La Sportiva - Bushido III

You are right, they are a bit wider in the forefoot, which generally suits me well for longer distances.  La Sportiva's Prodigio range also got wider compared to their other models. I like the precise fit of the Bushidos and their mountaineering boots though for their intended purpose.

Gravel is a tricky surface, I agree. It probably depends on the the percentage of a certain terrain in a run that I choose the shoes. Generally, for steep grass I like Mudtalons with 8mm lugs, for snow the Genesis and for barely runnable rocks Bushidos. But then again, there is always a trade-off, since a run is usually composed of different surfaces. As an allrounder in alpine environment, I often go for Dynafit, Prodigio or Ribelle Run. YMMY. (And yes: I might have too many shoes).

I hike in La Sportiva Bushido's and love them. Needed something with really sticky soles because the trails around here often require a few Class III moves to get up to a peak. But they run narrow. Friend of mine hikes in Hoka Speedgoats and they are great on groomed trails, but for bushwhacking off trail not so much.

I'm a trail runner turned full time hiker. The past 10+ years I've been partial to Solomon Speedcrosses, XA Pros and La Sportiva Bushidos. The terrain in Arizona tears up shoes and I can get about 4-500 miles a pair. Once I've found a pair that I like, I pay attention to close out deals and can often find $140 shoes for $80-$90. Especially if they are an ugly color. Then I'll stock up and buy 2-3 pair to last me the next year.

La Sportiva Bushidos fit your description. They run narrow but if you like Salomon and Arcteryx they will fit similar.

i favor la sportiva - trail runners designed not to be too heavy on your feet & soles have the best traction - often on sale and last a long time. bushido comes in all black and wildcat is plain gray. Second someone’s comment about skipping goretex, it is more expensive & doesn’t breathe, which makes your feet sweat, i.e. defeats the purpose & puts you at risk of getting blisters. When the weather is so bad you’ll basically have to go wading, stick your socked foot into a thin plastic shopping bag/the free shower cap provided at hotels, put on your shoes, then stuff shoes with newspaper when you’re not wearing them to quickly dry them out afterward. The too-trendy Hoka/fat sole might attract “here’s an out-of-towner” attention when traveling & could even cause you to trip up on lil stairsteps.

La Sportiva mountain runners are great. My favorite right now is the Akasha II's. Trail runners with rubber I'll trust on low 5th terrain. I even soloed a pitch of 5.6 in them recently. Bushidos are also great, cheap, but a little more minimal. That being said I used them for a long time. If you need high top shoes they have a couple high top trail runners with the same rubber. Unfortunately though, features don't matter if it don't fit so try them on

These are the only shoes I've ever repurchased after the first pair wore out. The fit is amazing for someone with a narrow foot. No heel slippage ever and love the way they hug your feet.

If you're only hiking a handful of times a year, and your current boots get the job done, I'd say stick with what you got. Hard to say it's worth the money for you. The main benefits of trail runners are lightness and ventilation. My non gtx runners can be submerged in a river and be mostly dry in minutes. I believe your boots are already pretty light, so I don't think you'll notice much difference in terms of weight unless you're really pushing long distances. Even then, I personally don't notice a huge difference between my la sportiva bushido 3 shoes and ultra raptor 2 boots. I think there's a 3-4 oz difference on each foot, and there definitely is a non zero difference, but not Earth shattering.

Btw I have been a lover of Hoka Speedgoat for several years. I use a GTX mid version & use it for mostly trail running in ?? winter time. I use the La Sportiva Bushido outside of winter. * hiking boots vs trail runners https://www.reddit.com/r/vancouverhiking/comments/1ltydv7/hiking_boots_vs_trail_runners/ * What shoes do you swear by? https://www.reddit.com/r/vancouverhiking/comments/o77olh/what_shoes_do_you_swear_by/

+1 for the Bushidos, they fit my foot perfectly and I’ve used them on approaches with great success. The only trouble I’ve found with them is if you’re putting a ton of miles on they don’t offer as much cushioning as other shoes do. But highly recommend still!

