Customer Reviews La Sportiva Unika

this is a great La Sportiva shoe, the Unika fits like a glove. easy to lace and the heel is well cushioned. I am so happy running in these shoes !

The Unika is the softest trail running shoe I have ever worn. After several months of training in them, I've been shocked to find that the midsole does not feel to have lost any cushioning. For a shoe with this much cushioning, they still provide a very responsive ride with good flexibility too. I love the soft, seamless upper that fits like a sock, and never have to worry about hot spots. The profile is a little bit higher around my ankle compared to some models, and took a few runs to get used to, but I like the secure fit that this provides. I have a running streak of running every day since 1989, so on days when my body is sore from a long run, expedition or race, the extra cushioning of the Unika is very welcome. Derrick La Sportiva Running Ambassador

The Unika shoes has to be the most comfortable shoe I've ever tried. I was concerned about getting into them as they are a bit different then anything I've tried before but once on they felt like slippers. Having a really wide foot also concerned me when placing my order. I normally wear a size 12 1/2 so ordered a 46.5 and they fit perfectly. My first run out with them was on a rock, mud and dirt trail. These shoes stuck to the wet rock like set glue. The price might be a bit high but you definitely get what you pay for. Great job Sportiva

It was like barefoot running with cushion! These shoes are the squishiest shoes I've ever worn. With so much cushion, you'd expect them to feel sloppy or unresponsive, but it was just the opposite. They fit great out of the box and I can't wait to explore my local trails with them.

With narrow, low volume feet and a heel destroyed in a climbing accident, finding running shoes, actually any mountain sport footwear, is my quest for the holy grail. In 2011 I found the grail with the La Sportiva Electron. For me, best trail running shoe ever! When I found out the model was being discontinued, I purchased 2 additional pairs. Well, about a year ago the third pair died as a running shoe, although it remains an excellent, lightweight approach shoe. So the quest was on again and it was not a pleasant process. And then came the Unika. I have only had the shoe for a couple of months now, but it is a game changer. Excellent fit, superior impact control, outstanding traction and stability. While the price gave me pause, when the shoe hit the trail, it was immediately apparent that I made a good investment. Please keep this shoe in your line up for at least a decade!

So I purchased the Unika as a distance shoe after running my first trail 20k in a most likely worn out pair of Helios SRs and my feet died. So far, I have only ran 25 miles in the shoes, but I really think La Sportiva scored BIG here. I read some of the other reviews about a stiff tongue and I agree; however, after just about an hour in mine and that was gone. The glove like fit and the sole response is truly phenomenal. I tried to lace them too tight on one particular run and my feet began getting numb so had to losen up. The shoe actually hugs your feet so you really don't have to lace tightly, and the excess tucks neatly inside a little garage. They are NOT waterproof but also don't claim to be either. The right foot intermittently has been experiencing numbness on the bottom from about the 3rd tarsal over to the 5th. It doesn't happen all of the time so I cannot yet tell if it is perhaps the socks or terrain. Can't wait to do my first 50k in these bad boys and enjoy that cushion of a long time. So far, so good, and ready to get my 2nd pair afterwards. FYI I bought these as I have my last few Sportivas about a whole size larger than I typically wear. I usually wear a 42 Birk, a 9 in Chaco, a 10 in Salomon, and these in a 44/10.5. I only own 1 pair of Salomon so don't throw me out. I own, 2 pairs of Sportiva climbing shoes, have had 5 pair of hiking/mountaineering boots, and 8 pairs of running shoes. Hard pressed between favorites because they each have their different jobs. Trust this company and their products. Great job.

I have had these shoes for over a month and I have put about 100 miles in it, mostly for winter running (in snow and on ice) in the Colorado Rockies. The "sock-like" fit is new and interesting, and it feels like the foot is very well maintained (more on that later). The grip is excellent, the shoe is robust, and it is definitely a shoe for rough terrain and longer distances. As a winter shoe I really like it. It does have a couple of flaws that hopefully will be figured out later. As others have pointed out, the top of the shoe is a little stiff and tends to push on the ankle. Some parts of the frame also have sharp features which can be a bit unpleasant on the foot. These things could be improved, but they're also not deal-breakers for me. Overall, to me, it is a promising prototype which could become a really amazing running shoe.

NEVER felt cushion like this. The rebound is superb, traction is excellent, and overall comfort is great. Makes the world feel like a marshmellow under your feet, while maintaining stability and traction somehow. Great for approaches, running, and any form of mountain play that requires miles and rugged terrain. The uppers are a little warm, so wear thin socks. Tongue could be better, maybe it will soften and break in with time. Huge running step forward in the category!

The sole on these shoes is incredibly cushioned and bouncy, but the upper is sooo tight and low volume. My foot is pretty normal in size and my arch is not high by any means, but I could not get these to be any looser and they were constricting my feet so much that I was having circulation issues and my feet were falling asleep. I even tried a size up, but then it was just too long, but still too tight. Maybe I just could not figure out how to loosen the non-conventional top or something. Or I had a defective model. I am assuming this would be an incredible shoe for a low volume narrow foot.

I loved the sock-like fit and cushioning of the shoe. I could still feel the trail, but it is sufficiently padded to help tolerate the pounding that comes from 50+ miles into a race. Unfortunately, these shoes have some serious quality issues. With only 150 miles, they are no longer usable. The insoles are built into the shoe. They cannot be removed. In less than 75 miles, these became ripped and exposed the hard material underneath (during a 100 mile race). So, I removed the insoles from an old pair of my Akashas and placed them in the Unika. This allowed me to continue using the shoes. After 150 miles, one of top the eyelets completely ripped while lacing up for a run. All of this occurred during a span of 2 months. Given the design, the shoes are completely unusable now without repair work, which is unacceptable given the cost and low mileage. I'll stick with the Akasha since the last 4 pairs lasted 500+ miles (and a lower price point). Other than durability, I loved the shoe.

