La Sportiva Prodigio Pro Review – Italian Comfort

La Sportiva knows a thing or two about making footwear. And, as of late, their trail running shoes have been nothing short of impressive. The current pinnacle of the line is the Prodigio Pro and they are great in almost every way. Let’s dive in.

La Sportiva Prodigio Pro Features:

• XFlow™ Speed midsole
• PES Power Wire uppers with TPU Coating
• FriXion® XF 2.0 outsole with 4mm lugs
• Enhanced heel and forefoot rocker
• Knit lining collar to keep debris out
• 6mm drop (Heel: 34mm; Toe: 28mm)
• Weight: 10.7 oz (each, size 11.5)
• MSRP: $230

Going pro, Italian-style

In the words of Steven Esqueleto from Nacho Libre, “I think me and my friend are ready to go pro.” But, in this case, I think we’re all ready to go Pro, Prodigio Pro, that is. With these shoes, La Sportiva is pretty proud of the PES Power Wire uppers. And, from a distance, they may look a lot like other mesh uppers you’ll find on many shoes today, but your mind will change once you look closely. The material is a layered mesh of polyester threads, interwoven with durable outer layers and reinforcements for added durability. Inside, the lining is lightweight and comfortable.

The uppers not only resist abrasions, but they breathe superbly and offer fast drying times (even after river crossings) due to their ability to shed moisture. The white color I’ve been testing looks sharp both on and off the trails and it’s no wonder why they are sold out on the La Sportiva USA web site. If you’re in Salt Lake City or Boulder, stop in and find out if they have your size or hit some online retailers that might have your size.

The Prodigio Pro’s have been fantastic since unboxing — with no hot spots or fit issues whatsoever. The standard laces and combination of standard eyelets (lower) and loops (upper) do an excellent job of providing the right fit with each step. It’s important for laces to be allowed to “flex” slightly as they move in/out of the eyelets while running. A padded tongue also plays a part in the overall comfort and that’s the only area I’ve had to tinker with. For me, I’ve had to lace them up a little more loosely than other shoes by pushing the bridge of my foot upwards while tightening. That has helped me avoid over tightening and bruising the top of my feet.

The uppers aren’t super supportive, but they shine when contouring to and moving with the nuances of your feet. These are made to be lightweight, breathable and to flex with each foot movement, and they do that with panache. My flat feet do need just a touch more instep support for long-distance comfort. I notice a little more instep movement than I’d prefer with each step and it’s fine for my typical 3-6 mile outings, but if I would think twice about lacing these up for longer distances. You know your feet and your support needs and keep that in mind when checking out the Prodigio Pros.

After loving the Prodigio 2 and Prodigio Max over the last year, the Prodigio Pro feels like the perfect culmination to the Prodigio franchise. They are the most racy and breathable of the bunch and also the lightest and smoothest overall. I’m not a podium finisher on the trails and typically run between an 8-9 minute/mile pace on dirt. Some race shoes need a faster pace to feel alive, but the Pros are great at moderate paces. If you do push a faster pace, the cushioning remains predictable and smooth and the rebound is respectable. They don’t “pop” into the next step, but there’s enough rebound to propel me forward.

The heart of everything is the XFlow Speed midsole, which delivers the aforementioned performance. I totally dig the smooth stride and overall cushioning As I’ve worn them around town, on hikes and trail runs, I’m smitten by the smooth comfort of these shoes. It’s funny though, the midsoles squeak with every step. I don’t notice it on the trail, but on pavement or around town, it’s a squeak fest. And, I’m happy to report that the exposed areas of the midsole still look great — even after a lot of impacts and trailside scree.

Traction is also outstanding — uphill and down. The FriXion XF 2.0 outsoles have also proven to be very durable. Each step grips the earth with confidence and maintains foot placement on off-camber terrain and descents. There’s not much underfoot protection though and you’ll feel every rock along the way. Trail feel is excellent, but my feet did feel a little fatigued after running on particularly rocky trails. In the end, we’re talking great traction, solid cushioning and rebound, but not enough foot protection on rocky terrain.

I love how lightweight they feel when climbing and the close-to-foot feel of the shoes overall. With 6mm drop, they do look somewhat traditional on paper, but they feel great in every aspect. I don’t feel any unnatural ramping and really appreciate the rockered stride with each step and toe-off.

A somewhat tricky design choice is the integrated cuff design. Sometimes it works and other times it doesn’t. I’m happy to report that La Sportiva knocked it out of the park here. Trail scree is kept at bay and the cuff maintains proper contact around my ankles. They straight up function as intended.

Trail stability is good overall as these provide a solid platform with each step — even awkward ones. There isn’t any terrain that makes these flinch and I’ll continue racking up the miles on these stunners.

Fit: I’m wearing a US size 11.5 in the Prodigio Pro and they are true to size with the brand.

Buy Now: Available at REI