If the shoe fit is good, you should definitely be good for longer than a few kilometers :) The rock plate helps mitigate a lot of foot discomfort and fatigue on rocky stuff, and if you’re used to hiking in TX4s, which also don’t have a cushy midsole, I feel like the Bushidos will feel light and fun and comfy for you.

La Sport Bushido. The mutants are supposedly more comfy for longer days but I've done multiple 12+ hour consecutive days in the Bushido with no issue. Also backpacked in them.

i like the fit and feel of Altras - but they are not durable on rocky terrain. Merrels and Hokas are also not durable in general. my go to trail runners are La Sportiva Bushidos... but also any Salewas or Innov8s. for beefier hiking shoes/boots look at Asolos (which are my favorites) but La Sportiva and Salewa also make great boots and approach shoes.

For technical terrain you probably want La Sportiva if you don’t have wide feet. Bushidos or mutants are the usual recs. Note that a shoe that is good for difficult terrain won’t be as comfortable for long miles, and vice versa so there’s a trade off there. If you aren’t actually running consider approach shoes too. They’re much better for climbing.

I'm a trail runner turned full time hiker. The past 10+ years I've been partial to Solomon Speedcrosses, XA Pros and La Sportiva Bushidos. The terrain in Arizona tears up shoes and I can get about 4-500 miles a pair. Once I've found a pair that I like, I pay attention to close out deals and can often find $140 shoes for $80-$90. Especially if they are an ugly color. Then I'll stock up and buy 2-3 pair to last me the next year.

Gravel is a tricky surface, I agree. It probably depends on the the percentage of a certain terrain in a run that I choose the shoes. Generally, for steep grass I like Mudtalons with 8mm lugs, for snow the Genesis and for barely runnable rocks Bushidos. But then again, there is always a trade-off, since a run is usually composed of different surfaces. As an allrounder in alpine environment, I often go for Dynafit, Prodigio or Ribelle Run. YMMY. (And yes: I might have too many shoes).

I also had the Bushido IIIs and the outsoles were falling apart in less than a year.

La Sportiva makes hands down the best runners for hard hikes or scrambling but they generally fit narrow. Bushido or Mutant are the usual recs I quite like my Altra Lone Peak comfort wise but they feel a bit shifty on hard hikes so I end up wearing my approach shoes

I have the same problem with my heel being more narrow for my shoe size than average. I've found La Sportiva to fit me the most consistently. Right now I'm using[Bushido III Trail-Running Shoes](https://www.rei.com/product/229391/la-sportiva-bushido-iii-trail-running-shoes-womens). They are not warm at all but if you wear wool socks and keep your core warm it doesn't matter as much. I also have some approach shoes from them that fit well and are warmer but I don't like the feel of the stiffer foot bed as much. Vasquez has made some that fit in previous years but they're not as good as La Sportiva so I haven't tried them in a while

La Sportiva Bushido 3 for technical desert terrain. Amazing groundfeel, super toothy. The wide skirt at the back really helps with slippage.

I don't think anyone else thinks Saucony Peregrines have "a decent amount of cushioning." Most people would never run an ultra in them for that reason (though I did, just a 50k). I have a bad ankle but my issue is rolling outwards. Saucony Peregrines feel good and secure for me as long as I do heel lock (which I do on all shoes) and tighten the laces. I feel comfortable bombing down hills in them.

I agree with all of this. Bushidos are so reliable and great, but they don't fit everyone.

The soles on my Bushido III lasted 3 months.

I never liked the Bushido, but have run in the Akasha and Mutant a fair amount. The Prodigio Pro fits my foot a lot like the Mutant but with a much more responsive midsole and more forefoot room. The Prodigio Pro isn't an evolution of any existing LaSpo shoe, though -- it's a much bigger forward leap. Responsive, sticky like the Mutant, nimble, and far more stable in the heel than the Akasha. Would I scramble low 5th Class in the Prodigio Pro like I do in the Mutant? Probably not on purpose... But long runs are a dream in them.

La Sportiva Bushido. Excellent for rough terrain running (including grippy on wet granite slab), minimalist heel (6mm), and sufficient suspension.

