Customer Reviews La Sportiva Jackal

This is my first pair of LS shoes, so I don't have any other models to compare them to, but they are amazing. The cushion, protection, and stability are the best I've ever had, especially considering how lightweight they are. I have a semi-wide foot and had to go up a full size, but I'm sooo glad I did. They are super comfortable in all the terrain I run. Note: The Achilles blister issue is real. Luckily, I was properly warned when I bought them and taped up before my first couple 5 mile break in runs. Once I got them broken in, it's a non-issue.

These shoes are excellent. They are my third pair of LS mountain running shoes, after a pair of Ultra Raptors and a pair of Helios IIIs. I wear a 43.5 in all three shoes and found that these fit very well in that size, though I had read some reviews that said they run short and was nervous when I got them. I love the high volume in these, and the cushioning is spot on. I was looking for something in between the other shoes: lighter weight that the Raptors and with better grip, but more cushion than the Helios and a rock guard. These fit the bill perfectly.

I own 8 pairs of Jackals. After owning 18 pairs of Akashas, this is now my go-to shoe for high volume days in the mountains. The level of cushioning is balanced to still provide sensitivity and feedback useful for precise, technical footwork moving fast in class 1-3 terrain. The Jackal is NOT a clunky, insensitive shoe. Unlike other shoes I've tried, the rock guards are NOT too stiff to impede natural foot motion through the gate cycle. I spend 25-30 hours / week training on my feet in the mountains, which has widened my forefoot and forces me to seek a wide toe box. The Jackal's wide toe box is a significant improvement over the Akasha's in that it perfectly accommodates my wide forefoot! Furthermore, there is reinforcing material at the forefoot flex point, which has significantly reduced the problem I had with every pair of Akashas blowing out the upper by the pinky toe. The near-seamless upper also is true to Sportiva's word in that I haven't had any hot spots. The closest thing I can draw to a complaint is that although the shoe fit isn't sloppy, it doesn't fit my feet as perfectly glove-like as the Kaptiva does. I own 10 pairs of Kaptivas for normal volume days (< 20mi & 10k vert). My ideal shoe is a Kaptiva upper on a Jackal base. My 2020 volume was ~3200 miles and 1.4 million vert (w/ 2 months off). 100% of my volume is mixed running and hiking in the mountains. The only flat I run is on high plains between peaks or dirt roads along the base of mountains when doing loops. I typically get 400-500 miles out of Sportiva shoes. 99% of my volume is in Sportiva runners.

Like many here, found myself concerned when finding out the Akashas were being discontinued. While these are not (at least to me) similar to Akashas, they are going to fill the gap nicely that the Akashas use to fill for me, long distance runs. First off, unlike pretty much everyone else, I did not half size up when buying a pair and am very glad I didn't do so. My usual size in LS fits perfectly in this shoe and had I half sized up, I believe my foot in the wider toe box would actually have too much room. Speaking of the toe box, it's roomy but not like so dang roomy my foots slips around in it. Fit is secure on the midfoot, heel is locked in and I did not experience in blisters in these shoes, even when tackling steep terrain. Lots of cushion but the shoe still feels fairly nimble on the trail, foot protection is fantastic, softening the blows even on more technical terrain. Very stable shoe as well. I thought that grip might be a weakness but it has handled the steep muddy trails of the Pacific Northwest quite well. Haven't taken it scrambling yet as I don't envision it being the shoe made for that but I'm starting to believe it would do just fine on class 3 routes. After 200 or so miles, no signs of wear or tear and the outsole is in perfect condition still. I am always hesitant to give something a five star review but these shoes have earned it for me.

Awesome design and structure of the shoe is also strong. Looking forward to getting many more miles out of these!

I have run over 200 miles in the Jackal. There was little to no break-in period required and it felt great right out of the box. The Jackal has proven to be highly durable as one would expect from Sportiva; after many miles on a variety of terrain there is little wear on the outsole or the upper. I have used them on smooth, buffed trails and rugged, rooty, and rocky terrain, all with good success and enjoyment. Unlike some other cushioned shoes, the Jackal provides the plush cushioning but not at the expense of being nimble and light on technical terrain. I am a size 42.5 in all Sportiva mountain running footwear and 42.5 worked for me as well in the Jackal. I look forward to riding the Jackal on long summer days in the mountains!

Wanting to try the new guys on the block, I wasn't surprised that these shoes would be awesome right out of the box. The extra toe box space was such a great feeling after my first long run. After wearing the Akasha for the last year, I sort of missed the high ankle, area support and the softer ride but this shoe gives me a better feeling across the change of terrain I encounter. Can't wait to see how much mileage I can get from these guys.

The Akasha was my go to long distance running and fast packing shoe in the front range. I was sad to see it go however, the Jackal addresses any gripes I have with the Akasha. The Jackal has a similar amount of cushioning to the Akasha but is laterally more stable without the large heel stack. The toe box is also more generous and allows for full splay even after long miles. The outsole is low profile enough to feel comfy on the road but deep enough to give bite on loose and technical terrain. (Perfect for a Leadville style course with road and packed trails). The Jackal also feels more responsive in the mid foot, lighter and more stable than other highly cushioned shoes on the market. The 7mm drop helps with form fatigue and blasting down hill on long runs. I used to wear 0 drop shoes and my knees would get destroyed on descents. If you are in the market for a wide last with plenty of cushioning built for long miles, look no further! *Depending on application, size up a half to full size from your US street shoe size.

