I was hesitant to purchase this shoe because my only other experience with La Sportivas were the Crossroads, which were a disappointment all around. Let's start with fit: I'm a 10 in
running shoes and often 9.5 in
boots because I like thin or no
socks. The 42 was the precise fit for my foot structure - which is neutral, medium arched, and medium width, with the exception of a right foot bunion. The toe box is wide and deep and allows ascents to be pain free because of adequate space for toe movement. The support is excellent for keeping your foot aligned and upright over obstacles like roots, logs, or rocks. They breath amazingly well for a gortex shoe. The sole grabs in the mud, dirt, grass and leaves to feel like you're effortless through the rough stuff. IN fact, the traction is so profound, I felt much more sore in my hams, quads, and calves because the more stable the shoe, the more muscle can be recruited to perform through the obstacles of off road. Plenty of cushion for the little bit of road
running I do. Absolutely waterproof but for the tongue absorbing water and getting the top of a quarter sick wet. TWO CONS: The tongue slips into the body of the shoe if the laces aren't tight enough. The sole is slippery over very wet rock surfaces or wet, moldy decking and boardwalks. I can't wait for the 2010 model - black would be nice - to order my next pair.
