I Raced Through the Colorado Mountains in the La Sportiva Prodigio Pro and Now I Don’t Want To Run in Any Other Trail Shoe
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As a longtime runner—we’re talking collegiate track, four marathons, a half Ironman, and countless half marathons—I’ve tested my fair share of shoes. While most of my training has been on pavement, I’ve started to rack up more trail miles since moving to Colorado, and even have a few trail races under my belt.
La Sportiva has been on my radar for a while, but the mountain-adventure-centric brand wasn’t my go-to for running shoes (trail or otherwise). I tend to like the feel of cushy road shoes thanks to lingering foot injuries from my 800-meter days, and most trail shoes (including La Sportiva’s) lean stiffer and have a lower drop than I’d like.
But that was before they introduced the Prodigio Pro, which I had the chance to test this summer and fall. It’s a certified trail shoe (you only need to look at the lugs on the outsole to know that), but otherwise has the look and feel of a foam-stacked road cruiser. It’s designed to handle ultramarathons in the mountains, and I think it’s an excellent transition shoe for anyone who’s looking to make the jump from road to trail.
What It Is
Kristin Canning
The La Sportiva Prodigio Pro is a super-cushioned trail running shoe built for long-distance, off-road efforts. A men’s size 9 weighs 9.3 ounces, and has a 34 mm stack height on the heel, with a conservative 6 mm drop that’ll help runners maintain steadiness with all that foam. Constructed from a blend of nitrogen-infused TPU and EVA, the sole offers major pop and responsiveness. The FriXion White XF 2.0 rubber compound on the outsole is Spiderman-sticky, with deep lugs that grip onto even the trickiest terrain. The upper is lightweight but protective, with an ankle-covering sock liner that seals out dirt and rocks, and a unique padded tongue that holds laces in place and allows for great lockdown.
La Sportiva Prodigio Pro Overall Impressions
When I first took the Prodigio Pro out of the box, I was struck by how much it looked like a road-racing super shoe. While highly-cushioned trail runners aren’t new, the Prodigio Pro felt like a big departure from La Sportiva’s more traditional trail running shoes, particularly the stiffer, lower-to-the-ground original Prodigio. I’ve worn that shoe on hikes around Colorado and Madeira, and appreciated its traction and lightweight upper. But I wasn’t a big fan of it for running—it didn't give me the bounce I was hoping for. The Prodigio Pro looks—and feels —completely different.
I swapped out the insoles for my custom pair, laced them up, and jumped around in my living room. Even there, I could feel how insanely springy they were, and how the curve of the heel and forefoot rockers just begged me to break into a stride. During runs around my neighborhood in Denver, they pushed me forward and encouraged great knee drive and turnover even when I was feeling sluggish. The responsiveness just made them fun to run in. And even though I certainly didn’t need the traction while running on sidewalks, I could tell they were grippy. The outsole felt sticky to the point of convincing me I could probably do parkour in these shoes, and I’d have to try to slip and fall.
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The fit was comfortable, and I appreciated that the footbed was wider on these than the original Prodigio (which comes in handy on longer efforts when feet start to swell). My only complaint was that the tongue went up a little too high on the ankle for my liking. It didn’t cause any blisters or pain, but I did feel my shin fighting back against it at the place where my ankle naturally flexes. This might not be an issue for everyone though—by putting thicker, custom insoles inside the shoe (which I always run with due to plantar fasciitis), I made the upper a little tighter than it would be without that adjustment.
