I’ve been testing and playing in LaSportiva footwear for damn near 20 years now. There was something about the designs and colors of their mountain boots when I was a newbie working at Eldora and living in the high mountains that made me feel cool and fast, even if I wasn’t. Their mountaineering boots, approach shoes, and climbing shoes were legendary. As the footwear editor for Backpacker, LaSportiva was always a favorite. But fast forward (or backward, whatever) to about 2010 when the brand became a real player in the trail running category: giving gringos here in North America a proper look at what Italian mountain footwear could be. Then another decade later, in 2023, with the introduction of the original Prodigio, it felt not like a reinvention, but a completion.
For years I’d reached for LaSportiva’s uncompromising technical footwear—glove-like fits and aggressive traction that excelled when terrain turned nasty. When the Prodigio dropped, it felt like watching one of my favorite alpine brands master an entirely new dialect, bridging mountain heritage with modern trail running demands through a fundamental shift: moving from technical, precision-focused mountain shoes toward models aimed at ultra-distance, comfort and versatility.
The original Prodigio represented LaSportiva’s boldest step—a wider platform, more accommodating toebox, and softer, more responsive ride than anything they’d built before. Debuting their XFlow nitrogen-infused midsole, it struck a Goldilocks balance between cushioning and stability, equally comfortable on pavement, dirt roads, and high-alpine trails. The grippy-yet-minimal FriXion Red outsole maintained capability on steep, loose ground and rooty, wet trails without feeling overbuilt for smooth miles, while remaining light, breathable, and adaptable to various foot shapes and running styles.
This shoe signaled the brand’s commitment to building a modern, long-distance line that could perform daily on any terrain. “The Prodigio is a true door-to-trail shoe. It’s as comfortable and efficient running pavement to get to the dirt as it is negotiating rocks and roots once on the trail. Its proficiency on hardpack, surprisingly, does little to compromise its performance on some of the most technical footing,” explained LaSportiva athlete Anton Krupicka. “I’ve run hundreds of miles on them in the alpine, reaching for them for their secure foothold, predictable foam and all-day comfort. Due to their relatively minimal lugs and airy upper the only places I’ve found them limiting is on loose scree, and, of course, snow and slick mud. In summer Colorado conditions, they’ve been my go-to shoe for everything from alpine traverses to easy creekpath jogs.”
The gamble worked, becoming a favorite among ultra runners who needed comfort paired with technical capability, with one reviewer calling it “what the Hoka Speedgoat series should have turned out to be.” For me, I loved the throw it on and go aspect of the Prodigio right out of the box.
Now, two years later, LaSportiva has expanded the concept with the Prodigio Pro and Prodigio Max, creating what might be the most comprehensive trail running system on the market. I’m currently testing the Pro, which keeps selling out, and after testing it on everything from Front Range bike path to technical alpine singletrack, I understand the enthusiasm.
Trail Running Super Shoe: LaSportiva Prodigio Pro
The Prodigio Pro represents one of the first legitimate super shoes built specifically for real mountain terrain. LaSportiva eliminated the typical plate concept entirely, doubling down on XFlow Speed technology, a “supercritical nitrogen-infused TPU foam” that manages to be both explosive and stable.
The numbers tell part of the story: 34mm heel, 28mm forefoot (6mm drop), and a shocking 8.9oz. But performance on Colorado’s demanding terrain reveals the real innovation. The Power Wire upper uses TPU-fused yarn technology creating a sock-like fit with serious midfoot lockdown, while the knit collar keeps debris out (essentially a built-in gaiter). FriXion White outsole with 4mm lugs provides the grip you’d expect from LaSportiva—sticky, durable, confidence-inspiring on technical terrain.
I’ve tested these on everything from smooth fire roads to loose, technical descents, and they consistently deliver. The foam responds in ways that encourage pace-pushing, even when trails get sketchy. This combination of moderate stack height, medium-soft density, and reactive midsole creates what some testers called “a unique combination of qualities that have been tried but never quite accomplished” in trail running. And like many of its competitors, it excels on steep, uneven, and off-camber trails, the kind of gnarly, technical terrain that defines Rocky Mountain trail running, the result of hundreds of hours testing on mountainous terrain where traditional super shoes become a liability.
