Running

La Sportiva Wildcat Trail-Running Shoes

La Sportiva has been making high-quality footwear since long before my time. My first pair of climbing shoes, bought almost 20 years ago, are still with me today and have endured thousands of feet of climbing and multiple resoles. When the 75th Ranger Regiment changed their footwear standards and La Sportiva boots were added to the list, I knew my money would be well spent.

La Sportiva’s addition of running footwear, following their long history of making mountaineering, climbing, and hiking footwear, has been very well received. These shoes are worn by some of the best mountain runners in the world. The La Sportiva Wildcat Trail Running Shoes are Sportiva’s most cushioned trail runners, and you know your feet will stay protected and comfortable as soon as you slip them on.

Specs & features

Sizing: The La Sportiva Wildcats, along with all La Sportiva footwear, use European sizing and come in 38.0 – 47.5 EU. I normally wear a size 11 or 44.5, but I’ll wear a 45 in most of La Sportiva’s footwear with exception to their climbing shoes, which are sized down. As with any footwear, I recommend trying them on and seeing how they feel, but if you do choose to pull the trigger and purchase them before trying them on, I would recommend getting a 1/2 (EU) larger size than you’d normally purchase.

MSRP: $110

Weight: 12.37 oz / 328 g per shoe. These are definitely not the lightest trail runners on the market, but with the extra protection and comfort they offer, I find the extra couple ounces completely worth it.

Upper: The upper of the La Sportiva Wildcats is an AirMesh fabric that’s very breathable and durable. Even during long days and warmer temperatures, my feet have stayed cool with very little moisture buildup. The toe-cap and support cage around the heel helps this shoe stand up to all kinds of abuse. After multiple accidental toe strikes against rocks, the toe still looks almost brand new. I find the reinforced toe to be one of the better features, as this is where running shoes and boots tend to have the stitching or material fail.

One of the most miserable things that can happen when running or hiking is a ‘hitch hiker’ jumping into your shoe and stabbing or rubbing your foot raw. The tongue of the La Sportiva Wildcat has a mesh cover that prevents trail debris from entering the shoe around the tongue. Throw on a short gaiter in really nasty terrain or in an area with a high concentration of sticker bushes, and you’ll be good to go.

Outsole: The sole is made from FriXion. FriXion is an injection-molded sticky rubber that provides great traction on a variety of surfaces. Living in Western Oregon has provided the opportunity to use these on a lot of wet and sloppy trails. Once fall hits, most of our trails don’t dry out until summer. The traction lugs on the sole are aggressive enough to dig into slippery, wet trails, but not so aggressive that you can’t take these on the road without feeling awkward or uncomfortable.

Fit and comfort

As La Sportiva’s most cushioned running shoe, these provide a lot of comfort and protection from jagged rocks and uneven terrain. The toe-box is wide but not sloppy, and allows my feet to spread out evenly without hotspots or rubbing. Whether I’m running to the store, taking my daughter for a walk, running steep trails, or out for a day-hike, these have become my go-to based on comfort alone.

Application

Running or hiking moderate to aggressive terrain
Perfect for individuals who prefer a low-profile shoe for hiking
This shoe has become very popular for AT (Appalachian Trial) Thru-Hikers.

Pros

Cushion
Sole Protection
Reinforced toe-cap
Tongue guard
Generously vented
Comes in a GORE-TEX option

Cons

On the heavy side
The 12mm heel-to-toe drop may be larger than some prefer. Most of my other running shoes are 0-6mm drop, but so far, I haven’t had any issues with the La Sportiva Wildcat.

Bottom line

When it comes to overall comfort, protection, and traction, I haven’t worn many shoes that come close to doing all three as well as the La Sportiva Wildcat. If you are looking for a low-profile hiker or a shoe that can withstand runs on rocky, rough terrain, head down to your local La Sportiva dealer and try on a pair. If you own a pair of these, please let us know how they work for you.

Taking Flight With The Vibram KMD EVO

The Vibram KMD EVO is a cross-training shoe that claims to, “defies gravity (and conventional wisdom), allowing athletes extraordinary freedom for dynamic movement both in the air and on the ground.” Unsure of what that meant, we put them through the widest variety of exercises we could think of. First, to determine what the claim meant, and second, if they could back it up. Here’s what we found.

A Quick Overview

Pros

Cons

A cleverly designed rubber outsole that provides traction on wet or dry surfacesWeighing in at only 7.4oz (for the pair!), the featherlike weight certainly won’t keep you stuck to the ground

Super breathable mesh upper that prevents your feet from getting hot and sweaty while working out

The addition of 6mm midsole provides the cushion needed to take the high impact stress out of exercises, while still being thin enough to provide good ground feel

Some “true minimalists” may not like the addition of the 6mm midsole

If your second toe is longer than your big toe, sizing can become an issue (I personally recommend going to a store for a fitting if you have this issue)

Versatility: 9/10

As I’ve stated in previous reviews, for me, being able to spread your toes while exercising or running is important. It increases balance, proprioception, and lets our body move more naturally. This is one of the most significant reasons behind why I love Vibram’s in general. Where I feel they are often lacking is in having some kind of midsole to take the bite out of it when you run over rocks, or are doing exercises like box jumps.

That’s why I was so glad to see that they decided to add a 6mm EVA insole to this new model, and why I scored it so high on versatility. I actually enjoy running on the road in these more than my old pair of Vibram FiveFingers (VFF) Bikila’s. It’s far less taxing on the feet for longer runs, even though this is listed as a training and fitness shoe on their site.

