La Sportiva Akyra Trail Runner Review
La Sportiva Akyra
Trail Runner Review
I have been a hiking boot guy for the longest time but in the last couple of years made the switch to trail runners and I am not sure if I will ever come back. The La Sportiva Akyra is an aggressive trail runner that can tackle any mountain ridge you throw at it while being able to perform equally impressive on long hikes and of course in various running conditions. Before getting into the La Sportiva Akyra Trail Runner review, let’s talk about my credibility with these shoes. This is a completely unpaid and unbiased review and I have worn two pairs of these trail runners for the better part of a year and a half. I have clocked about 500 or so miles between the two pairs.
Specs
- Comes in men’s and women’s sizes
- Men’s 7-13
- Women’s 5.5 -11
- Weight 11.35 oz (M), 9.8oz (W)
- Fit: Medium to Wide
- Upper: AirMesh / TPU MicroLite Skeleton / Flex-Guard™ inserts
- Lining: AirMesh (heel only)
- Midsole: Injection shock absorbing MEMlex EVA / 2.4 mm LaSpEVA
- Sole: FriXion® Trail Rocker2™ with Impact Brake System™
- Drop: 9mm
- Stack: Heel – 25mm / Toe – 16mm
- Cushioning: Midsole – 32A
La Sportiva Akyra Pros
- Extremely rugged trail runner with great durability on ridge scrambles, loose scree, long hikes and of course trail running.
- Versatile trail runner performing well in snow, 14,000ft mountains, desert hiking, slot canyons and on dirt packed trails.
- Very breathable shoe especially if not wearing socks.
- Comfort levels similar to a sneaker – sore feet has not been an issue while wearing these.
- Great grip on the sole of the shoe which is suitable for all types of scrambling (Class 3 & up).
- La Sportiva has fantastic customer service in my experience.
La Sportiva Akyra Cons
- If you have a wider foot, this shoe might be a bit tight for you.
- This version is not waterproof but if you look into the La Sportiva Akyra GTX that is the goretex version which is.
- Due to the venting, if you run cold, your feet may be chilly in colder temperatures.
- Not the lightest shoe with all of the features that make it more rugged
- Not the cheapest footwear option on the market
- There seems to be some issues with the toe box and tearing. The way that the toe box rubber is layered seems to stick on loose rock and scree which causes it to wear through the thin membrane.
Summary
The La Sportiva Akyra Trail Runner is a fantastic shoe and one that I would highly recommend for a three season hiker. Its versatility allows it to tackle all sorts of terrain while giving you the grip required to scramble up steep mountains. I also love the Mens’ colorway of the shoe, adding some red laces really makes the shoe pop. Let me know what you think of the La Sportiva Akyra in the comments below!
*This review is not paid or sponsored and contains all of my original thoughts. Read more of my gear reviews here.
4 thoughts on “La Sportiva Akyra Trail Runner Review”
I too made the leap of faith to trail runners for general hiking/climbing a couple of years ago and I don’t think I could ever go back to a full size boot for anything other than Winter terrain. I’ve been using the Salomon XA Pro and I don’t think I could be happier with their performance. My only question or issue is that the treads are well over half worn at this point. They’ve been worn on nearly every outing for the past two years now which probably totals in the 600 mile range. The tread in the pics of your Sportivas appear to be hardly fazed. Have you noticed any tread wear yet? How many miles on those soles would you guess? Thanks for the review!
I’ve had two pairs of them if you watch the video I show the old ones which are much more worn out. I have about 500 miles between the two, 350ish on the old pair which are now my walk the dog shoes and about 200 on the new pair. They have held up well so far, but I wouldn’t expect them to last like running shoes do (400+ miles) just because the terrain they are handling is much ore rough.
I love these shoes. Been using them for a few years. Just did the Sneffles Southwest Ridge in them, along with my 12 year old son, who also wore Akyras. Neither one of use had any shoe issues, and they gave us confidence in the “no slip” zones. Great choice!
Also, thanks for the videos you put out. They help greatly with route descriptions, and to also keep me sane when I can’t be out in Colorado hiking!
I don’t know how to size these shoes to be honest. Generally speaking I got for 1/2 size to 1 size up in La Spo trail runners. Tried the full size up, US 10 (my street shoe size is 9 US) and they were too big due to the pointy and long forefoot end of the shoe. I returned them for a 1/2 size drop (9.5 US) and they are OK for trail and anything that doesn’t involve a technical scramble on large rock boulders or slabs. Maybe my street size in these would fit perfect but I can’t afford the risk of buying this size and having to return them if they are way too snug, which would probably hurt more the small toe and the ones next to it, since they aren’t sold at retail shops in my country and international shipping is expensive.
It’s definitively a very tricky model to get the size right when buying them online so this is my only gripe about them. They are a workhorse suited to rugged trails and over time they become extremely comfortable.