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10.2 oz. (290 g) for a US M9, 8.6 oz. (245 g) for a US W7.5
34mm in heel, 28mm in forefoot (6mm drop)
Wet, slippery trails
Gore-Tex Invisible Fit upper, XFlow midsole, FriXion White outsole
Available now for $195
JOHN: I’ve never actually reviewed a La Sportiva shoe before, though I’ve run in several pairs during some really gnarly races. For one reason or another, I’ve just never had the opportunity to write about one. So, naturally, I decided the best way to test the Prodigio 2 GTX was to take it straight into Fire on the Mountain 50K.
Here’s an interesting twist: I’d never worn a La Sportiva shoe with Gore-Tex before, and I had just run the Barkley Fall Classic in the Hoka Speedgoat 7 GTX, which was an incredible experience. The bar was already set pretty high.
The Speedgoat 7 GTX barely felt like a waterproof shoe, so I was extremely curious to see how the Prodigio 2 GTX would compare. Another consideration was sizing, which can sometimes be an adventure with La Sportiva. Trying it on, the fit seemed pretty good, although the shoe felt a little stiff right out of the box. I figured I’d find out pretty quickly whether that would become a problem over 50K.
Looking at the lugs and outsole, I wasn’t entirely convinced this was the ideal shoe for technical terrain. Luckily, I wasn’t running the Barkley Fall Classic again that weekend, but Fire on the Mountain has plenty of wet leaves, rocks, roots, steep climbs, and all the usual East Coast trail nonsense. It seemed like a pretty good testing ground for the Prodigio 2 GTX.
Let’s see how it did.
JOHN: I went into this review with pretty low expectations, but apparently I’d forgotten one important lesson: Never count La Sportiva out.
As I made my way through Fire on the Mountain 50K, I started remembering some of the other tough races I’d completed wearing La Sportiva shoes. It made me wish I’d spent more time in them over the years. Unfortunately, between reviewing different shoes and whatever I happen to have access to, sometimes a few years go by without me running in a particular brand.
I’m glad I reunited with La Sportiva at Fire on the Mountain because this race is no joke. I needed something I could actually run in while still having enough grip to handle steep, technical descents where one wrong step could send you sliding down the mountain.
The Prodigio 2 GTX delivered. I stayed upright the entire race and didn’t even need to resort to butt sliding down anything, which is pretty remarkable considering I’m an extremely clumsy trail runner.
As the miles added up and fatigue started taking over, I wasn’t always capable of running. Sometimes I was hiking, sometimes shuffling, and sometimes just doing whatever it took to keep moving forward. The Prodigio 2 GTX handled all of it beautifully. It’s an incredibly versatile shoe, and I haven’t even gotten to the GORE-TEX benefits yet!
Normally, Fire on the Mountain is an extremely wet course with numerous creek crossings, which was one of the main reasons I chose this race to test the shoe. This year, due to the lack of rain, many of the creeks were unusually low. Still, I encountered enough water to get a good idea of how the Prodigio 2 GTX performed.
And I was impressed.
The waterproof protection did an excellent job keeping my feet dry, even during some brief, unintentional submersions. On the occasions when I suspected a little water worked its way inside, I never experienced that miserable sensation of water sloshing around in my shoes. I’m not entirely sure how La Sportiva managed to make the waterproofing feel this comfortable, but whatever they’re doing, it worked exceptionally well for me.
Another concern was taking a shoe straight out of the box and running a 50K in it, especially considering La Sportiva’s sometimes unpredictable sizing. I typically wear a US M11.5, but went with a 12 for this review, and the fit was excellent. No issues whatsoever.
Finally, we need to talk about the appearance because this shoe looks fantastic. The styling and colorway are elite. My daughter probably described it best when she said it looked like a race car or spaceship from a Japanese anime.
I can’t really improve on that description.
JOHN: I’m cheap, so naturally I’m going to complain about the $195 price tag. But make no mistake, this shoe is worth the money.
The Hoka Speedgoat 7 GTX comes in about $15 cheaper, and after running in both shoes during two incredibly demanding races, I can confidently say they’re two of the best GORE-TEX trail shoes I’ve ever worn.
I spent a surprising amount of time during Fire on the Mountain comparing the two in my head. For me, the Prodigio 2 GTX feels slightly better when actually running, while the Speedgoat 7 GTX has the edge in grip and confidence on particularly technical terrain.
Both are incredible shoes, and I genuinely don’t think you can go wrong with either one.
Beyond the price, I really don’t have much to complain about. Sure, $195 is a significant investment, especially for a shoe that will probably see its best use in certain weather conditions. But if you’re regularly tackling nasty weather, wet trails, or rugged mountain races, the Prodigio 2 GTX is an incredible tool to have in your bag of tricks.
JOHN: It’s pretty crazy that I’ve now had back-to-back GORE-TEX shoe reviews where I’ve come away this impressed. I almost gave the Prodigio 2 GTX an S grade.
The only reason I held back is that, while it’s an incredibly reliable shoe for rugged, wet, and sloppy conditions, it’s still somewhat specialized. It also shares many of the qualities I loved about the Speedgoat 7 GTX while coming in at a slightly higher price.
But that’s really splitting hairs.
I highly recommend the Prodigio 2 GTX. In fact, I legitimately think there’s a chance I might have DNF’d Fire on the Mountain 50K if I’d been wearing something less capable. This shoe helped me navigate difficult terrain, keep moving when I was exhausted, and finish the race without any foot issues whatsoever.
There’s a reason accomplished mountain runners like John Kelly have trusted the brand. La Sportiva has a long history of building footwear for the mountains, rugged terrain, and demanding wilderness conditions, and the Prodigio 2 GTX reminded me exactly why that reputation exists.
I’m glad to be back in a pair. Hopefully, I won’t let another few years go by before the next one.
You can pick up the La Sportiva Prodigio 2 GTX for $195 at REI by using the shop link below.
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An obsessed runner, John has run in most ultra races in the Mid-Atlantic area. Since he’s an ultra runner, it’s no surprise he’s also a lover of food. He’s also a dedicated father, caregiver, and veteran.
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