Jim Skaggs

I've been using the 1st Endurance Ultragen for a couple of years now. I typically will use it within the first 30 minutes of a hard workout as a recovery drink. I do think it helps me to recover a little quicker than if I hadn't used it. Downside is that it's a little on the pricey side.

I bought these thinking that it would be an improved version of the Crosslites. Same aggressive sole and a more durable looking upper. Wrong. While I do like the comfort and and aggressive sole, the uppers really suck. The upper is more of a canvas type material. Heavier than the upper material on the Crosslite. I was hoping that maybe it would help to keep out dirt and dust a little better. What happened was that within 100 miles of use, the uppers started tearing right where the creases form. Eventually the tears let in all sorts of dirt and debris. I should have sent them back to La Sportiva. I did unload on their rep at the Outdoor Retailer show, telling them they needed to do something about that upper. Anyway, I won't be buying any more of these particular shoes.

The Crosslite is by far my favorite trail shoe. Light weight, very flexible, great traction. I love the aggressive tread and the flexibility makes you feel nimble even if you're not. Downsides? A couple for me. First, If you plan on running a 100 mile event in these, your feet had better be ready. I ran a 100K and by the finish, my soles were hammered due to the minimal cushioning. That can probably be overcome just by toughening up my feet. The other is that they are certainly not made for cold weather running. Get them wet from snow, and your feet will freeze. I will definitely be buying some more Crosslites. Love them.

Bought a pair of the Quantums last summer. They aren't the usual La Sportiva shoe in that there's a whole lot more cushion on the sole. The thing I like about these is that you can hammer a downhill section of trail and not worry too much about how bad your feet will hurt. The traction is great provided you're running dry trails. If you take these into snowy or muddy trails, watch out, the traction really sucks. Still, I really like them for my summer running.

Bought this shoe a few years ago and still wear them occasionally. It's ended up being a tough durable shoe for everyday trail runs. The sole isn't as aggressive as I like, but the grip is good. They did seem heavy and stiff at first but after some mileage they became more flexible. The comfort level is good, I never had any issues with blisters, sore feet etc. from these.