Our reviews are 100% organic. We do not accept payment for reviews or bundle with advertising budgets. In most cases, the brand is providing the product to our reviewers free of charge. Founded in the Italian Dolomites in 1928, La Sportiva has become synonymous with high-performance mountain sports, first among climbers and mountaineers and more recently, among trail runners, taking on technical mountain terrain. The new Prodigio Pro is built to appeal to casual mountain enthusiasts and elite athletes alike, and represents La Sportiva’s entry in the trail “super shoe” category, primarily through its XFlow Speed midsole, with unprecedented energy return compared to previous La Sportiva compounds.
First Impression
Slipping into the shoe for the first time, our testers noticed the snug, locked-in fit. The comfort is remarkable, hitting that Goldilocks sweet spot: not too tight, with enough room for various foot shapes and natural expansion during runs, yet secure enough to prevent the movement that leads to blisters and inefficiency on long days.
While La Sportiva shoes are known for their snugness, we found the Prodigo Pro’s second-skin fit comfortable and confidence-inducing. It’s slightly narrow, which is consistent with the brand’s reputation, but still suitable for a wide range of runners. This update is part of their approach to accommodating a wider profile of runners and foot widths.
The shoe also runs somewhat short in length, which seems to be the general consensus from our testers on this model. While regular sizing worked adequately, sizing up a half size might be wise, especially if you’re between sizes or anticipating foot swelling during long runs. On descents, we noticed some toe cramping that a bit of extra space could have prevented.
One of our testers ran in the Prodigio Pro in late winter to early spring conditions in Bend, Oregon, including in heavy snowfall, snowmelt, icy freeze and sloppy mud. In these conditions, the shoe felt remarkably agile, light and responsive, while providing plenty of grip to confidently tear through ice and mud. It’s the kind of shoe that fades into the background of your run—no break-in period necessary—allowing you to focus on the flow of the trail and find a natural rhythm: the elusive state of trail running nirvana. One of our testers previously took a multi-day, hut-to-hut trail running trip along the Alta Via 1 trail in the Italian Dolomites a few years ago and could understand how the Prodigo Pro would feel perfectly at home and capable on mountain terrain.
Medial view
Midsole
The heart of the Prodigio Pro’s “super shoe” performance lies in its XFlow Speed midsole. Most of the midsole bulk consists of a nitrogen-infused EVA cage, with an underfoot insert of highly responsive nitrogen-infused TPU. This combination of dual-nitrogen-infused compounds achieves a remarkable balance between cushioning and energy return. The midsole is responsive, enabling quick transitions and efficient strides while providing ample protection from sharp rocks and uneven surfaces. On technical descents, it absorbs impact effectively, minimizing fatigue, leaving us feeling fresh throughout our long run. We appreciated its subtle propulsive feel, especially on flowy, faster sections of the trail where we’d pick up the pace.
Notably, this shoe does not contain a rock plate, but the dense foam provides ample protection from the sharpest rock fields while delivering all the benefits of a more natural and responsive ride that comes from forgoing the plate. For those of us who prioritize ground feel and flexibility, this design choice is a clear winner.
Outsole
While the midsole shines as the Prodigio Pro’s key feature, the outsole performance is equally impressive. FriXion XF 2.0 compound is La Sportiva’s grippiest outsole rubber and delivers exceptional grip and reliable traction across diverse surfaces. With deep, aggressive lugs and a toothy tread pattern, the shoe excels in loose sand, mud and scree. The multi-directional lug design ensures confident footing on both steep ascents and descents. On off-camber terrain, the lugs and grip provide excellent lateral stability and edge control.
Compared to the previous Prodigio model, the enhanced heel rocker enables faster landing and turnover, while the forefoot maintains its classic geometry. This combination creates a smooth, efficient roll from heel strike to toe-off, reducing fatigue over long distances. Unlike the aggressive rockers found in many road “super shoes,” the Prodigio Pro’s rocker is more adaptable to uneven trail surfaces, delivering a smooth ride without sacrificing ground feel and stability.
Upper
Upper construction combines an inner made from a comfortable, stretchy knit material with an integrated plush tongue and well-placed heel padding. The knit collar wraps around the ankle, creating a secure feel, which is particularly important for those of us who are prone to rolling our ankles. It also functions as a built-in gaiter, sitting flush with your sock and preventing those infuriating little rocks from getting inside your shoe.
The mesh inner is encased in a sturdy shell made with Power Wire technology. While the wires create a somewhat rigid, plastic feel, they crisscross to form many small holes that maintain breathability and lightweight performance while ensuring strength and durability.
Style and Summary
While aesthetics are subjective, the Prodigio Pro has an undeniably cool look for those who appreciate performance-oriented, “super shoe” style for trails. It embraces a higher stack height that creates both a modern, on-trend appearance and practical performance benefits.
Expertly blending mountain heritage with modern technology, the La Sportiva Prodigio Pro offers a responsive and rugged ride that is ideal for experienced runners who thrive on technical terrain and long distances. It is available in men’s and women’s sizes at www.lasportivausa.com.
Features and Specs:
- Weight: 8.9 oz / 255g men’s, 7.9 oz / 225g women’s
- Stack height (heel/toe): 34mm/28mm
- Heel-to-toe drop: 6mm
- Lug depth: 4mm
- Upper: PES Power Wire with TPU Coating & TPU & nylon reinforcement
- Midsole: TPU+NITRO XFlow Speed Inner Core with EVA+NITRO XFlow Outer Cage
- Outsole: FriXion XF 2.0 with Protective FriXion fabric
- MSRP: $195