La Sportiva Wildcat 2.0 GTX Trail Running Shoe - Men's for Sale, Reviews, Deals and Guides

I have had two pairs of these home and while they are super comfortable they have a major issue. Both pairs have had a loud clicking noise as you walk, almost like something is not glued correctly in the soles. The first pair was only the right shoe, the second pair were both shoes. So loud that even people walking with you can hear it.

First few times wearing were pretty uncomfortable but I could tell the shoes just needed broken in. Once they were broken in they became extremely comfortable and I now love these shoes. I trail run in wetter conditions and also use these shoes for hiking when I will be going through a wet zone and want something light and waterproof. The waterproofing works well so far. Worn shoes about ten times and for about 30 miles or so total. Normally wear EU size 42.5 and I chose that and they fit snug with a little room in the toe box for spreading out toes for stress relief during wear.

Both these GTX Wildcats and the non-GTX Wildcats in the older version and 2.0 have been nearly all I have worn in the past 10-12 years and have had at least 8 of the GTX pairs and several of the non GTX. The GTX version is my favorite for all around hiking, whether my daily rough on and off trail hiking or XC in the mountain forests here as well as being perfect for spring tele turn corn quest bootpacking on snow or to get to the snow, as they always keep my feet dry and are compact and light enough to stick in my ski pack for the down. The GTX versions are much stiffer and more supportive than the non GTX and better for side-hill edging and more varied rough terrain. I also wear the non-GTX versions for everywhere else; work, trips to town, even more dressy occasions, just because they are so comfortable. The GTX versions breathe nearly as well as the non-GTX and are fine in quite warm weather. There are some problems with these though. One thing I always have to keep in mind is that the 2.0 GTX version is extremely slippery on wet rocks or wood, which makes me a bit nervous doing steep creek crossings or walking on some sloping crude wet wood bridges on my regular routes. One other problem that seems to plague the GTX version in both the old original and 2.0 versions is that the heel lining is always the first thing to fail and blows out long before the sole wears much or the sub-sole support gets packed out. I used to send these back to LaSportiva, who was great about replacing these shoes with blown out heel linings. But now I have been just gluing some nylon cordura pack-cloth onto the heel linings when they start to rip and roll in that friction zone. This works pretty well but my heels do slip a bit more on the smooth nylon repair linings. The newer non-GTX versions have a much more durable heel lining that hold up great, though they get softer in support much sooner than the GTX types. I did buy a pair of the Wildcat 3.0 non-GTX shoes and find them a big disappointment. The tongues are not even gusseted, they are not supportive and a waste of money I like these Wildcat 2.0 shoes so well, even with the problems mentioned that I have stockpiled a couple of new pairs of the 2.0 GTX Wildcats against the possibility of their becoming unavailable.

I bought my fist pair of La Sportiva shoes for a trek to Wyoming, Montana and Oregon. The shoes were comfortable right out of the box and felt better than any trial shoe I have ever had. I wore them 8-14 hours a day for 3 weeks straight and they held up extremely well and after a good cleaning, looked practically new. I recently bought a second GTX pair with Gore-Tex and love them as well. One note: I typically wear a 10.5-11 US and had to do an 11.5 (45 EU) with both pairs.

I'm giving these shoes a big thumbs up especially with water protection and breathability. I have the non gore-tex Wildcats and wear them for 25+mi/week avg. doing difficult hill runs and fast hiking (1,000' elev. per mile). I recently did a 3.5 hr run up Mt. Wilson, CA (16 mi R/T) wearing these shoes in 40 degree dry & windy conditions. I was a little concerned about sweating in the goretex model for dry running in pleasant weather (75-50 degree temps)as I normally have sweaty feet after a run in my normal shoes but so far they these have been great and nothing significant to my regular non goretex Wildcats. The water proof qualities are excellent. A classic example I went yesterday on a tough 8 mile hike yesterday on single tracks and it started raining on mile 2, for the next six miles I was waiting for my shoes to wet out and get cold but they didn't, there was water lightly running down the trails but able to avoid big puddles. All I had for socks is the Darn Tough Racer Mini Tab Light socks and my feet were perfect in the 2 hours of rain, comfy and dry even after driving home. To give you an idea of how wet it was, my Arcteryx Paclite gore tex jacket did wet out but my my shoes did not wet out. My feet were the most comfortable part of my body. I would love to give these shoes 5 stars but all Wildcats have short life spans compared to other shoes like the Salomon Speed Cross. I only get about 250 miles out of them. It was shocking to see how much my midsoles have compressed on my older shoes (300 miles) when putting them right next to a new pair, it was over a 1/3"+ in height difference because the midsole was compressed. I wish they would make this exact shoe with better longer life midsoles with foam that had less memory instead of the current cheaper and short life span foam material, the shoes flatten out and I could feel it after about 200 miles in my knees and hips. This makes the shoes expensive for me (about $0.35 -$0.50 per mile) but the goretex version is worth it. I think the the Gore-Tex Wildcat version is a much better deal than the regular version. I have not yet had any problems with them not breathing and with them being water proof is a major plus. I'll be running in the snow with these along with short gators.

