La Sportiva Prodigio Performance Review

With the La Sportiva Prodigio, La Sportiva introduced its most “runnable” shoe yet. And it brings La Sportiva’s technical expertise to the masses.

Midsole

La Sportiva is colloquially known in the trail/mountain running world as a technical shoe brand; most of their lineup is built for rugged mountain trails, formed under the Dolomites and with that type of running in mind.

Enter the La Sportiva Prodigio: a shoe built for long days on any terrain, and an underfoot experience to match.

The Prodigio uses a nitrogen-infused foam dubbed the “X Flow” midsole. The foam is right in between firm and soft, with just enough bounce to provide energy while running and soft enough to last long days. Akin to the ride of the Merrell Agility Peak 5, the Prodigio will soften up over time without losing durability and protection underfoot. The midsole is confidence-inspiring and I felt close and connected to the ground without sacrificing cushion.

With a shoe like the La Sportiva Prodigio, I would prefer less midsole bounce. The heart of the shoe is technical and you want as much stability as you can get. The X Flow foam does a nice job finding that balance.

Upper

The upper on the La Sportiva Prodigio is a lightweight mesh that fits snug upon first try-on. This seems like a nice option for the hotter months of the year, with tons of breathability naturally integrated into the thinner mesh. The heel was snug and padded, allowing me to feel comfortably secure while moving.

A gusseted and lightly padded tongue sits on top of your foot. I would anticipate most users not having an issue with a secure fit. Admittedly I don’t have a ton of experience in La Sportiva shoes, save a couple of pairs over the years, but the Prodigio fits more natural than a traditional La Sportiva model that will come fairly narrow through the forefoot. This allows for a bit more of a confident running motion. At that same time, a lighter weight upper means the Prodigio loses some of the tenacity that most Sportiva models have. By no means is the upper flimsy, it’s quite durable; it’s just not as heavy duty as the Akasha, Jackal or Cyklon models. 

I had some issues with the upper around the collar digging into the side of my ankle. It only happens in certain instances and hasn’t been consistent. I would imagine that once the upper breaks in and loses some stiffness, this rubbing will disappear. However, it’s something to note.

Outsole

The La Sportiva Prodigio has the patented FriXion outsole with a 4mm lug pattern. If there’s a rubber outsole that can consistently compete with (or even best) Vibram, it’s La Sportiva. FriXion outsoles are very durable and grippy. They’re made for consistent and technical movement on exposed rock, and you can expect that type of durability with the Prodigio. This lug pattern allows for a quicker and more comfortable ride on trails that don’t require any technicality.

I would say this outsole makes the Prodigio a very versatile shoe, equipped with the cushion to go far on any trail type, and the outsole to do it confidently. But, fear not, even if you aren’t a technical terrain runner, you’ll simply benefit from the grip and durability the Prodigio brings to any trail.

Is the La Sportiva Prodigio wide foot friendly?

Unfortunately, it’s hard to categorize the La Sportiva Prodigio as wide-foot friendly. Although slighter roomier than most other La Sportiva models, it’s on the narrow side.

Is the La Sportiva Prodigio worth $155?

It’s absolutely worth the cost. $155 is great for a shoe that will remain durable and provide the versatility that the Prodigio will give you.

Cons

The overall fit of the La Sportiva Prodigio, although secure, was somewhat of a con for me. I found the lace system to be a bit uncomfortable, coupled with a rubbing of the upper on my ankle.

I’m not sure if this is a consistent problem for other runners, but, if you’re unfamiliar with La Sportiva, sizing can be a hit or miss as they typically run a little smaller (which is not what I found with the Prodigio, the upper just didn’t fit as well as I’d like). This shoe requires a break-in period and after that you may find an increase in comfort.

La Sportiva Prodigio Summary

La Sportiva finally delivered a trail running shoe that is applicable to the masses. Although experts of technical or specialty shoes, it’s been safe to say that La Sportiva hadn’t yet developed a shoe for the average trail athlete. Enter the La Sportiva Prodigio. It’s a versatile, cushioned, and stable shoe that will perform for you on any activity. If the fit is right for your foot, you can’t go wrong here.

How does the Author Run?

Sam Lohse (age 28, 6’0″, 170 lbs): Runs daily, sometimes morning/night doubles, with one rest day a week (typically). Hangs right around 40-50 miles a week in general unless in race-specific training. Races distances from 50K to 100 miles, almost always on the trails. 

Disclosure

While La Sportiva did send a pair of the Prodigio to facilitate this review, the company had no involvement in this review, didn’t receive an advance look at it, and has not attempted to influence it.