by The La Sportiva Prodigio Hike GTX ($199) feels like a trail running shoe that went to finishing school for rougher terrain. It kept us light on our feet during big-mile days, but backs that up with grippy traction and surprisingly confidence-inspiring support. A sock-like knit collar and a dialed fit overall are also major reasons why we loved testing this hiking boot/shoe hybrid. The only real thing you’ll need to watch out for is making sure you size it correctly.
Cons
La Sportiva Prodigio Hike GTX
For this season’s top models, see our guide to the Best Hiking Shoes.
Comfort
The La Sportiva Prodigio Hike GTX has an interesting build, with a synthetic mesh upper that features a stretchy, knit tongue and collar. It’s also noticeably rockered—even more so than most other trail running shoe/hiking boot hybrids. This shoe is also pretty light (1 lb. 5 oz. for the pair), and between its low weight and super-comfy upper, I didn’t need any break-in period. I was initially cautious after a recent new-shoes disaster (I even wore sock liners), but the Prodigio never produced hot spots or blisters, even when I went full send and wore it on a two-day, 32-mile backpacking trip in Rocky Mountain National Park for my first test outing.
I hiked mostly on straightforward trails, which eventually turned rockier as I traversed a high ridge. The La Sportiva Prodigio Hike GTX stayed comfortable for the entire trip, though, and it even surprised me with how secure it felt once the terrain got more demanding. Underfoot, this shoe has an average amount of trail-runner-style cushioning, but it feels supportive rather than mushy. The sole is also flexible in a way I really appreciated—I can fully flex my foot without feeling like the shoe is fighting me, which matters a lot for steep hiking and scrambling, when your foot movement is constantly changing. And the light upper and the form-fitting knit collar felt fantastic and held my foot in place; I’ve dealt with heel rub, arch hot spots, and all kinds of small fit issues before, but didn’t experience any of that with the Prodigio.
Support and Stability
I’m someone who values stability in a hiking shoe. I’ve sprained my ankles before, and I tend to feel more relaxed when footwear gives me a bit of help staying confident on the trail. While the Prodigio Hike doesn’t provide leather boot-level ankle support (the collar is soft knit fabric, after all), it does grant more ankle security than a typical low-cut trail runner. The cuff wraps my ankle with a snug fit, and it helps the shoe feel connected to my foot in a way that helps stave off errant steps. It won’t stop you from rolling your ankle if the ground suddenly shifts beneath you, but I still appreciated how the Prodigio’s shape and materials allowed me to stride naturally, which goes a long way towards preventing slips.
It also allowed me to carry more weight than you’d expect from a hiking shoe this light and nimble. During my trip in Rocky, I carried a pack that was about 30 pounds. The Prodigio performed well, and I never found myself wishing for burlier footwear, even when I was scrambling over loose scree, around large boulders, and on steep trails that occasionally turned icy. That said, if you’re new to carrying backpacking loads or you want maximum support and underfoot structure, a heavier, more traditional model like the Keen Targhee IV or the Merrell Moab 3 would make more sense.
Traction
This shoe is purpose-built for holding fast in all types of terrain. The Prodigio Hike’s outsole is designed with La Sportiva’s proprietary Bi-Compound FriXion XT 2.0 rubber compound, which, in addition to being a mouthful to say, stuck to pretty much anything I walked across. Its lugs are medium-height—La Sportiva lists them at 4.5 millimeters—and shaped in a way that reminds me of hoof prints, with spacing that balances bite and consistency. Overall, the outsole has a sticky, medium-soft feel that seems made for maximum traction rather than impressive durability. (As makers of some of the best approach shoes in the business, La Sportiva knows this world well.)
During my testing, the Prodigio’s traction ended up being the most confidence-boosting part of the shoe. I’ve worn it while boulder hopping in snowy and icy conditions, hiking down normal alpine and forest trails, and backpacking over desert sandstone. The shoe consistently provides something close to approach-shoe grip, but without the stiff, hot, technical feel that makes approach shoes feel like overkill.
One moment that really sold me was when I approached the top of a thirteener summit in cold conditions. The last half mile involved scrambling over icy boulders, and I felt far more comfortable than I expected to in a shoe that still feels this light. I haven’t tested the Prodigio in heavy mud yet, but based on where it shines, I’d rather save it for the terrain it excels at: rock, variable ground, and shoulder-season alpine terrain.
Durability
For a shoe that still moves and flexes like a trail runner, the La Sportiva Prodigio Hike GTX feels unusually well put together. The stitching looks tight, all of the transition points between materials feel clean, and I haven’t noticed weak-looking seams. The laces also feel substantial, and the lace attachment points look reinforced in a way that matches the shoe’s semi-technical intent.
I’ve put roughly 150 miles on the Prodigio across forested trails, high alpine scrambles, and desert canyons. There are some signs of wear, but everything is still intact and functioning. The shape is holding, the laces are fine, and I only have one lingering question: If the knit collar loosens with age, could it change the magic? Regardless, so far this shoe looks way better than some footwear I’ve wrecked during testing over the same distance. I don’t expect the Prodigio to outlast a leather hiking shoe or a burly boot, but for this category, it feels built for a longer life than most.
