La Sportiva Bushido III

La Sportiva Bushido III review: what runners say

Fit

Snug fit, locked heel, narrow forefoot: La Sportiva recommends sizing up half a size. Also available in a wide version (+7 mm in circumference, +2 mm in toebox height).

Feel

Low stack (19 mm heel, 13 mm forefoot) with EVA rock guard: the foot reads the terrain directly. Reactive and precise on technical ground, harsh and fatiguing on long outings over soft surfaces.

Durability

Around 600–700 km before the mesh and TPU overlays break down. Structural weak point: laces deteriorate around 250 km. Frixion XT 2.0 dual-compound outsole holds up well, but the sticky rubber lugs wear first.

Best for

Alpine technical trail, skyrunning, rocky and unstable terrain. Suited for 2–4 hour outings on demanding courses. Not suited for road surfaces, smooth trails, or recovery runs.

Weak points

Narrow toebox in the standard version, a drawback for wider feet. Heel stiffness perceived as excessive by runners who don't need active support. Upper runs warmer than ultralight competitors; fragile laces.

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