Many Steps Make Mountains

“One shoe can change your life.”

-Cinderella

I have really enjoyed running with this shoe over the past summer. It feels like armor for the foot. A confidence-inspiring wrap through the cuff of the shoe, matched with the biggest tread lugs I’ve ever seen makes this shoe a trail running champ.

“An aggressive, durable, neutral trail shoe with sublime cushioning and a sticky-toothed outsole.” – LaSportiva on the Mutant.

I found this shoe to be the perfect balance of lightweight and sturdy construction making for an excellent trail runner. I tend to have a narrow foot through the heel and somewhat wider in the forefoot. LaSportiva’s FusionGate™ lacing system; with both laces exiting on the outer side of the shoe and tucked up into a protective lace pocket, makes for an impressive form-fitting snug  through the heel and mid foot. LaSportiva touts the great fit is also due to the SpyralTongue™ wrap with an integrated (partial) gaiter on the cuff of the shoe as well. The shoes then opens up through the toe box with more width and volume.

This is a 10mm drop shoe, thus runners coming from any minimalist shoe do not tend to like the feel of the mutant. I find it to have just the right balance of protection with less weight and more flex than a similar shoe with a ‘rock plate’ or stiffer sole. The sole is made up of giant lugs (that surprisingly do not bother much on stretches of pavement) and the stickiest of all rubber materials LaSportiva uses; the FriXion XF™ ultra grippy sole.

Other runners have encountered issues with the stitching and construction of the shoe; I have no complaints in this department and have truly put the shoe through the ringer with hundreds of miles, creek crossings, mud and rock. I haven’t been so enamored with a running shoe in years; I just placed an order for a second pair!

LASPORTIVA MUTANT TRAIL RUNNING SHOE

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