I have the TX hike mids. That’s so timely you mentioned the Bushidos because I just tried those on yesterday and ordered a pair. I only tried them on but the bushido seemed a bit more contoured than the TX. I’ve also used the TX4 shoes but ended up not needed that much of a dedicated approach shoe.  The TX doesn’t have a lot of cushioning or obvious support which is why I bought them. In a single day I’ve put about 20km on them and would have liked a bit more support which is what led to the Bushidos. Sounds like I might experience what you did though and they might not work for the longer trails! I also really like the Salomon Quest 4 and Oboz Bridger for my heartier boots as they don’t have a ton of cushion but have good support. But I also think the Terrex are fun to hike in because of their rocker and the way I can push off the padding. I always feel like my hike is easier in them so for my casual hikes I tend to grab those or my Altras!

I heart my La Sportiva Bushidos, which are the nimbler little brother to the mutants. They’re stickier and have a lower profile/drop so I like them better for scrambles on dry desert terrain and talus. I posted a few weeks ago that you can absolutely tell they were engineered by rock climbers, which is a compliment. I’ve raced half marathons in them and hiked 20 miles in them. But I’m seriously considering getting the Mutants for longer distances. Obviously the answer is to get both. (My feet are on the narrow side but I also wear road running shoes with a wide toe box and zero drop and find the Bushidos comfy.)

Another + for the Bushidos. Im on my 14th or 15th pair now, and I swear by them. Ive used them up to low class 5 climbing and for thousands of miles of hiking (4 thru hikes so far). I just took my most recent pair over the north cleaver route on Mt Adams, and they already had 600mi on them. Still grippy and good for the whole traverse, though they did end up in the trash after.

La Sportiva is known for having a narrow heel. Check out the Bushido if you want something that doubles for hikes and technical fastpacking. It's a more nimble and technical shoe than the Prodigio. What it lacks in cushioning it gains in control on the trail, which matters more when hiking.

I loved the Jackal 1 (haven’t tried the newer model but it looks great) and currently am in the Mutants for seriously rocky/bouldering/loose gravel and they’re like I have gecko feet on lol. I did have an issue with the Bushidos however; the middle of the sole doesn’t have any grip on the bottom, literally just a plastic plate with branding on it. I found myself slipping on rocks right jn that section of the sole which led to some of my biggest spills.

I find the higher the stack leads to more rolling ankles. Shoes that have not worked for me: Brooks Cascadia, New Balance Hierro Shoes that have worked for me: La Sportiva Bushido, Topo Terraventure. Also would like to find a more cushioned shoe but they have been directly correlated to rolled ankles for me and I'm sick of spending money on shoes for now. I'll see how far I can go in the Bushidos, I did a 50 miler in them and it was good, although I was definitely hurting at the end!! The more you do the more you adapt though!

I did so much research on this subject last year before landing on the la sportiva jackal. IMO the bushido are too soft for serious scrambling. I also used scarpa ribelle run xt’s, which I liked, but did not fit my foot correctly. Scarpa also makes an approach/ runner, but from what I’ve been told, they aren’t great to run in.  I listened to a podcast recently where the guy was talking about how great norda is for scrambling due to the dynema upper. If I could try them on and they weren’t so expensive, I would probably go that route. The biggest downside to scrambling in running shoes is the mesh when you are jamming. I’ve climbed up to low fifth class in my jackals for what it’s worth.

I love Bushidos for shorter distances (have run up to 50 miles in them) and have liked the Prodigio Pros for ultra distances. La Spo just fits my feet really well so I’m happy they have a more cushioned option now.

