La Sportiva Prodigio 2 Review
The La Sportiva Prodigio 2 is a versatile trail shoe designed for use on hard-packed trails, but suitable for road-to-trail use. It is the training model within La Sportiva’s Prodigio range of trail running shoes.
La Sportiva is the typical Italian brand. Its trail running shoes, climbing shoes and walking boots are all narrow, with quite pointed toe boxes. The midsoles are firm and initially stiff. They have a good level of ground feel and, after a breaking-in period, generally become the type of shoe that feels like it fits your foot. They are very responsive and, once they have flexed up, they feel part of your foot. The Prodigio range of trail running shoes is different. They aren’t typical La Sportiva. The original La Sportiva Prodigio was still a narrow fit with a low-volume toe box, but the foam had more of a modern feel, which added a degree of bounce. The Prodigio 2 has moved further away from the traditional La Sportiva fit and feel, and fits and feels a lot more like a modern running shoe.
The heel cup is lightly padded, as is the cuff. It is designed to not absorb much water and to give the Prodigio 2 a more nimble, minimalist feel to the fit. The heel cup is a firm plastic, so it holds the heel well and helps reduce how much the foot might twist and turn inside the shoes when running on a camber or rough, broken ground. On the original version of the Prodigio, I had an issue with the heel cup. The material wore away inside the cup quite quickly, causing some rubbing. I haven’t had any issues with the Prodigio 2 and there are no signs of wear.
The tongue is very thin, with some zonal padding down the centre to offer some protection from the laces. If I lace the shoes up a little too tight, I am aware of the laces, but once loosened off and re-tied, I had no issues. The tongue is gusseted to prevent debris from getting inside the shoes, and the laces thread through two tabs on the outside of the tongue to help prevent it from slipping to one side while running.
When laced up, the upper pulls in nicely around the foot to give a snug fit and help reduce any movement inside the shoes. The upper is made from a tightly woven mesh, designed to be durable and to not absorb water. Instead, it allows water to escape easily. An overlay goes around the base of the shoes between the midsole and the upper. This forms the toe bumper, where it is stiffer to offer a degree of protection to the toes.
The toe box is a revelation for La Sportiva. The Italian company, which has historically made shoes with narrow, snug toe boxes, has produced a trail running shoe with a broad, rounded toe box. The big toe line is straight, so you can push off strongly, and the feet have the space to spread and function. This improves balance and, because the feet can spread and function, reduces the tension in the calves when running up long, steep climbs. The Prodigio 2 now also has the all-day comfort that you get from shoes with a straight big toe line and a spacious toe box.
The midsole is also now more flexible, which enhances the responsiveness of the Prodigio 2. It also allows the feet to function that bit more inside the shoes, so you can make full use of your foot. The midsole is La Sportiva XFlow, which is made from a supercritical foam. This means that the midsole is sealed to prevent water and grit from getting into it, which enhances the durability of the midsole. It also means that the air can’t escape, which gives the midsole a bit of bounce and makes the shoes feel livelier. This responsive feel is retained for the length of the run. The midsole is 34mm in the heel and 28mm in the forefoot. This gives the Prodigio 2 a nice, cushioned feel. There is a bit of compression and bounce, but this doesn’t take away too much of the ground feel. The 6mm heel-to-forefoot drop encourages a more midfoot landing, which makes the runner lighter on their feet and more able to cope with broken or rough ground.
The outsole pattern is what has become the Prodigio pattern. This is a series of U-shaped lugs that are placed to face the trail. This is designed to offer traction when braking and when pushing off. The lugs are 4mm long and provide a good level of traction on hard-packed trails. They are versatile enough for some softer ground, but the lugs are rounded at the front and don’t bite well on wet grass, which does cause some slippage on steep wet grass. Although the nimble, flexible feel of the shoes does allow you to react, so it doesn’t feel too sketchy. On the road or other firm surfaces, the lugs ride nicely and smoothly. The rubber is La Sportiva’s FriXion Red. This is a rubber designed to be durable enough for some use on hard ground, while still offering a good level of traction on wet surfaces. Although this isn’t the stickiest rubber that La Sportiva uses for the outsole of its trail running shoes, I have found the traction on wet rock and wood to be good. The most extreme test I have used them on is while using wet stepping stones to cross a stream. This is a regular obstacle on one of my routes and I haven’t had any issues with traction in the Prodigio 2.
