Customer Reviews La Sportiva Wildcat

Great shoes - These are probably the best sport shoes that I owned. The fabric and construction are very light. I can actually feel the breeze going in and out the shoes when I walk. The shoes are not for rainy weather though; they get wet very easily.

Disclosure - I am planning to return these and am writing the review based on wearing these around the house a couple of times. First up: I think these shoes are fairly ugly. They fit their own kind of design language, but it's not one that I really care for. That said, if I were buying these shoes specifically for trail running or rocky hiking and did not need any further versatility from them, I would most likely keep them. I am looking for shoes for an upcoming trip that will involve hiking to rock-climbing spots in the Red River Gorge, and for some day-to-day use after the trip as well. I bought 5 different pairs to try out and have settled on the Brooks Divide 2 for reasons I'll explain below. These shoes would actually be great for the trip, but I don't do much trail running so they wouldn't see much use outside of that. The fit is great, comfort is good though the drop from heel to toe is pretty noticeable, and the grip... the grip is unparalleled among any shoe I've ever tried on. I feel like I could hop from boulder to boulder with ease or turn on a dime in dusty loose rock with these things on. If I had to summarize the feel of these shoes in one term, it would be "sure-footedness". They don't look great, and there are more comfortable options that I tried as well, but if I was picking a shoe only for jogging along the side of a mountain, these would be the winners. I also tried out the following: Keen Targhee EXP WP - better protection, a little clunky, probably good for hiking Altra Lone Peak All-Wthr Low - excellent comfort in the stride, roomier toe box, good grip but not in the same category as these La Sportiva Brooks Divide 2 - The worst in any one category, but the best balance of what I was looking for. Far less grippy than these, less protection than the Keens, slightly less comfortable footbed and not as good of stride feeling as the Altras... But grippy enough and comfortable enough for what I need (the main shortcoming in the Altra for me was a feeling of weight shifting back to my heels when standing still, which isn't so much a problem for running shoes, but more an issue for everyday use). So there you have it: I would gladly strap these goofy-looking things to my feet if I were scrambling down into a valley or hopping my way along a mountain trail, but for everyday use they aren't the right ones for me. One final thought I didn't fit in above: I do like the protection of the toe cap, and its design means it stays flexible and useful rather than being a blunt toe-helmet.

Overall, this is an excellent fitting, fast and comfortable trail shoe. The upper offers surprisingly good protection from sticks and stones given its lightweight, breathable nature and the slip-on nature of the design grips comfortably around the ankle and keeps debris from sneaking in. I've used these for two seasons worth of runs now on the rocky trails of Eastern Pennsylvania and my only complaint is that wet traction on rocks in almost nonexistent. They grip well in the dry on all surfaces and I'm pleasantly surprised by their mud shedding ability, but rocky creek crossings and dewy or wet mornings on the rocks are quite tentative. I've taken to using this shoe for dry runs and pairing it with another brand for the wet days.

Overall not a bad shoe but this is not a high performance shoe, if you have narrow feet it will slide from side to side as it does in my case even though I don't consider myself to have narrow feet at all. I am a consistent trail runner with already set expectations toward my shoes, therefore perhaps this is a personal review based on thousands of hours I spent on the trail annually. Biggest cons, the mesh on top of the shoe is too light and unstable, it gives away while flexing on the trail, being little sluggish, as the result the foot slides from side to side which can be dangerous, trail runners expect a bit of support in that area, this is not the case with La Sportiva. One of the reviewers said it is like walking on the clouds, that's certainly the expression; you don't want that when trail running. The shoe must fit tightly but with a bit of flexibility. The sole is way too high which again, takes used to it, on stones it is unstable, and you really have to watch out. I guess La Sportiva went the comfort way instead really functionality. I am curious if the Gore-Tex version on this shoe is more stable in the upper mesh area. A bit sluggish finish inside, you would imagine a better finish without threads sticking out and uneven cut. Pros, great traction, that you can't deny. Very comfortable and light. Appealing.

The shoe looks sweet and the tread is nice and aggressive for off road work. The construction is very airy and will be a great shoe for adventure racing in the summer and will move water out of them rapidly. The fit is a bit tight across the tops after I put my orthotic in. I haven’t removed it yet, thinking that it will stretch out a little. The toe guard may rub my big toe on long runs, but hasn’t happened yet.

The soles are great and grippy on wet and slick surfaces without being so aggressive that walking on normal household surfaces becomes annoying or dangerous. The construction appeared to be high quality. They, like many running shoes, run small, so order a 1/2 or full size larger. Unfortunately, I had to return them because the area behind the ankle is tallish and quite stiff and it dug uncomfortably into my ankle area. I gave them a week around the house, wearing them several hours each day and it didn't seem to change.

I just ran in my new Wildcats today, and will NEVER run in them again. They KILLED my shins. I have had a difficult time finding good running shoes that don’t tighten my shins up, and these are definitely not good for me. I thought they would feel a lot more cushioned than they do. Not comfortable to run in at all. Being objective about it... they may be good of other runners... just not for me, with my shin problems. I’ve recently tried out New Balance 860s (Junk) GoLite Comps (OK... but not enough cushioning), and Salomon XA Pro 3D Ultras (definitely the best of the bunch, by FAR!). Needless to say, the Wildcats were VERY disappointing. BTW... if it helps... I’m 5’8” 170 lbs... very muscular legs, which tends to really hammer my shins and ankles. For lighter runners, these shoes may work great. Again, they just don’t work for me. They ARE very grippy... good rubber... but are probably better suited for real mountain running (lots of rocks, etc.) than for pure trail running.

Fit was fine. I simply ordered too small a shoe becuase of my customized orthotics.

This is my 2nd pair and just love the fit and look. I will buy another pair next year especially from Zappos ! Great company.

Fits perfectly, slightly wider than most La Sportiva mountain running shoes and hikers (like the Ultra Raptor). Also a bit more cushioned than the Ultra Raptor. Stable and neutral. Overall a GREAT shoe, especially if you want to enjoy your time on the trail without punishing your feet and legs with an ultra-light runner. And I love the sticky rubber bottoms. My runs and hikes are on mixed rock, dirt and sand in Arizona and these really get the job done for me.

Great trail running shoes buy half size up

I’ve been wearing same pair for several years and they are by far my go to shoes for hikes of 5 miles or less. I prefer hiking boots for longer hikes or when I need more ankle support. I like Scarpa shoes as well. Zappos is the best for service!

I love La Sportiva products, very durable. I bought them for hubby, who is a monster with footwear, and this brand has shown to be very good quality.

I bought a half-size larger than my size. The right shoe is a great fit, and the other is a little snug but not discomforting. Overall, a great shoe: good-looking, low-key style; sturdy construction; lightweight; breathable. I'm happy I got them.