Date: 9/26/2025 Location: Yosemite, loop from Cathedral Lakes TH Distance: \~30 miles Vertical gain: \~7400 ft Video of the route: [https://youtu.be/pBVaz3DQ0Us?si=kYgLnNR7KrdYR19m](https://youtu.be/pBVaz3DQ0Us?si=kYgLnNR7KrdYR19m) **Overview:** The Cathedral Range High Route is an idea I’ve been working on since last year, and the area has multiple viable options for a fun short high route. I've done two variations on this route now and can think of at least one more that makes sense. This one begins at the Cathedral Lakes TH and passes Cathedral Peak, Matthes Crest, Nelson Lake, and the Vogelsang area, after which point it gains a broad ridge which it follows to Parsons Peak and returns to Tuolumne via Ireland and Evelyn Lakes and the Rafferty Creek Trail. The variation we did was about 28 miles (we cut off 1.7 by leaving a car at the Tuolumne store), which we completed in 13hr42m.  We went for this shorter version so we could do it with daypacks. To get the full effect, one would continue over Amelia Earhart Pass and traverse over to Maclure Lake to see the glaciers, then return to Tuolumne via Lyell Canyon (adds \~5 miles compared to what we did on this trip). The other variation I did accessed the Maclure Glacier via Hell Hole, but this route is much less fun than the ridge walk. Even though this trip was done in a day, the last time I did a similar route it was as a 2 night backpacking trip, which felt perfect and is what would likely appeal to most people interested in the route.  **Route description:** We started at Cathedral Lakes TH and took the JMT until we could pass Cathedral Peak on its south side. We passed Budd Lake and climbed a slabby pass and headed to the pass west of Cockscomb. The pass itself is very steep and it’s better to stay far to the west. It was class 3 how we did it. Great views of Matthes Crest up here.  We headed down to Matthes Lake and climbed the pass to its east-southeast. We passed Nelson Lake and climbed the pass south of Rafferty Peak. We hiked to Vogelsang Pass, continuing on trail until the view opened up of Gallison Lake and the basin leading to Hell Hole/Maclure Glacier access.  Hell Hole is an okay pass, and puts you out right at the Maclure Glacier, but it’s not as fun as the ridge walk option. For the ridge walk, we left the trail and climbed up to the ridge that leads to Parsons Peak. Incredible panoramic views from up there.  From Parsons, we descended to Ireland Lake and worked our way back to Tuolumne Meadows, and I think this is the ideal ‘short version’ of the route. Last summer I took the Hell Hole route and traversed from Maclure Lake to Amelia Earhart Pass and then to Ireland, etc. The traverse from Maclure to Amelia Earhart is fantastic, so I think the most optimal route for a long weekend backpack would be to take the route as described above until Parsons, go over Amelia Earhart Pass, traverse to Maclure Lake, and then hike back to Tuolumne through Lyell Canyon on the JMT.  **Difficulty:**  Mostly very easy cross country, with the exception of the pass west of Cockscomb. Even that one isn’t too bad, but there are easier options in the area if you look around the map. The Cockscomb Pass is cool though because of the view of Matthes Crest. Wilts Col is another way to get from Budd Lake to Matthes that I haven’t tried but looks fun and probably has an even better view.  **Gear notes:** We carried almost nothing except for a layer or two, headlamps, filters, but I’ll give a shoutout to the La Sportiva Bushidos in wide. In the past I’ve tried to use the Bushidos and wished they worked for me but they were too narrow. The wide version is the best off-trail hiking shoe I’ve tried and I’m so glad they finally made it. It’s just barely wide enough for me, and I can see it still being too narrow for some.

Those are my exact two pair of trail shoes, pairs I bought specifically because I don't like cushioning. Not much out there other than barefoot shoes are as low stack as Bushidos. Peregrines DON'T have "a decent amount of cushion." Bushidos just have even less.

Peregrine good for short run (20-25km) technical or muddy terrain. Bushido are similar but better on dry terrain.

La Sportiva Bushido is preferable to Prodigio for technical, rocky terrain.

I have had the same issue and have had a good experience with Brooks Caldera 7s. Haven’t used them much yet but was also pleasantly surprised by La Sportiva Bushido III in a wide and half sized up

Bushidos are designed for techy, mountainous running, and I believe excel at what they are designed to do. They are not as “comfortable” as something like a Hoka, because they are meant to have a close, precise fit, so they just don’t pack as much midsole foam as other, more cushioned shoes. However, I find that the precision feels more comfortable on technical terrain. I would absolutely wear mine for distances up to 30km. And given the choice, I’ll always prefer a running shoe over an approach shoe if I’m going to be running, or even hiking long distances. TX4s are great approach shoes and are nice for approach hikes, easy climbing, etc. but can be heavy and feel a little clumsy for running, in my experience.

