners, if you're going somewhere boggy invest in waterproof socks. Also get vapor barrier socks or bread bags, of you're camping. When you get to camp take your wet socks off, put dry ones on and then the bag/vb socks over. This will stop your new socks getting wet and will dry out your shoes.

Reddit IconEnbytrailrunner 1.0
r/trailrunningAnyone wear Bushido + Prodigio Pro?
12 months ago

I never liked the Bushido, but have run in the Akasha and Mutant a fair amount. The Prodigio Pro fits my foot a lot like the Mutant but with a much more responsive midsole and more forefoot room. The Prodigio Pro isn't an evolution of any existing LaSpo shoe, though -- it's a much bigger forward leap. Responsive, sticky like the Mutant, nimble, and far more stable in the heel than the Akasha. Would I scramble low 5th Class in the Prodigio Pro like I do in the Mutant? Probably not on purpose... But long runs are a dream in them.

Reddit Iconholdpigeon 1.0
r/UltralightWhat kinda shoes would you guys recommend?
8 months ago

I feel just as unlikely to slip* in my LaSpo Mutant trail runners as I did in my old boots. Both have aggressive lugs to prevent slipping. Is there something about boots besides lug pattern that you think is helpful in the Dolomites? Edit: spelling. I neither slip nor sleep in my shoes 

Reddit IconInfamous_Try3063 1.0
r/trailrunningShoe selection for 56km ultra (Reposted as last one accidentally deleted)
about 2 months ago

Terrain is what determines shoe.  What course?  Also this is a WILD time to consider fresh shoes. When is the race? For Rocky and technical (courses like Broken Arrow 46k in Tahoe or most of trail stuff you see in places like PA): I wear things like LaSportiva Mutants or Lycans (RIP).  Its a trade off with the slimmer last they are built on for the control in heavily rocky terrain, definitely keeping it under 50 miles for my feet in those models. For buffed out west coast trails: something like the altra mount blanc  Road component?: anything over 5 miles on road and I am going for a mixed terrain shoe or the Mount to Coast H1. Logging roads (gravel): mount to coast H1 or altra olympus with gaiters. Road: altra via olympus 2 Winter/cold water?: LaSportiva Cyclin GTx

Reddit Iconkeepitboreal 1.0
r/trailrunningBest shoes for 50k, 5k vert, high alpine rocky terrain?
11 months ago

A lot of people will recommend a wide variety of different things. Some will say Speedgoat, some will say high stack is your enemy. Some will say Tecton, others will say plates will kill you. And then obviously there’s what does or doesn’t fit your foot. If you have the fitness to be doing this kind of an effort, then you probably have spent a good amount of time on trails, and have your own experience to draw from that will tell you what works for you, probably better than any of us can. Shorter answer that’s probably what you’re actually looking for: I would use my Nnormal Kjerag for this. Some other La Sportiva models could be ideal, like Prodigio pro or mutant perhaps. But definitely stay away from (in my opinion) Salomon rubber and definitely no cowboy boots.