The Jackals are a wonderful blend of humanity, materials, and cushion in all the right places. If you have a wider forefoot, these shoes will make your toes dance all day long - a wider toebox has ample room, while the heelcup is deep and secure enough to feel laterally supported. The cushion is worth mentioning 100 times over. Each step returns energy to your gait and smiles to your face. Try the Jackal for your next run!

I have been wearing the Jackals for a lot of my running adventures, and recently ran my first 50 miler wearing them! They have a pretty spacious toebox, comfortable throughout the foot, and have plenty of comfort underneath. Stoked La Sportiva has expanded their offering for distance running!

I run a lot of technical trails with lots of sharp rocks and bulbous routes. This is the best foot protection La Sportiva has offered in a light trail running shoe ever! I found myself aiming for the sharpest objects I could find. The dual material midsole really protects the foot and has A LOT of cushion without any of the instability that comes from other shoes that it compares with. The fit is really wide and high volume for a Sportiva product which is a welcome change. This is one of those shoes you put on and you just want to keep running and running and running. The fit runs a bit small so size up!

I've been running in the Jackal for about a month now (100ish miles logged). Like all La Sportiva's, the quality/durability is there! Hardly any wear on the outsole and upper is holding together very well. The fit is solid. No movement, even when bombing downhills. Which I like compared with max cushion shoes from other brands. Sloppy toe box room no Bueno! This is a wider toe box for La Sportiva, but I still wear 44.5 across the board in almost all mountain running footwear (I have a B/C width foot). I'll say I did wear these around my house for two days to allow a proper beak in period. Once broken in they feel amazing! I've tested this shoe on flat gravel roads and very techincal rocky/rooty terrain. This is the go to shoe for long trail days of training, race day ultra, recovery days, or for someone who likes more cushion under their feet.. Great product that I will continue to use for my long loved trail days.

Hi all, more of a climber than runner, but this shoe runs slightly wide for the brand, and has superb cushion!! I also suggest about 1/2 size up compared to a normal La Sportiva size, if running for extended distances. It approaches nicely for moderate crag hikes, and has great traction on everything but pure rock slabs/domes. The upper materials *do break in slightly,* and the foam underfoot molds nicely to the contours of a person's foot - eliciting a custom feeling sole. TBH, I mostly use this as a city shoe/mild hiker - I like the muted colors and cushion, and this way I'm not wasting sticky rubber from my approach TX2's :)

The product is excellent but sizing and shipping options to Canada are a problem. Ordered them while on vacation in Hawaii. Wore them on a couple of challenging hike/runs and they performed very well. On scree (and snow!) on the ascent and descent of Mauna Kea they were grippy and offered great cushioning and protection. On a challenging ascent of Kohala in the cloud forest I was up to my knees in swampy moss. They drained well and I came out with no blisters or hotspots. They are sized small, particularly in length, so my toes were in contact with the front. Unfortunately I had to wear them as I was on vacation and was counting on the shoes being sized like other La Sportiva models. I am now back in Canada and cannot get them in the preferred lighter colour without ordering from the US. Cost of shipping and exchange create quite a bit more expense. La Sportiva needs to get something going for Canadian customers and definitely needs to get consistent with sizing.

I am a seasoned runner of 35 years who is always searching for the perfect trail running shoe. I think I found it with the Jackal. This shoe is engineered and built better than any shoe I have run in. It excels on rough terrain and cruises on mild terrain. I find myself running faster over rough terrain because of the confidence I have in the Jackal. I have run in shoes that fall apart at 100 miles. This shoe is definitly built to last. The more miles I run in this shoe the more comfortable it gets. This was my first shoe from La Sportiva and won't be my last. I did have to size up one full size.

The Jackal may be THE ULTIMATE trail running shoe for ultras! I've loved this shoe since day one! Super versatile for all distances with exceptional cushioning, a stable but agile platform, good rock protection and an outsole that grips a wide variety of surfaces well. The upper is breathable, with a slightly roomier fit that flexes nicely and allows your feet to naturally expand comfortably during extended long runs and races. Awesome shoe!!!

I have been running in La Sportiva since the Fireblade. I loved the crosslite, Ultra Raptor ( although heavy) and many others like the Mutant , Kaptiva , Akasha etc. before the Jakal came out , I would have said the Akasha was the best for a 100 miler. The Jakal is a slightly beefed up Kaptiva . Coming from someone who has prchased 30 La Sportiva shoes ( surely more) in the last 5 years, trust me if you are a La Sportiva fan, this goes in the LS hall of game nestled somewhere in the Dolomites . I will be running or at least attempting 3 100 milers in them this year staring with Zion next month. Love the shoe .

I have a c-width foot, very narrow heels, and love a nice wide toe box. This shoe fits perfectly and checks all the fit boxes. I like how it feels running and the downhill traction is possibly the best of any trail shoe I have used. In my perfect world, La Sportiva would add a tad more cushioning to the front of the shoe and take it from a 7mm drop to a 4mm drop. The extra cushioning would be welcome on longer (18+ miles) runs and for bombing the downhills. One thing I think the shoe will be really good for is backpacking as the back half of the shoe is laterally stiff. I plan to give that a go later this summer. In most brands I wear a size 11.5 and size 46 fits perfectly, so they do run a little small.

Comfortable, but not perfect like my La Sportiva Akyras. Also, I would like a more substantial tongue. Grippy soles on loose surfaces and unbelievably grippy on wet rocks.