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Photo courtesy of Spotter Up

Salming Grit | A Look At Salming’s Race3

First impressions are the rule, but the Salming Race 3, in this case, certainly is the exception. I eagerly anticipated trying out the Salming brand. As a runner who leans towards the natural/ minimal side of the spectrum Salming products offer a happy medium especially when considering a race platform, with their “no nonsense running” approach to building their shoes.

Salming is a Swedish brand named after the legendary professional hockey player Borje Salming.

He was known for his sheer grit and determination, his “no nonsense” approach to sporting products is alluring to say the least.

Before I get too far, I will say that I have held onto this review far longer than appropriate. We are familiar with excuses and what they are synonymous with, and we all know everyone has one. However, there are some positive aspects to my tardiness to churn out a review.

I received my Race3’s from Salming back in July and what my procrastination afforded me was an absolutely brutal and extensive test period. To date I have well over 300 miles on these shoes. This is how they have performed for me.

According to Salming their specs are as follows:
Model: Race 3

Weight: 185 grams (UK size 8)

Drop: 5mm

Color: Navy/Safety yellow

Gender: Mens

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This company spent two years perfecting gym socks, and it paid off

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you’ll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

For the longest time, I didn’t put much thought into my gym socks. As long as they were clean, they were fine.

Turns out, the socks you wear to the gym matter. According to Greatist, the right pair can keep moisture at bay, offer extra comfort and support, and even prevent irritation.

Regardless of how comfortable your socks are, your feet will hurt if you’re running a marathon or walking for hours on end. That said, I have tried several types of athletic socks and am consistently amazed by Bombas’ socks.

Launched in 2013 by Randy Goldberg and David Heath, Bombas spent two years researching and developing their product, and eventually created a line of socks that solve almost every annoying sock problem you can think of.

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SALMING MILES RUNNING SHOE REVIEW

The Salming Miles is one of the new additions the Salming line and the most heavily cushioned shoe that Salming offers. It stays true to the Salming story with a 4 mm heel toe drop but has plenty of plush cushioning in both the heel and forefoot while staying remarkably light for its category.

Although I was never a fan of the minimal running shoe movement I have always tended toward a little less shoe so the Miles was definitely going to be one of the highest cushioned shoes in my arsenal. The majority of my running is also on trails so I did not foresee myself using this shoe more than a couple times a week, a long run on the dirt roads and any time I was pushing the stroller. As it turned out I hurt my ankle right after getting these shoes and had to stay off the technical trails for a while so these shoes got A LOT of miles!

Here are the features of the Salming Miles shoe:

Heelcup: This was designed to add minimal weight to your shoes.
The Exo Skeleton: This was designed to stabilize your foot in lateral movements by reducing the impact of side forces to your foot. It’s a very light-weight but durable sheath across the flanks of the shoe.
2 Layer Construction: The inner layer creates a plush feeling while the outer layer of thin net mesh allows water drainage while it keep out particles like sand and gravel. The lacing is held by eyelets that are part of the exoskeleton.
4 mm drop: A drop is the difference in height between center heel and centre fore foot, midsole and outsole included. A lower drop helps facilitate an improved posture.
RECOIL™ Midsole: Meant to absorb the negative impact forces and in turn releases a higher rebound energy effect in the toe off phase.
Toe Box: I like a roomy toebox. This is what they have done in order to allow the fore foot to expand during the landing phase.
Torsion Efficiency Unit™: Responsive without being stiff
Outer Sole: The outsole made in TOC66 (Traction Outsole Control 66) compound featuring 8mm high lugs. – Great gripping on both dry and wet surfaces. Great on trails.
TGS 62/75°: “The distance from heel to the ball of foot (62% of the shoe) has been designed with extra stability, which ends in the so-called “ballet” line, a 75° angle. In front of the 75° line, Salming has equipped the shoe with greater flexibility to stimulate the foot’s natural movements. The TGS 62/75° feature assures that the shoe bends in exactly the right places, stimulating the foot’s natural lateral and forward movements.”

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(featured image courtesy of spotterup.com)

SHIFT GEARS, GET STRONG, TRANSITION FROM RUNNING SHOES TO LUNA SANDALS

The Luna Sandals are mentioned here because my buddy Don Tamm began using them for an ultra-marathon. I was curious. Sandals are great to have for a variety of uses; beach wear, shower shoes, or walking around town. No one wants to be in shoes all the time and the open and freeing-feeling they give is good when the feet need time away from confining boots and shoes.

Don had been running in the Brooks line of shoes for almost 2 decades. Finally he switched over to the Altra line of minimal shoes last year out of desperation. He had a nagging IT band problem that stayed with him for years and he wanted to find a solution. He tried doing long-term physical therapy, he tried going back to distance biking (something that he’s really amazing at) to exercise his legs differently, he even took time off but none of it worked.

He first went with the minimal feel of the Altras. I asked him how they were. He said it took him about a month to get into the feel of the shoes. You end up feeling the ground more with every foot fall. For those who like to understand how their feet strike the ground, a minimal shoe is optimal, as it allows you to correct your gait. Don, was running 15 miles a day and his calves were blowing up to the size of hot air balloons because his gait was changing. Once his connective tissue and muscles got used to the added strain, he began to build up the strength to withstand the daily stresses on the various terrain he was climbing.

But the Lunas were an interesting idea for him. He wanted to get a barefoot, minimal feel, because he thought they’d really get him back to zero (basically a reset); before the IT pain all started. I called him today and asked about the Luna sandals. He said, other than in winter, he won’t go back to regular shoes ever again when he runs. He said it’s because they feel free on his feet and he likes that for running. All the IT pain is gone. To think he put up with that for 3 years and didn’t see a solution in sight. Now, he puts up to 6 hour days in the Lunas.

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(featured image courtesy of spotterup.com)