La Sportiva Men's Mutant Trail Running Shoes - Lightweight Hiking & Outdoor Adventure Footwear for Mountain Trails & Rough Terrain

I bought these to use on a 5 day off trail 77 miles UL backpacking adventure in Southern Utah. I had three major considerations. Comfort, grip and sand resistance. They are comfortable but I did remove the insole and put in my Scarpa insole from another similar shoe. I found the original insole too squishy and warm. I also found my heel would constantly feel out of position. I thought it was just me but when I mentioned it to someone else on the trip they had the same experience. Changing the insole definitely helped get around that problem. Ok the grip. Holy crap are these things grippy. Hiking down steep sandstone and slickrock was a breeze. I felt super confident moving from ledge to ledge even when wet. Do they do a good job keeping the sand out? For the most part yes but personally I would take a little less breathability for more sand resistance. I did develop some blisters over the 5 days but so did everyone else. It's almost impossible not too when constantly moving between sand and water. I felt like the support was adequate. I could maybe do with a little more arch support but I know that can be tricky. The lacing system is a bit annoying but I did like how the entire top of my foot felt like it was engaged and I think that's due to the lacing system. Overall it's a great shoe and held up super well being out through some really rough terrain.Purchased a size 8, which is what I usually wear. I have pending orders for an 8.5 and a 9. The 8’s were small enough that I don’t want to risk the 8.5 being too small tooReliable shoe in multi terrain. Order euro sizing though not USA . Great traction on wet rock which is greatThe trail traction and strength of this shoe are just what I hoped for. But be careful to order 1/2 a size bigger, as it tends towards tight.If you are a looking for a shoe to an outstanding level of traction for mid-distances this is a top-tier pick. However; the fit is very narrow. I ordered 1 size larger and the fit is still super narrow. I have about 50 miles in them and they still are very tight on my feet. Super great traction on trails and lightweight but after 12 miles or so I have major foot issues. I tend to run a bit wide in the foot but normally can wear regular width. These just feel like they don't have any give to them to stretch. I really want to love these shoes... be aware of fit issues.I've been in search of great, not good, OCR shoes since my Inov8 285s bit the dust eariler this year. Had Inov8 continued producing the Roclite 285s I would have purchased another pair of those. I tried a pair of Icebug Zeals. They are fantastic shoes and would have been my choice, but they are just a tad too narrow. Fine for short distances, but hell on my feet for anything over 5 miles. If they had fit I may have never found the Mutants. So glad the Icebugs didn't fit.I bought the Mutants on a lark, having had a pair of La Sportiva Wildcats for a few years that I used solely for backpacking. My experience with La Sportiva shoes has been great so I gave the Mutants a shot.The Mutants are pretty light for the size of the shoes. They do not look anything like minimalist shoes, but they don't weigh much more than minimalists. The lug pattern on the sole is very aggressive, and the shoes seem to be built for off trail use only, but they are surprisingly very comfortable and as responsive on dry, hardpacked trails as they are in the mud and goo. The unique tongue and lacing system are like nothing I've ever seen or tried before, but they work to really hug your foot into the shoe. Compared to the other La Sportiva shoes I own, these are a tad narrower, but not so narrow that they become uncomfortable over long distances.I wore these shoes on multiple training runs in preparation for the 2015 Spartan Race Beast at Killington, Vermont. I had zero issues with chafing or blisters on any run, including when the shoes were brand new out of the box. I trained in varying conditions from dry to deep, heavy mud, and never slipped in these shoes. At Killington, these shoes proved that they belong on the list of great OCR shoes. I was able to navigate technical off-trail descents MUCH faster than I was ever able to in my Inov8s. I think that was due to both the upper style (tonges and lacing) and the aggressive tread. Depending on the soil, the treads would hold a little mud when traversing long mud fields, but a quick flick of the ankle would remove the mud. On wet foliage, the shoes felt glued in to the ground. In all of the steps I took on the mountain I had zero slips.I would recommend these shoes to anyone looking for a great shoe for OCRs or for trail/off trail running.Had for a month or so. I bought them to hike in, walk around the neighborhood, bike, etc (in other words, wear them everyday). They are super comfy, i leave them relatively loosely laced and can slip my foot right in on the fly. Only downside so far is the little pull tabs in the back have kind of ripped from i guess pulling too hard. I might cut them off as I dont feel they are needed anyway just sliding my foot in. Overall great arch support and super comfy. Likely will buy this same pair if/when they wear out. I usually buy 10.5/11 in most shoes. I bought 11.5 in these and am happy.The mutant shoe is much like the old c-lite to me, meaning a glove-like fit that is adjustable, conforming, cushioned and a great runner, be it on trail or road to get there, but the front toe bumper is much better designed. It is super sticky with an aggressive tread, so talus running, boulder hopping, or slogging around are also at home. The high collar keeps out grit, while the lacing system, with overlapping tongue, hugs the foot perfectly. Another plus is the neutral feel and flexibility of the sole allowing you to dance over difficult terrain, while providing protection underfoot. All the above mentioned contribute to high levels of confidence in your running allowing you to forget about the shoe, and focus on your technique and the wonders around you.Notes:The shoe runs small, so 1/2 size larger is required and a perfect fit. I normally run in 0 to 2mm drop shoes, and was concerned about the 11mm drop, but it's a total non-issue, so don't let that keep you from trying a pair, as my running is improving using these. The picture shows no carry loop on the shoe, but there is one to help get the shoe on.Me llego 1 número más chicoIl grip è ottimo sul fango e sorprendentemente "buono" anche su roccia bagnata. La calzata è ottima per chi ha piede magro. Chi acquisterà le Mutant si porterà a casa una signora scarpa, che in ambiente trail può essere portata tutto l’anno e in ogni condizione di utilizzo. Promossa!Je mets 2 étoiles car commande passe le 15 décembre sensé être livré 5 jours mais résultat reçu le 30 sans geste commercial,cependant le produit est conforme,crampons énormes,protection à l avant efficace,par contre les pieds large passé votre chemin.