Key Features:
- XFlow Speed: Supercritical nitrogen-infused TPU maximizing energy return and cushioning
- Power Wire mesh: TPU-fused yarn with internal wrapping for technical descent security
- Strobel-less construction: Improves responsiveness and cushioning without plates
- FriXion White outsole: 4mm deep lugs for unparalleled technical traction
- Weight: 8.9oz men’s size 9, 7.9oz women’s; Stack: 28mm/34mm; $195
Ultra-Distance Game-Changer: LaSportiva Prodigio Max
While the Pro dominates sales, excitement builds around the newly launched Prodigio Max, which early reports suggest is among the more responsive and capable high-stack shoes available. The Max tackles maximalist footwear’s fundamental problem: providing incredible protection for long distances while struggling with control and responsiveness on technical terrain.
LaSportiva’s solution centers on XFlow Endurance, a new nitrogen-infused eTPU offering plush cushioning without sacrificing responsiveness, or so they say. At 37mm heel stack and weighing 10.4oz for men’s sample size, it delivers serious cushioning while maintaining the mountain DNA that defines the brand, with higher sidewalls adding stability on rough trails while aggressive rocker geometry ensures smooth transitions. The dual-compound outsole combines sticky FriXion White rubber in the forefoot with durable FriXion Blue in the heel.
What makes the Max special is solving the maximalist dilemma of feeling disconnected when precision matters on technical terrain. Instead of floating above the trail, the brand says, you stay connected to underfoot conditions while getting comfort and protection needed for ultra distances. Engineered for ultra-distance athletes, it delivers unrivaled cushion for the toughest races while maintaining La Sportiva’s signature technical performance.
Key Features:
- XFlow Endurance: Nitrogen-infused eTPU balancing plush cushioning with responsiveness
- Enhanced stability: Higher sidewalls plus aggressive rocker for rough-trail confidence
- Bi-Compound FriXion XT 2.0 rubber with 4mm lugs
- Wide forefoot: Max-cushion support ensuring lasting comfort and stability
- Weight: 10.4oz men’s, 9.1oz women’s; Stack: 37mm heel, 6mm drop
The Perfect Three-Shoe System
What’s fascinating about the Prodigio line’s evolution is how the original shoe’s positioning shifted with the Pro and Max launches. The Prodigio evolution represents a philosophical shift toward mountain-first design refusing to compromise performance. The original Prodigio has become the ultimate all-arounder—capable of handling technical terrain and longer miles. I know guys like Anton who use it for scrambling Class 4 terrain while still reaching for it on everyday runs, making it a super versatile mountain tool bridging technical scrambling and long trail runs.
Then the Pro emerged as the fast race-day model that remains fun on everyday runs when you feel like picking up pace; while the Max fills the ultra-distance role for runners wanting serious cushion underfoot without losing technical capability. What we’ve seen is that runners previously devoted to LaSportiva are embracing these shoes, but they’ve also attracted new devotees seeking something different. The shoes stay true to La Sportiva’s mountain roots while offering more cushioning and responsiveness—a combination bringing in runners who might never have considered the brand before. One of the front desk girls at my gym saw mine and didn’t even know Sportiva made anything other than rock shoes.
For Colorado runners, this translates perfectly. Planning fast efforts on Green Mountain or Bear Peak? The Pro delivers speed and technical capability. Heading out for hundred-milers along the Colorado Trail? The Max provides necessary comfort and protection. Want versatility for daily training handling everything from Front Range singletrack to actual scrambling? The original Prodigio hits that sweet spot.
Market response tells the story: it’s been exciting watching the hype around these products build. LaSportiva’s team nailed this evolution, proving super shoes don’t need carbon plates to be fast, and maximalist shoes don’t need disconnection to be comfortable. They’ve created tools that work for technical, varied terrain defining trail running in the broader mountain West. In a market flooded with carbon-plated super shoes that feel dangerous on technical terrain, the Prodigio line offers mountain-focused engineering that still delivers speed when needed.
Whether chasing FKTs on technical peaks, grinding out ultras in the San Juans, or exploring local trails that make Colorado special, there’s now a Prodigio for your mission. Sometimes the best innovations come from brands willing to trust their mountain heritage while pushing into new territory.
(Lead image courtesy of LaSportiva/Thomas Monsorno)
—Definitely Wild is a column by EO Contributing Editor Aaron Bible. He has been writing for Elevation Outdoors and Blue Ridge Outdoors, among other outdoor publications, for more than two decades, covering cycling, skiing, gear, adventure travel and mountain life. The opinions expressed here are his own. Follow him on Instagram at @DefinitelyWild.
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