The La Sportiva Prodigio 2 is designed as the go-to training shoe within the Prodigio range. This is exactly where it fits into my shoe rotation. They are versatile enough to feel cushioned and comfortable for a nice, easy trot around the woods. Yet they are responsive enough to run quickly in, which makes them perfect for hill repetitions, fartlek or pick-ups in runs. The Prodigio 2 easily copes with tarmac and broken trails, so for mixed runs that have a selection of underfoot terrain, they are ideal.
On longer runs, the spacious toe box reduces the chance of any rubbing and reduces how much your feet might swell. Your foot spreading on impact, then recoiling and springing your feet down the road, also pumps lymph around the body, reducing how much the feet would swell.
La Sportiva shoes are small fitting and available in every European size. This means there are more sizes than there are UK sizes. So, there is a UK 7.5+, UK 9.5+ and UK 11.5+. Sizes are a similar length to Inov-8, New Balance, Hoka or Karhu. I use a UK 11.5 in New Balance, Hoka or Karhu and use a UK 11.5+ (EU 46.5) in La Sportiva. If you use Brooks, Saucony, Topo, 361 or Altra, then we would suggest trying half a UK size larger to get a similar length in a La Sportiva running shoe.
In summary, the La Sportiva Prodigio 2 is a comfortable, versatile trail running shoe that is ideal as a trail running training shoe. They are comfortable at a variety of paces and responsive enough for a variety of different terrains.
Alternatives to La Sportiva Prodigio 2
Altra Experience Wild 3+: The Altra Experience Wild 3+ is a very similar shoe to the La Sportiva Prodigio 2. The Experience Wild has a bit more of a rounded toe box is a bit more flexible and the midsole is softer with less bounce. What this means is that they are less responsive so aren’t a nice at quicker paces but, a real rival if you just want a trail shoe for your easy, recovery or long runs. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/altra-experience-wild-3-review/
Saucony Peregrine 16: Although the Peregrine 16 is softer than the previous version which makes it feel less of a fast shoe it still feels faster than the Prodigio 2. The fit is also a lot narrower. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/saucony-peregrine-16-review/
Topo MTN Racer 4: A broad rounded toe box gives the feet the room to spread and function. Stiffer than the Prodigio 2 makes them less able to take to the contours of the ground. The traction is good on soft ground but, the stiffness of the midsole is more suited to firmer terrain. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/topo-athletic-mtn-racer-4-review/
Hoka Speedgoat 7: A soft ride and rocker take away the feel for the ground and offers some propulsion. Available in two width men’s and women’s. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/hoka-speedgoat-7-review/
Inov-8 Trailfly 2: A broad rounded toe box and flexible midsole give the TrailFly 2 a similar ride although the midsole isn’t quite as responsive. For this reason, I found the Prodigio 2 better at quicker paces. The Trailfly 2 is available in two width men’s and women’s. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/inov-8-trailfly-v2-review/
OMM Trail Shoe: A more pointed toe box doesn’t allow the feet to function as much. Firmer and less flexible ride. Similar traction. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/omm-trail-shoe-review/
Ronhill Reverence 2: Designed for soft ground so not as versatile. The 7mm long lugs give superior traction in the mud. The toe box is similarly comfortable. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/ronhill-reverence-2-review/
361 Futura 3: Rather than being flexible and allowing foot function the 361 Futura 3 has a rocker which helps to maintain the cadence. The cushioning is soft and takes away the feel for the ground. In effect you ride the shoes and the rocker does some of the work for your feet. The rubber on the outsole was noticeably good. Available in two width men’s and women’s. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/361-futura-3-review/
Scott Kinabalu Trail: A flexible, versatile all round trail shoe. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/scott-kinabalu-trail-review/
VJ MaXx 2: A rounded toe box allows the feet the room to spread and function. A similar midsole foam but, firmer in feel. The ride is a bit stiffer. Traction is good. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/vj-sport-maxx2-review/
Brooks Cascadia 19: A road shoe feel with trail shoe traction. This takes away the feel for the ground and the nimble, responsive feel which the Cascadia a better option on hard packed terrain. The ride is cushioned and bouncy. Available in two width men’s and women’s. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/brooks-cascadia-19-review/
Comments are closed here.