When I put the Prodigio Pro to the real test at the Cirque Series at Arapahoe Basin, a 9.4-mile trail race up a ski mountain with 2,211 feet of vertical gain, I really fell in love. The shoe propelled me forward as I made my way up, and supported me as I bombed downhill. I never once had to deal with retying laces or fishing debris out of my shoe thanks to the sock liner, and I felt invincible to slips and slides. I was totally in control of my footing, even on a technical descent along a ridgeline where I had to dodge other runners. I was surprised that all that foam didn’t lead to any feelings of instability or wobbliness, especially while navigating roots and rocks. I’ve felt that with road super shoes, and that may have more to do with their carbon plates than their ample foam. The Prodigio Pro doesn’t have a plate, which typically gives a shoe that poppiness, but it clearly doesn’t need it since it isn’t lacking in energy return at all. Opting to leave out the plate and instead combine TPU with EVA throughout the midsole offers the best of both worlds: bouncy responsiveness and stability.
As I crossed the finish line at the Cirque Series, the Prodigio Pros felt just as lively as when I took off a few hours before. I didn’t get out totally unscathed—I built up some lovely blisters on my right foot. But that’s par for the course in trail running, and I don’t think it was caused by the shoe. (My right foot is slightly smaller than my left, and tends to move around more in my shoes, especially when I’m spending a lot of time going downhill). Overall, the Prodigio Pros were extremely comfortable and confidence-inspiring on the course.
Kristin Canning
Key Features
The Prodigio Pro upper is made with Power Wire tech, which cradles the foot and provides lightweight support. It moves with your foot as it flexes and twists while navigating over uneven terrain. The tongue is padded, with squishy vertical columns that help it stay upright on the top of your foot and ankle, and provide texture for the laces to lock into. The sock liner hugs the ankle and keeps debris out. As mentioned above, the rocker-bottomed sole, made of TPU and EVA, provides stability, support, and excellent energy return, and the lugged outsole, made with highly-sticky FriXion White XF 2.0 rubber, offers traction for any trail conditions you might encounter.
It’s available in two colorways, a bright, classic La Sportiva orange, and a more muted option: a black base with multi-colored threads, which creates a cool cross-hatched effect.
Kristin Canning
Pros
- Incredible responsiveness and pop
- Super-shoe-level foam without the instability of a plate
- Comfortable, highly-cushioned ride
- Stand-out traction
- Sock liner that improves fit and keeps out rocks
- Lightweight upper
- Soft, padded tongue
- Rocker heel and forefoot
- Sleek design
Cons
- Tongue falls high on ankle
- Upper may feel a little tight with custom/thicker insoles
Kristin Canning
Final Verdict
If you’re an avid road-racer who’s new to trail running, the Prodigio Pro is the perfect shoe for you. It’ll give you the chunky foam and energy return of the road shoes you’ve come to love, with the traction and stability you’d expect from a mountain brand like La Sportiva. I’d recommend this shoe to seasoned trail runners, too, particularly if they’re looking to up their mileage on the trails. The pop and padding on this shoe mean it’s built for ultramarathons and keeping you comfortable and supported over the long haul.
If you’re someone who really likes to feel the terrain underneath them, this generously-cushioned shoe might not be the one for you. But if you want to feel like you’re trampoline-ing through the trails (in a safe, controlled way, of course), give the Prodigio Pro a try. Now that I’ve raced in it, I can’t imagine lacing up anything else for a trail run.
Why You Should Trust Me
I’ve been testing and reviewing fitness and outdoor gear for over a decade, penning articles about my favorite pieces not only for Men’s Journal, but for publications like Men’s Health, Women’s Health, SELF, Health, and WIRED. I spend my free time running in the mountains outside Denver, Colorado, regularly attending track workouts and tempo runs as I train for races with my local running club. My track career began in high school and continued through college, where I earned All-American and Academic All-American honors as a middle-distance runner multiple times. Since then, I’ve made running, cycling, and hiking regular hobbies, summiting six mountains over 14,000 feet, competing in four marathons, two triathlons (including an Ironman 70.3), a handful of trail races, and too many half marathons to count. I’m well-versed in the latest trends and technology advancements in the design of running shoes, and I know what makes a piece of gear worth the investment. I put my shoes, apparel, and accessories to the test in the outdoors in all kinds of conditions, and only recommend the gear I want to keep using myself.