I'm glad Bushidos are so high up in the comments as that's what they're built for. Fit is most important, of course. But if they fit, these are incredible for scrambling on slab and scree.

I need shoes more for very fast hiking and mountain running. I have narrow feet. If I had to choose, I'd prefer stability and security at the expense of a little less comfort. The terrain is rather wet, with some rocks, grass, and also various wild terrains. I don't want GTX, so it would be nice if they dried quickly. I previously had La Sportiva Bushido 3 and was very happy with them, but they weren't very durable, so maybe there's something similar, but with a slightly longer lifespan. La Sportiva Mutant, Akasha 2 or something else? Thanks

You are right, they are a bit wider in the forefoot, which generally suits me well for longer distances.  La Sportiva's Prodigio range also got wider compared to their other models. I like the precise fit of the Bushidos and their mountaineering boots though for their intended purpose.

Same with the bushidos ??

I dig the la sportiva bushido 3’s for nearly everything

The soles on my Bushido III lasted 3 months. I don't know what their durability is supposed to be. Besides, the material is like curtains, so it doesn't look well for durability.

Same. I liked the Bushido II more but I'm still happy with the III. La Sportiva Bushido is a slightly heavier shoe but the additional traction and stability is incredible for running in rugged/wet/scrambly terrain.

I find Bushidos really comfortable and ran a 50 miler in them one time, but acknowledge that my feet are exactly a La Sportiva fit and their shoes are often wildly narrow for other people. In terms of comparison to TX4s, they are lighter, less stiff, and slightly more cushioned. I think they are more comfortable than TX4s for hiking long distances, and I’ve climbed up to around 5.4/5.5 in them, though of course without climbing rubber, they’re not as secure as approach shoes on rock. If Bushidos are comfortable on your feet, I’d recommend them. Sure, maybe don’t run a 100 in them, but for hiking or running techy trails, and the occasional scramble, they’re a great little shoe.

Sooooo, my hot take is that I have an utterly different trail shoe. I love my Atmos for long distance on pavement. But on the trail I don’t need the squish the Atmos gives me because that’s being provided by the ground. I wore them once accidentally in a race and it felt awful. Squish on squish, total loss of proprioception. But I come from a more minimalist background so getting the Atmos was a big shift for me. I wear La Sportiva Bushidos and they’re perfect for my foot shape. (Narrow-ish, medium-high arches, neutral/hypermobile ankles, wide toe splay.) Lots of ground feel, incredible traction for the chossy desert terrain I’m usually on. Not officially a wide toe box shoe but they still work well for me. 6 mm drop and basically no rocker. I tried all the things the running shop had that were analogous to Atmos and hated all of them for various reasons. I suspect most people will think I’m bananas for running in such different shoes but it keeps my feet adapted to a lot of scenarios. I generally wear barefoot style shoes in everyday life (I can actually be barefoot at work most of the time). This is a useful video. https://youtu.be/-kBiOYTu0Rk?si=3VueMVjQNvuIltwS

It's a lot better than the narrow Bushido fit for sure but the durability was a weak point for me. I used my pair on like 3 weeks total of Sierra cross country over the past two seasons (so like ~250mi total) and the sole started peeling a bit in places, plus the cage around the midfoot started getting some holes that let sand in. Really great shoe otherwise, it feels very stable and super grippy on slab and talus. I've been messing with the Prodigio Max shoes instead of cracking open my backup pair of Bushidos, they're kinda like a souped up Speedgoat with better stability, grip, and durability. I've used them on some cross-country routes in the PNW since my last Sierra trip and I'm leaning towards wearing those for my big Sierra trip next year, I didn't feel unstable while scrambling on talus and they were much more comfortable for the flat rolling terrain that comprises a lot of XC travel. The rock plate on the Bushido is nice but really wears down on my feet after a few long days.