La Sportiva Levante Review

After La Sportiva discontinued the Lycan trail running shoe, I've been searching for the next best thing. When La Sportiva announced that it had designed a show in collaboration with its female mountain athletes, I was stoked. 

It was released in March in the U.S., so I got on a waiting list and ordered a pair to wear during a 50k trail race training block, from March 31 until early June. 

The Levante has a 4-way stretch heel collar that acts as a built-in gaiter to keep out dirt and debris. It hugs the ankles, so I'm not sure if it would work with low-cut socks, because I always wear crew-length socks while trail running. Anyway, I hardly notice this unique feature once the shoes are on my feet. However, I wish they had a pull-on tab like most trail running shoes, because getting the shoe on my feet requires a teensy bit more effort than normal for two reasons:

1. the stretchy heel collar
2. the angle of the heel - it cuts in toward the back of the ankle more so than any other shoe I've ever worn

Another unique feature is a that once the shoes are tied, you can tuck the knot under the 4-way stretch fabric that connects to the heel collar. I've had shoe laces get caught on and even severed on sharp roots, so this is a bonus! 

Once I'm in the Levantes and on the trails, my feet are happy because of the flexibility of the sole and adaptability to the varying surface of the trails. At the same time, they are stable and grip the Pennsylvania terrain well. I can dance from wet rock to slick mud to mossy boulders with confidence. 

The cushion in the heel feels comfortable without being heavy and bulky. With a 6 mm drop and lightweight build, this is my go-to shoe for low double-digit runs like 10 to 13 miles on local trails, which gain anywhere from 150-250 feet per mile of elevation with equal descent.

I love the shoes for climbing. 

I like the shoes a lot for descending, but notice that after 90 minutes or so, I crave a bit more cushion in the forefoot, which is why I haven't done any 20-milers in them. On the upside, my feet are secure and steady and do not slip around within the shoe when picking up the pace.

During this 50k training block, I wore them for every 10-13 mile run, which I did once or a week from March 31 until June 1 for a June 8 trail race. I also used them for a few single-digit runs. They have lots more miles left and are still in great shape despite the dirt and debris, rain and mud that they've seen. 

I would recommend adding these to a trail running shoe quiver and hope La Sportiva continues to release new models in the coming years, preferably next time with a pull-on tab, please :)