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After a long bout of cheap sneakers, I decided to upgrade to some decent running shoes. After trawling REI reviews, I came upon a favorably rated pair: La Sportiva Wildcat Trail-Running Shoes.
Upon receiving my shoes, I noticed how light they were, with an average weight of 25 ounces. My concern was that they would be too flimsy, but the sole held to substantial hand pressure, from ball of foot to heel.
The heel is reinforced with an external urethane stabilizer. It looks too thin to be of any effect, but again I was surprised by the stiffness of the heel.
On a test run, I was impressed by the comfort and cushioning, contrasted with the light weight of the shoes. I also liked the feeling of moving air passing through the nylon mesh uppers. This helped keep my feet dry. Though well ventilated, these shoes take on water faster than a sponge, but the flip side is that they dry more quickly.
The sole is dotted with lugs. These lugs take the brunt of force from a footfall, leaving a cushioned step. However, the aggressive tread can hold a decent amount of muck that wiping on a place mat doesn’t quite clear. Also, the shoes don’t hold as well on slick rock as my Merrell’s or Keen’s.
My ankles are pretty bad from repeated sprains, but these running shoes take off a lot of stress, so I can go the distance even on bad days. They work well on pavement, trails, and around the house. Although I would use them on a day hike on tough trails, I’m not sure they’re the right footwear for loaded backpacking.
Overall, I recommend them highly.
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