La Sportiva

Jackal Trail Running Shoe - Men's

Long lasting

Familiarity:

I've put it through the wringer

Size Bought:

8.5

Height:

5' 11"

Weight:

140

I've had these for about 11 months. I don't wear them every run but probably have over 500 miles in them. The shoe and tread is still in great shape (I usually tear through uppers very quickly). I don't feel super fast in them, but they have enough cushion to keep me comfy on longer runs. I prefer the Bushido 2's on trails, but on runs longer than 10 miles my knees feel destroyed with those, these shoes don't have that problem.

Mostly good, but the heel is tall and super stiff

It killed my Achilles. I don't think I'm the only one too. These shoes seem like a rare miss but an otherwise excellent brand.

So disappointed :(

I really wanted to love this shoe, and I think I could have but for one thing. The heel counter destroys my achilles. Just a few miles and the skin at the top of the heel was ripped raw. :( Just about every other aspect I think is good but I cannot run long enough in them to find out. Considering taking a knife/scissors to them.

Size Up and Run Hard

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.

Not up to par with with La Sportivas typic quality

I bought these shoes knowing about the finicky fitment around the achilles, but after mostly loving the Kaptiva I figured it was worth a try. They fit my feet exelent, super comfortable and stable for me. However, the outsole on both shoes is already chunking (big pieces falling off) and falling apart after just a couple of trips into the mountains. Cheap adhesives and weak, not very grippy rubber. It's a huge bummer because they would be awesome shoes if it wasn't for this oversight. I couldn't possibly imagine doing a mtn ultra in these shoes without completely destroying them in one go.

Same back-of-foot blister issues

I figured I should add my voice to the chorus: my first pair of these were ok, with some slight rubbing on the achilles tendon / back of foot area. The second pair, the pain was unbearable my first run. I tried wearing thicker socks, and even then, a short 3 mile run would cause such rubbing that I would be in pain. Something having to do with the plastic fin in the back of the shoe rubbing up against my achilles tendon. After 19 miles I gave up on these and bought other shoes.

Comfortable but not stable

These are mostly comfortable to run in, especially over significant distances. But I've found that for some reason I'm more prone to rolling my ankles wearing these compared to the Kaptiva, Lycan, Wildcat, or Helios. I thought it was just me, but a (female) friend has found the same thing. On a long run last summer, I was feeling great in these on a rocky trail, then caught a pretty small rock just wrong and got a grade 2 AITFL sprain that kept me from running for 7 weeks. Even fully recovered, I've found the same thing is still true and it makes me way more cautious and slower on trails.

Blisters!

I've owned two pairs, and as much as I wanted to like these shoes unfortunately I cannot. The first pair gave me blisters on the heel and arch. I thought maybe it was because I was so used to running in Bushido's and these were just a different fit. My feet became used to the feel and now onto the second pair: even worse. The heel cup has some sort of hard plastic piece that just digs straight in. Eight years of ultra training and I've never had a blister on top of a blister. Please fix that painful plastic heel cup!

Jackal is a miss, bring back the Akasha!

Familiarity:

I've used it once or twice and have initial impressions

Height:

5' 10"

Weight:

165

This shoe was close to being good. Good sole, traction, feels like a serious trail running shoe for rough terrain, however a couple issues: 1. The achilles cup design - it comes to a point and somewhat points into into your heel instead of being a kind of u shape that cups your achilles, very odd. I spent time working this part of the shoes before wearing so that it would flex more and this helped however it wasn't very comfortable especially when the fore foot is extended forwards. 2. Uppers - The deal breaker for me was that they were extremely unsecure when going downhill. No matter how tight i tied the laces my feet would still slide forward even though the fit of the shoe was right. The laces are thin like most La Sportivas however combine with an unusually thin tounge you will feel the laces cut into the top of your foot if you tie them tight enough to secure your feet. I just couldn't get them secure enough that i had to run painfully slow/cautiously downhill as my feel would frequently slide forward. Like many others i've also resorted to buying overpriced Akasha's from Europe on ebay since that's the only place you can get them. La Sportiva just needs to start selling Akasha's in the US again, it's a perfect trail shoe!

Achilles Blister

Well, I really wanted to like this shoe. La Sportiva has always been too narrow through the toe box for me and this one finally fit the bill! That was until I started running. Within 10 minutes I could feel my Achilles’ tendon being rubbed and I knew I was in for blisters. Within 30 minutes I had to stop. Disappointed as I thought this was the shoe. I actually don’t remember the last time I had a blister and I put in a lot of miles. Too bad.