I have Jackals, Mutants, and Akashas. I would say they all take a bit of running in, so I wouldn't expect them to be amazing straight out of the box. The Jackals are my go-to dryish conditions shoe now. The Mutants are unbelievably fantastic when it's wet or rocky - they are my ultra shoe of choice. The Akashas have a horrible padded heel, but have more cushioning than the others.
La Sportiva can feel like too much shoe on local trails. I find they come into their own above 1500m when things start to get a bit gnarly. Great grip and burly uppers are whats needed but the trade off is outsole life. Over here in the north of Spain I use them quite a bit and choose a shoe depending on the mountain or route. I had to give up on the idea of one do-it-all trail shoe. Great channel.
Both Akasha and Akasha II took me 200 km to soften up and get in the best window of performance. They are stiff like the Jackal in the beginning when it comes to cushioning. 4.5 mm lug depth, amazing grip on everything but mud.
Thanks, Loyd! I ran my only FKT, on the Navajo Nation, in the original Akasha - a brilliant shoe for long-hauling over technical and occasionally dangerous Canyon terrain. A bombproof brand for sure! The original Jackal was too harsh a ride for my aging feet but I’m open to a softer LaSportiva akin to the Saucony Endorphin Edge!
Hi Lloyd thanks for this. I own Cyklons which are unreal for proper mountain days, basically like the mutants with better lockdown cos of the BOA system. I will be purchasing the Jackal 2 BOA for my long ultras. I have had such an amazing experience with the BOA system on the Cyklons I must have the Jackal BOA. Kim Collision used the Cyklons on his 24hour munro FKT.
I just Ran Lavaredo 120km in the Jackal 2 boas. Soo good on the rocky trails. The bad point was on the final downhill to finish when it was really muddy (rained heavily the day before), so on the steep mud downs they obvs didnt grip. I had a couple of small blisters but think that was more user error on not adjusting the Boa's. The update on the heel from the V1 is a massive improvement.
@@flare31777 nice!! I found the jackal 1 gave me heel blisters after 30km ish. I used on LL50 and CC but wiht tape. this year wiht the jackal 2 Boa, its been ok on training and Lavarado!
How would this be for long distance backpacking - From La Sportivas low cut trail shoes. I hike on compact trails, soft sections and a lot of rocky (wet) trails - from Canadian Rockies. * I have the Bushido II and its nice as it has great grip, but not enough cushion
Had the Akasha 1, the Mutant and running the Lycan 2 when the conditions are the most awful...my "problem" with more or less all of them is that they shine in tough conditions but lacking the "easy going" comfort on runnable terrain. My Home trails are pretty much like your test run and on such terrain, I prefer something softer. Still, depending on your needs and preferences, they are reliable and bombproof...
The BOA version is narrower and more race oriented. I like the regular version because it's one or the few La Sportiva shoes I have found wide enough for my feet.
I have this shoe and love everything about it except what you said a bit longer lugs. hey are great on the road and any types of train except slippery ones. They make me want to run fast in them so I am thinking maybe they were made for that. The new color is out and they look like having a bit longer lugs. And like most La Sportivas they are one or one and half size too small.
I had previous version AND I DON'T LIKE IT for reason off Durability. In first pair rubber in outsole started to unglued anter 20 km in second pair mesh in toe box ripped in both shoes anter 200 km. There was few other issues with upper from build quality but could live with them. Traction on mud is TERRIBLE NO HOLD AT ALL !!.Gravel and rock is good. Toe box is roome but you have to SIZE UP BY 1 SIZE and be AWERE of very hard toe bumper if YOUR nail will hit while running definitely you will not like it. Generally good shoes for longer runs. On video it seems like they didn't change almost nothing in that shoes. DEFINITELY TRY BEFORE BUY!
The Jackal II is one of the most comfortable shoes I've ever run in. However, I just can't get a secure heel lockdown in them. So I only use them for for shorter runs with not too much vert. But they're certainly worth a try, to see if they work with your feet.
