La Sportiva Prodigio Pro - Women's Review

The La Sportiva Prodigio Pro comes equipped with 3.6 mm lugs across its high-performing outsole. At 7.70 ounces (per women's size 6.5 US shoe), this rock-plate-less propulsion machine is primed for high-agility running.

Comfort and Fit

The La Sportiva Prodigio Pro is slightly difficult to get on straight out of the box, especially if you have wide feet, but that is where our criticism of this shoe ends. From the top down, the knit sockliner upper and precise size increments allow this shoe to cradle an average to narrow fit with ease and grace. The heel collar is well-contoured with a pillow of padding around high-rub areas.

The all-new Powerwire upper is similar to a typical Matryx weave but offers a bit more ruggedness and conformability. The lacebed features striated lines of cushion to prevent the laces from digging in, adding comfort and long-distance prowess to this trail shoe. La Sportiva included a rigid toe cap that protects toenails without adding bulk or weight to the front of the shoe. The combination of nitrogen-infused EVA foam and a TPU (affectionately called XFlow Speed by La Sportiva) midsole delivers an exceptionally responsive bounce. Paired with a moderate rocker, these materials provide a legendary mountain running experience. While the fit may not cater to runners with ultra-wide feet, the overall fit and comfort make the Prodigio Pro an easy alpine running recommendation.

Traction

La Sportiva has a way of making grippy outsoles that rely on moderate lugs for ultimate traction. The outsole of the Prodigio Pro is made of FriXion XF 2.0, with modest 3.6 mm lugs.

Instead of relying on deep, unyielding lugs to bite into the trail, La Sportiva chose to use a softer material that adds an element of tackiness to this shoe's outsole. The horseshoe-shaped lugs offer multidirectional teeth that provide security across most terrain types.

Traction Ratings on Difficult Surfaces

Product	Loose Trail	Mud	Slick Rock
Best	5	5	5
La Sportiva Prodigio Pro	4	4	4
Average	4.1	3.6	3.9
Worst	4	2	2

I have often found that sharp, deep, hard lugs don't necessarily offer the best traction on loose or gravelly surfaces. In the case of the Prodigio Pro, La Sportiva read my thoughts and executed an iconic outsole perfect for the needs of runners tackling varying terrain. The outsole of the Prodigio is well-suited for loose trails, muddy trails, and everything in between. While no shoe is perfect, this race-ready shoe offers an element of reliability that I am newly enamoured with.

Stability

The heel of the Prodigio Pro is 27 mm thick, and the outsole hardness is 63 HA. This moderate to low stack, 3 mm drop, and somewhat compressible midsole and outsole combine to provide agility-promoting stability.

This is not a shoe with lateral structures for gait correction. Instead, the Prodigio delivers inherent stability for race-paced efforts. The forgiving midsole and outsole might be softer than some runners want, but the control this sensation provides offers a solid amount of stability.

Foot Protection

One of the things I love most about the Prodigio Pro is that it takes a mild-mannered approach to foot protection. Super chunky trail shoes have their time and place, but I really enjoy how La Sportiva used a critical eye when assessing which protective features to include with this shoe.

Interestingly, the Prodigio does not have a plate embedded within its outsole. When it comes to race shoes, many companies choose to include a carbon plate that doubles as a protective element and a propulsive one. Without one, the Prodigio relies solely on its midsole cushion and outsole for underfoot protection, offering a more sensitive ride than beefier trail kicks.

The outsole material extends up the toe side of the shoe a bit, providing precise coverage beyond the laminated toecap. The Powerwire weave deflects trail debris well and does not absorb moisture, ensuring that the Prodigio remains lightweight during swampier efforts. The knit ankle collar offers a snug fit that helps deflect pebbles and sand from infiltrating through the top. Not only is this a functional feature, but it removes the need for ankle gaiters, allowing the shoe to maintain its stripped-back, agile nature.

Weight

At 7.70 ounces per women's size 6.5 US shoe, the Prodigio is on the lighter end of the spectrum.

I tend to classify any trail shoe that runs under 8 ounces as a lightweight option, so the Prodigio sneaks in right under the buzzer. Because of its thoughtful design, snug fit, and high-tech textiles, the Prodigio is a prime race shoe ready to tackle difficult terrain. Even the outsole feels lightweight, allowing this shoe to be a well-rounded roller built for pace pushing. Runners who want to prioritize bitier lugs, beefier traction, and heartier protection may be staring down a heavier shoe, but runners who want all of the necessary elements in a lightweight package needn't look beyond this offering from La Sportiva.

Sensitivity

Because the Prodigio Pro doesn't have a rock plate or ultra-hard outsole, it offers a solid amount of sensitivity.

This is not the shoe for runners who want to completely eliminate trail-feel to create propulsion. This is also not the shoe for runners who want to feel absolutely every crevice adorning the trail beneath them. The Prodigio's sensitivity falls somewhere in the middle. With a total stack of 27 mm in the heel, a 3 mm drop as measured by our in-house testing team, and a notable amount of outsole flexibility, this shoe strikes a comfortable balance of sensitivity.

Should you Buy the La Sportiva Prodigio Pro?

If the technology-based elements and price point of the Prodigio Pro sound like they might suit your fancy, we recommend this shoe far and wide. It is on the pricier side, but the value it represents is still strong if serious trail running is what you're after. We have better recommendations for runners who are just trail-curious or runners with wider feet. Still, pace-focused terrain geeks will love the midsole bounce, agile fit, and overwhelming glory of this new La Sportiva superstar.

What Other Trail Running Shoes Should You Consider?

If you are interested in taking on the La Sportiva Prodigio Pro as a race shoe but want something with bigger workhorse energy for the bulk of your training runs, we recommend the La Sportiva Bushido III. The Bushido lacks the responsive pep-and-roll of the Prodigio but makes up for it with its excellent traction, heel braking system, and rugged durability. The Hoka Mafate Speed 4 is a softer, more approachable take on trail racing, with similar attributes in a less alpine-focused package. If you love the idea of a lightweight, flexible racing shoe but are unsure about the rocker angle of the Prodigio, the Nnormal Kjerag is worth considering. Finally, the Nike Zegama is a wannabe Prodigio. Nike put their own spin on the Prodigio's excellence, resulting in a shoe that did not score as high in performance but excels in style. While we wouldn't go so far as to recommend the Zegama on performance outright, its blend of features delivers a comparable ride at a somewhat lower price.