The La Sportiva Wildcat 2.0 shoes are my favorite because they will provide speed, support, and comfort for a 30 mile backpacking trip or a short trail run and everything in between. I have used this model of shoe for the past four years. I have used them all over the world, backpacking the Na Pali coast on Kauai to the epic hikes in New Zealand, to my day to day hike in the Wasatch mountains in Utah. They stay dry in the wettest conditons like Hawaiian climate. They provide amazing grip both uphill and downhill.

After retiring my last pair of Montrail Masochist (not the same since Columbia bought out) I decided to give the La Sportiva a try. First hike was 12.9 miles with 3000' elevation gain in the Smokies. The Wildcat's preformed awesomely paired with Darn Tough socks. Absolutely needed no break in right out of the box. Excellent grip on wet surfaces and rocky terrain. I normally wear a US size 8.5. Ended up going with a 9.5 for a comfortable fit. I'm assuming the European sizing is the difference.

These appear to be very well made shoes and could withstand a lot of punishment. Based on other reviews I did order a 1/2 size up. I normally wear a size 12 but ordered 12 1/2 and they fit perfect. These shoes are great out of the box for comfort and are very cool looking. Haven’t had a chance to hike in them yet but look forward to see how they do

I’ve bought these shoes when they were first introduced back in 2006 and still going strong! The only thing is the tread is wearing down finally! Still holding its gore Tex waterproofing! I own 4 different pairs of Lasportiva sneakers love them all!

Ok, Switzerland is pretty tiny, but still, it's a country. Walked the APR in these and they were perfect for the job. Held up great, good traction, stayed dry in snow, slush, and rain. Carried a good sized pack too and never felt any instability. Currently on my second pair, which I just use for running. Best trail running shoe I've ever owned by far.

The Wildcat is the only trail/approach shoe that I continuously return to. I have used this shoe for trail running, but it is my go to shoe for moderate approaches as well. I used this on the South Ridge of Mount Superior, and the narrow toe box made the 5.4 traverse pitches manageable. I use this shoe in the winter time to trail run, and when I face snowy conditions, the Gore-Tex feature helps keep my feet warm and dry. Fit for me is true to size, which is a 9.5, where my toes have a little wiggle room but still graze the end.

These are an excellent fit. This is my first pair of La Sportivas that weren't climbing shoes and overall I'm very satisfied. There is a nice heel cup and wonderful heel support that is great when running downhill. They do a good job keeping out the elements but are still fairly breathable. I use these both running in the snow and for wearing casually around town. They're lightweight, comfortable, and have a great grip.

Tried these kicks out on a rainy day up Cabot in the Whites with a full pack (~25 lbs). Not a difficult hike, but felt these shoes weren't quite up to the task. Pros: Super comfy out of the box, fully waterproof below the laces, lightweight Cons: Not great support, very slippery/bad traction on wet rocks/roots. Bottom line is that while these shoes were really comfortable, I simply couldn't trust them after slipping out several times on the trail. Would not recommend for this reason. Presumably if you're buying gtx shoes, you're at least contemplating using them in the rain.

I purchased these about a month ago and ended up returning them. The fit was a bit larger than expected and they felt more like a light boot than trail runner. I've worn several pairs of la sportiva and am usually a 44 but these felt much larger. Construction seemed durable but as I said a bit heavy. I usually prefer a light weight more minimalist style of shoe. I'd recommend these as a light to mid day hiker shoe but not to runners.

