ProView – La Sportiva Lycan
Several years ago I decided I was tired of traipsing around the forest in big heavy hiking boots so I decided to trade my big boots in for a pair of La Sportiva Bushido trail runners. I was immediately hooked and haven’t looked back. As a wilderness instructor, avid hiker, and backpacker I spend a great deal of time on my feet. My old shoes had seen better days (after 100’s of miles) and I decided to give the Lycan a shot. La Sportiva has been creating technical and creative products for around 89 years. Born in the mountains of Italy and thriving on expert knowledge, La Sportiva knows its craft well. The Lycan shoe is a reflection of that.
La Sportiva Lycan
Product Description: The Lycan is the ideal Mountain Running® Shoe for training on off-road, rocky terrain where long-lasting sticky rubber and good shock absorption is needed.
Offer price: MSRP: $120.00
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Quality
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Features
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Fit
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Durability
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Eco-Friendly
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Summary
Fits true to size, great for hiking and trail running. This shoe does well as a cross-over and works great in the gym or pavement as well.
Overall
3.8Pros
- Lightweight
- Good support
- No break-in period
Cons
- Not as good for more rugged or diverse terrain
- Tred is not great in wet conditions
- Not as durable as other models
I have taken the La Sportiva Lycan in a myriad of terrains and conditions. Living in the Appalachian mountains means rain, lots of rain! There is also a good bit of rocky rooty trails in the southeast. I have even worn them to my Crossfit class! I took this shoe to the test and here is what I found.
Fit and Comfort
These shoes are great right out of the box. They fit like a glove, boast a flashy tred and a lot of cushion under the foot. The cushiony sole protects against rocks or roots striking the arch or heel and is a bit more lightweight than the Bushido by an ounce. I found that because the Lycan is a lighter weight shoe it dries out quickly and does not hold a lot of water when wet. While La Sportiva advertises this shoe as an all-terrain shoe, I have found that it performs best in more even or smooth terrain. I found myself slipping on wet rocks or uneven terrain more than other La Sportiva shoes I have worn. Another thing I like about this shoe is that the toe box portion of the shoe is roomy and there are almost no pressure points.
Features
The Lycan features the impact brake system which is a common feature in La Sportiva trail shoes. The laces are thinner which kept them from coming untied during activities. The one thing that I wish was a bit beefier on this shoe is the toe guard. It does not cover as much of the toe as other models, nor is it as durable. Overall, I found this shoe to be best for strictly trail running or hiking on smooth or more even terrain. Compared to other models I have tried this shoe is much lighter weight and does have more cushion on the tread which is a strength of this shoe to me. However, I feel like the actual tread is lacking aggressiveness when it comes to diverse terrain. In some ways though that less aggressive tread lends this shoe to be a more “all-around shoe” I have worn this out on the trail, at the gym, and even to run errands. It crosses over much nicer than some of the more rugged trail shoes.
The Final Word
What I ended up liking most about this shoe is that it crosses over into other settings quite nicely. Overall I have mostly enjoyed the Lycan, however, I have found it to be a bit less durable than other shoes they make like the Bushido. If you are looking for a lightweight, medium use trail shoe with some style and great colors than the Lycan might just be what you are looking for. It fits great right out of the box, it’s lightweight, and it does great on smooth trails.
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About the Gear Tester
Sara Briley
Sara discovered her love for wilderness instructing over 7 years ago in the Colorado mountains. She has worked in a variety of outdoor programs ranging from Outward Bound to challenge courses. She now enjoys teaching at a university and working with students enrolled in an outdoor leadership degree program. When she is not working she enjoys hiking with her dog Everest, mountain biking, canoeing, and backpacking in the mountains of Western North Carolina and beyond.