Great cushion and grip. The sole is soft and comfortable. The upper needs to be redesigned. Multiple spots on both of my feet were rubbed raw.

I purchased the Unika for a trip to Yosemite a few weeks ago. My initial thought on the shoe was that they are really comfortable. They cushion is excellent and they are really responsive. I wore them around town for a few hours to break them in a little. Within the first few minutes I noticed some hot spots on the top of my foot where the "tongue" was rubbing on my skin. This didnt improve over time and it eventually caused open wounds. I got to Yosemite a few days later and thought it would be a good idea to get some moleskin and put it over my feet where the hot spots were. If it weren't for the moleskin and tape I would not have been able to hike. I developed some additional hot spots on the inside of both feet where the eyelets connect to the upper portion of the shoe. I feel like the shoe needs to go back to the drawing board and make some changes to the upper. It holds your foot like a glove but the way they rub makes them almost unwearable. The sole of the shoe is incredible. They grip nearly everything and feel like walking on clouds. The only thing that would make these shoes comfortable all around would be to wear thick crew socks to protect your skin from the upper part of the shoe. The sole is starting to separate from the upper in two spots as well. Good Luck

After a long wait for the shoe to finally be released, I grabbed a pair as soon as they were available in my size. Initial impressions were favorable and I love the snug, slipper like feeling they had on my feet. I went for a quick eight mile run up a favorite mountain of mine and was impressed with the cushioning, traction and feel of the shoe. The cushioning was heavy but I still felt the trail beneath my feet and the shoe did great in the technical sections. I did however notice that the tongue was rubbing my shin on my left foot as I neared the end of my run. Took them out again on a much longer planned outing but by mile eight that rubbing was persistent and becoming painful. I should have turned around there but loosened the shoe as much as I could and kept going. By mile 11 it was enough of a factor to finally turn around. By the time I got back to my car, the shoe had rubbed the front of my shin/ankle area, it had caused a contusion that took a better part of a week to heal. I want to love this shoe but this is just too big of an issue for me to continue wearing it. I think I could take them to be modified but haven't decided if the alteration is worth it. I cannot recommend this shoe given this problem I had. That being said, if this wasn't a problem, I would likely really take to this shoe for long distances. I will give the quality of the product a high rating as the shoe appears to be very well made.

Two months ago I was really excited that Unika finally was available in Romania and I wanted to test them at the first view. I buyed the shoes and after two short runs I tought they are the perfect shoes for ultrarunning. The fit is great for my feet(a little narrow), the sole is the best I ever tried(great cushioning and stability on any terrain, durability and very good adhesion to the ground) but I think the upper needs many improvements. After few runs with them I had a surprise in the middle of a long run; My left leg started to hurt very hard in the tibia area, right where the tongue touches the leg. The pain was awful and my leg swollen and inflamed in that area not being able to run few days. (A bump persists even now in that area.) I tought my left leg autonomy is different and it's not a shoe problem and I gave them a try again but the same problem apeared again. After a longer run I discovered another problem, the last lace eyelets from the inside of the shoes scratched my ankles creating another unpleasant painful experience. I switched different types of socks but still no results. I studied a little and I realised that the tongue of the shoe is just to rough and also goes to high on the tibia. I managed to cut a part of the tongue(1cm) and I tried to run again with the shoes, this time without pain on the tibia but still with that chaffing from the eyelets on the inside of my ankles. I overlooked this problem and I managed to use them another 100km in training and I decided to use them in the race at Lavaredo Ultra Trail. All was fine and my race was going great but after the descent from Tre Cime my right leg started to hurt awful and I realised that my race is over. I had to continue like this almost an hour to the first checkpoint and my leg was looking horrible. From there I mostly hiked to the finish and even if I changed my shoes at 90km the pain persisted and I wasn't able to run anymore. I think Unika is a very bad choice for longer runs than 50k and the upper really needs some serious improvements. First the tongue, then the eyelets, and maybe the materials used in the upper. It's just to much techonlogy, with a simplier upper this shoe would be amazing.

I've runs hundreds and hundreds of miles in many various La Sportiva running shoes. I've been particularly loyal to the Bushido, which I've recommended to many friends assuring them all that it's the greatest running shoe ever. Years of brand loyalty led me to try the Unika on good faith. I just returned from my first run--a mild 7 mile run--in my new Unikas. What started off excitingly with an enjoyable first few miles in a cushy new shoe finished with me walking home the last mile barefoot carrying the shoes in my hands, and with four burning blisters on my feet. The shoe preformed nicely at first, with decent traction on steep climbs (though, surprisingly inconsistent traction on flat ground), fine lateral support, and a wildly comfortable sole. Pretty quickly the upper tongue began putting a lot of undue pressure on the top of my upper ankle. I assumed a bit of break-in would do away with that. Surprisingly, no matter how many times I stopped to loosen or adjust the lances, the upper tongue remained irritatingly stiff and tight. More seriously, just after my half-way point in the run, the fabric in the the heel began suddenly to bunch and rub uncomfortably. I stopped a few times to readjust my socks and try to smooth out the fabric that comprised the Unika's oddly designed socked-heel, but with every step it got worse. My feet are now bruised and blistered, and my legs feel awful having run a few miles awkwardly trying to find balance points that wouldn't further irritate the various hot-spots. Never before have I had anything close to this painful of a first run in a pair of shoes - be it a La Sportiva or a number of other brands. To this point, every La Sportiva I've ever run in has been ready to go out of the box, with not a mile of break-in necessary, and not a blister formed at any point in time. Don't waste your time with this needlessly overly engineered shoe.