Customer Reviews La Sportiva Jackal

I was hoping that the Jackyl would replace my beloved - and discontinued - Akashas (La Sportiva, please bring them back!!). The shoe is marketed as "exceptionally cushioned" and ideal for long trail days, but I unfortunately found this not super accurate. The Jackyl is really lightweight and grippy, both great qualities. But I found it to be a more responsive ride, and I could definitely feel the ground underfoot. At the end of a 14 miler, my legs felt more fatigue than I'd hoped with brand new shoes. Also, like other reviewers I got some gnarly heel blisters and I felt the heel cup was pretty rigid. I think the Jackyl could be a great option for shorter days on easy trail, but I'm still looking for that cushy, comfy out of the box feel for 20-30 mile days that I miss so much in the Akasha.

I have mixed feelings about these shoes. The sole is super thick and durable while the shoe is quite light, which I love. I have 300 miles on mine and they show hardly any wear. As a narrow-footed runner who is very brand-loyal to Sportiva, though, these are sort of a bummer. They are really wide! I added an insole, which helps, but I wish these came in a narrow width - I have to be super careful lacing them because they are wide enough that the tongue can overlap itself and end up really painful over a few miles. I stopped wearing them on more technical trail runs because my foot would slide around and I was worried it was going to cause an injury. In fact, I've been wearing them mostly on roads (which is another testament to their durability, I guess). I'm glad that Sportiva has a model with a more protective sole, but it sucks that I can't get a good fit in it because their ONLY thick-soled/heavily cushioned model is also their ONLY wide model. Please make one for narrow folks!

I was very disappointed because these shoes feel great and I knew I was going to love them just by opening the box, but they run at least 1/5 size small. I have multiple La Sportiva shoes of the same size, but the fit in this one was way off. Toe touches and it is very uncomfortable. I will have to return them.

Gave me heel blister after breaking them in for 2 weeks. Also they are hit true to size

The heel counter is very firm and rubbing my achilles.

Should have stuck with the Akashas, but after several months battling plantar fasciitis, I liked the sound of the support in the Jackal. They felt good when I tried them on, but took them out on the trail for a couple miles three weeks ago. Downhills were miserable. Toes go straight to the end of the shoe. This isn't my first pair of La Sportivas so I knew to size up a half size. Also got a blister on my heel thanks to the heel slippage. I took them out for four miles last week and six today. Blisters on both heels today. Tried different socks also. These are the worst trail shoes I have ever had. Going to the burn pile.

They felt great in the store but when actually trying to run in them they were awful. The back of the shoe is too stiff. Gave me the worst blisters of my life over my Achilles after only 2 miles. I had to take them off and walk barefoot on the trail. I have the bushidos and love those.

The sizes for these shoes are very inaccurate. The run EXTREMELY small. I am an avid runner and purchase a US Women's 9 for all my running shoes, which according to the La Sportiva size chart is a 40.5. When the shoes came in the mail I was very disappointed to see that my toes were touching the end of the shoe. My boyfriend and I got the same shoe, followed the size guide and both ended up with a trail runner that fit as tight as a climbing shoe.