I love these shoes. I have the older model. 47.5 is the largest I can find anywhere, but it's just a bit tight with anything but the thinnest socks on. For reference, I wear 12.5 in Asics and 13 in Nike and the 47.5 is a bit tight comparatively. Gore-Tex makes these a great everyday shoe for the winter just running errands in sloppy parking lots, back and forth to the ski hill, picking up the dog poo, or actually going for a run on the trails, but winter also calls for slightly thicker socks, so beware if you have larger feet. Also, the Ultra Raptor GTX feels a little thicker and slightly stiffer in the body compared to these. Seems like the Ultra Raptor GTX would be a little warmer (maybe too warm for everyday hot summer use).

Poor quality. Stitching that holds lacing in ripped off only two months into use. Worn less than 20 times.

These are my 1st pair of trail running shoes in several years. Why? Because I'm not a trail runner. My gf was able to convince me to do a 12 mile trail run in the Bighorn Mountains of Wyoming, with the promise of drinks and prime rib waiting at the end at the world famous HF Bar ranch. I needed some shoes, so I got off the couch, ordered these and one week later I'm in over my head clawing out a 12 mile trail run. From the couch. I survived with only some minor soreness and leg pain. I paired these with some Darn Tough Merino Wool Mesh 1/4 Ultra Light running socks and had no complaints with either's performance. The shoes felt stable, had plenty of traction and kept my feet dry through the many creek crossings. I have a narrow, low volume foot with a high arch and usually wear a size 10 in most everything. I purchased a 43 and they fit very well. I would caution those with wider feet to consider another shoe. I did not find the shoes to be terribly cushy. They weren't hard underfoot, but I expected a little more cushioning. The goretex will keep your feet dry, but expect to sweat a little more as a consequence. I have since been cajoled into running more and am perhaps even thinking there can be some fun to be had running!

I have to admit, these are the first pair of waterproof shoes I've ever owned, but they've been spectacular so far. I bought these for a trip to Iceland, knowing there would be a lot of hiking and wet conditions involved. I was also looking for a light-weight, running-type shoe, not a boot. As I searched different stores to find the perfect shoe, I immediately realized that every brand that makes waterproof running shoes has conspired to make the ugliest shoe possible. I found the La Sportiva's to be one of the better looking shoes. I was pretty hesitant to pay $150 for a pair of shoes as I'm the kind of person who tries not to pay more than $40 for everyday sneakers, but these were talked up so much, I went for them. A lot was riding on these shoes as they would be my primary kicks for the 10 day trip through Iceland's terrain. It was even higher stakes since I didn't get to test them out on any trails before I left. After a week and a half of trails, rock, mud, and streams, these shoes were brilliant. First off, they were incredibly comfortable-even compared to my "comfortable" everyday shoes I wear at home. I would hike all day in these shoes and still have happy feet at the end of the day. They breathe amazingly and even kept my feet warm in 40 degree weather (though the type of socks probably had a lot to do with that). They have magnetic-like grip when it comes to climbing on rocks. Even on wet rocks. Speaking of wet, these things are legit waterproof. When I first bought these shoes, I was initially baffled as to how shoes that are seemingly made out of mesh could be waterproof. But I found out, short of wading ankle-deep into a stream, your feet will stay completely dry. Iceland has an overabundance of creeks, streams, and waterfalls and not once did I have wet feet after treading through these. They're the perfect wet weather shoe. If it's comfortable, stylish, grippy, waterproof, running style shoes you're looking for-look no further. They are a bit pricey, but worth every penny.

I got these for the man to replace an old pair of TNF shoes. Already, these are 10x better! I'll start by saying that the sizing is spot on. He wears a 10.5 in street shoes, and the 43.5 in these is a great fit. He does have a more narrow foot, so the slimmer toe box on these is perfect. They are also super comfortable- he took them right out of the box on a Grand Canyon trip and hiked in them every day. No hot spots or discomfort, and the goretex kept water out walking through shallow streams. They held great traction on the trails and wet rock. All in all, he loves these shoes. He's not a runner, but these fit the bill for light hiking and backpacking, and also as gym shoes. Definitely would recommend them!