La Sportiva Jackal is a trail running shoe designed for long distance adventures. It boasts sticky outsole rubber and an impact-resistant midsole to safeguard your feet in tough terrain.
The midsole is constructed like a sandwich. Thus, featuring EVA foam on the outside and a rock plate in the center. The center works to absorb shocks from sharp rocks or cliffs. Additionally, two Infinitoo polyurethane inserts increase responsiveness of the midsole.
Make sure to subscribe to the RunDreamAchieve YouTube channel. My goal there is to make weekly fitness videos to help runners of all ability levels. I hope this post and the available resources located here will help you with your goals.
Review
La Sportiva's Jackal shoe is designed with long distance trail runners in mind. Also, perfect for mountain trails, fell running and ultra distance events. Engineered for mileage performance, it will keep you comfortable on even the toughest trails.
The Jackal offers a spacious toe box for optimal comfort. In addition, a padded tongue that alleviates pressure on the front of your ankle. Also, keeps laces from digging into your top foot.
Though the Jackal is heavier than other shoes in its class, it doesn't feel overly heavy. The upper is more structured than many trail runners. Also, the full-rubber outsole adds just enough weight to provide grip on rocks and technical terrain.
The Jackal's cushioning is superior, thanks to an innovative midsole that combines compressed EVA with Infinitoo PU inserts. This combination offers superior comfort and shock absorption – ideal for ultra-distance races.
How Do the Running Shoes Fit?
La Sportiva is a high-tech brand that specializes in technical footwear for demanding activities. As such, their sizing can be slightly inconsistent.
Remember, before buying any pair of shoes from La Sportiva measure your foot length first. Doing this will allow you to accurately determine your shoe size.
The Jackal is an ideal running shoe for runners with wide feet. Also, its wide toe box provides ample splay room and increases stability, helping reduce foot fatigue.
These running shoes are lightweight and comfortable enough for daily wear. Furthermore, they provide good traction on various surfaces – whether slippery, wet, or steep.
The Jackal features a FriXion XF outsole with aggressive lugs for superior traction on any terrain. It makes an ideal shoe choice for trail runners who require shoes capable of withstanding steep grades, loose rock, and mud.
Does La Sportiva Have a Wide Toe Box?
La Sportiva is renowned for their climbing shoes, but they've recently gained popularity as a go-to choice for trail runners looking to explore the outdoors. Their trail running shoes tend to be stiffer than their mountaineering counterparts and designed with tough terrain in mind – perfect for La Sportiva mountaineering shoes!
Due to this, many of their models feature narrower, lower-volume fits than other brands. This may cause issues for people with wide or high volume feet.
La Sportiva addressed this issue with the Jackal, offering a shoe that features mesh covering the toe box and sides of the upper. It has drain holes which let water drain out of the shoes without wearing down materials due to abrasion.
La Sportiva's midsole midsole features dual density EVA foam with softer material at the forefoot and firmer material in the heel for a more comfortable ride than most of their other shoes.
Infinitoo polyurethane inserts at the heel and forefoot enhance responsiveness, softening the midsole while adding additional spring. Paired with a full-length rock plate and staggered impact-braking lugs, this shoe provides excellent traction when running over various terrain types.
How High is the Stack on La Sportiva Jackal?
The La Sportiva Jackal is an ultralight shoe designed for mountain adventures. It feels lightweight yet not overly sluggish, boasting an impressive 25mm stack height for long distance running.
The Jackal midsole features dual density EVA foam; the first layer sits closer to your foot for a softer ride, while the second provides firm support. A pair of PU inserts at the heel and forefoot add extra springiness and help dampen impact noise.
A full-length rock plate and staggered impact-braking lugs on the outsole create a stable platform designed for technical trail running.
I have been thoroughly impressed with how durable this shoe has held up, even through a season of trail running on Kauai's technical trails. Despite repeated use, the Jackal's midsole hasn't felt compromised or worn down; in fact, there's only some wear near the toe now.
How Deep Are the Lugs on a La Sportiva Jackal?
If you're a serious hiker or trail runner, La Sportiva's Jackal shoe is one of the top choices. Its outsole lugs are 3mm deep and provide excellent grip on hardpack, rock surfaces, as well as slightly loose or wet terrain.
La Sportiva's FriXion XT 2.0 outsole compound provides the lugs on these shoes, offering a sticky all-round rubber compound that may not be as sticky as some of La Sportiva's mud shoes, but these lugs are durable and provide excellent grip on rocky trails.
La Sportiva's lugs are not the most aggressive in their lineup, but they're sharp and provide excellent versatility on various surfaces. Traction is excellent on steep loose dirt and duff, snow, dirty ice, as well as other terrain.
The outsole lugs are staggered to bite into uphills and brake like a car on downhills, helping disperse impact on uneven surfaces. Furthermore, these dual density rubber treads feature red perimeter tread and black inside tread for improved traction on wet surfaces.
La Sportiva Jackal vs Akasha 2
La Sportiva Jackal trail running shoes offer a comfortable fit and plenty of cushioning, making these shoes ideal for runners looking to tackle long distances or extended training sessions in the mountains. With their generous fit and cushioning, these are ideal shoes for trail running enthusiasts looking for comfort on long hikes or extended mountain treks.
The Jackal's upper is constructed with a breathable ripstop mesh layering underneath a laminate overlay that spans the shoe from heel to forefoot and offers durability, protection, and structure.
For superior traction, the Jackal boasts a dual-density EVA midsole with Infinitoo PU (polyurethane) inserts for increased responsiveness. This midsole pairs well with its 1.5mm dual-density rock plate to offer excellent protection on rocky trails.
The outsole on the Jackal is built to last, boasting FriXion XT studs with 3mm chevron lugs that provide plenty of grip even on wet trails.
La Sportiva Lycan 2 vs Mutant
La Sportiva Lycan 2 is a shoe designed to offer maximum protection, stability and grip during hiking or high intensity mountain training. It's made with breathable mesh, microfiber reinforcements, and abrasion resistant materials for durability in tough conditions.
It is lightweight and comfortable, making it the ideal option for anyone searching for a versatile hiking and climbing shoe that can withstand all types of weather conditions and rugged terrain.
The Lycan 2.0 boasts superior rubber traction on any surface. Its FriXion XF outsole grips loose or solid surfaces, steep or flat, dry or wet, as well as rocks or loose earth.
In addition to its outsole, the Lycan 2 features a stitched synthetic overlay that begins at the heel and wraps up until it meets with the TPU toe cap. This robust upper has proven very durable over time and provides excellent protection from sharp rocks.
The midsole is composed of EVA foam and TPU stabilizer, offering a firm yet plush feel as you run. Many reviewers we spoke to were impressed by this feature – we recommend giving it a try!
La Sportiva Bushido 2 Review
La Sportiva Bushido II trail running shoe is designed for rugged trails with lots of roots, rocks and steep sections. It also makes an excellent scrambling shoe as it provides plenty of traction and protection.
These lightweight shoes boast a lower stack height than many other trail runners (around half that of the Salomon Speedcross 6 and 25% less than Altra Lone Peak 6), providing extra stability in rocky and wet terrain. As such, they're ideal for mountain runners and hikers who traverse difficult terrain.
The upper of the Bushido 2 is constructed with air mesh and microfiber overlays that vary in density and flexibility, pulling around your foot to keep it secure inside the shoe. Furthermore, this upper does not let sand or other debris through – an essential feature since sand can erode socks prematurely.