Foot Protection
Because the Prodigio Hike is a fairly light, thin hiking shoe, it doesn’t have the same armor provided by heavier, clunkier models. Even so, I thought that its toe protection was legitimately useful. The shoe’s outsole rubber comes up and over the very front of your toes and splays out a bit on either side, providing a decent barrier against head-on impacts. I stub my toes a lot, and with this shoe, I haven’t had any of those stop-you-in-your-tracks impacts. It’s not anything close to a steel toe, but the bumper shape and structure do a nice job absorbing hits when I kick rocks.
Along the sides, a TPU overlay runs around the shoe, right above where the upper connects to the midsole. It’s thin, but it’s not nothing. Heel protection feels robust for the category, though, with a decently sized counter that extends the back part of the outsole to meet the TPU overlay around the bottom of your Achilles. Underfoot, the Prodigio doesn’t have a rock plate, and ground isolation is mediocre: I can feel I’m on rocks, but not in a punishing way. Sharp edges don’t jab through, though, and the shoe keeps hard surfaces from feeling harsh, especially under the heel and ball of the foot, where impacts stack up.
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Weight
Weighing 1 pound, 5 ounces in the women’s version (1 lb. 10 oz. for the men’s), the Prodigio ranks among the bottom half of the hiking shoe ecosystem. But the difference between it and some of the lighter shoes in the category is only a few ounces, and I’d argue that having the advantage of the high knit collar, supportive sole, and waterproof liner is more than a fair tradeoff. (To give some examples: Two of the highest-rated hiking shoes that Better Trail has reviewed, the women’s Merrell Moab Speed 2 GTX and the Hoka Anacapa 2 Low GTX, weigh 1 lb. 8.8 oz. and 1 lb. 8.8. oz., respectively, while the ultralight Hoka Speedgoat 6 weighs 1 lb. 3.6 oz.).
I found the Prodigio more than adequately light and, more importantly, plenty comfortable. I usually do 15 to 20 miles a day when I’m hiking or backpacking, and during my testing, my feet weren’t screaming from fatigue the way they sometimes do when I wear heavier footwear.
Features
Waterproof Liner
La Sportiva kits the Prodigio out with a Gore-Tex ePE Extended Comfort waterproof membrane, which did a fine job keeping my feet dry. I never felt damp even when I was walking in snow for a few hours, although I haven’t submerged the shoe fully in running water yet.
Temperature-wise, this has been a strong shoulder-season shoe for me. It takes the edge off cold conditions better than a breezier trail runner, but I still didn’t feel clammy or swampy when working hard—even with the waterproof membrane, the thin mesh upper helps regulate heat. For the variable conditions across Colorado and Utah that I wore the Prodigio in, that balance felt right.
Fit and Sizing
I usually wear a women’s 9.5 in hiking footwear, and I’m lucky that sizing is typically straightforward for me. With the La Sportiva Prodigio Hike GTX, that changed. La Sportiva’s reputation for running small held true here, and after trying several sizes, I landed on a 10.5. That’s a meaningful jump from my usual, but it ended up feeling just right—secure without pinching, and stable without needing to crank down the laces.
The Prodigio’s fit is also a little unique. The shoe has a slight up-tilt at the toes because it’s so heavily rockered, and the knit collar wraps the ankle unlike any other shoe I’ve worn. That collar gave me a snug, supportive hug and helped keep trail grit out, and it’s a big reason the Prodigio felt comfortable straight away. Also, while my toes fit well, I can see the vertical space in the forefoot feeling tight for someone with high-volume toes. Definitely check this shoe’s sizing and forefoot feel closely before you buy.
La Sportiva Prodigio Hike GTX vs…
Merrell Moab Speed 2 GTX ($170): A Slightly Burlier Hybrid
The Moab Speed 2 GTX is another mashup between a trail running shoe and a hiking boot. We also found it just about as versatile as the Prodigio Hike, although for different reasons. The Speed 2 has more cushion and is stiffer both underfoot (it has a nylon plate sandwiched within its midsole) and around the thicker, more traditional synthetic upper. All that makes it even better for remaining comfortable under backpacking loads and over long distances, but it also means the Speed 2 isn’t as good for hopping around on precarious terrain or going fast. We also didn’t find the Vibram TC5+ outsole quite as effective as the Prodigio’s rubber, although it’s not bad by any means. Many hikers will find the Speed 2 to their liking, but those who prioritize speed or frequently head into scrambling-adjacent terrain might prefer the Prodigio. For more, read our Moab Speed 2 review.
Topo Athletic Traverse ($155): Fewer Ounces, Same Great Grip
If you want to go even lighter and even more distance-oriented, the low-top Traverse makes sense. It weighs 1 pound, 5.2 ounces for a pair, but this isn’t some wimpy trail running shoe. The Traverse has great lateral stability and can handle moderate pack loads just about as well as the Prodigio Hike, although you lose the latter shoe’s supportive knit collar. We also love the Traverse’s traction, with a Vibram Megagrip outsole that puts it on par with the Prodigio’s impressive grip. It’s pretty dang durable as well, and lasted our tester 650 miles on the Continental Divide Trail. The Traverse has a wider forefoot, a narrower heel, and much less rocker than the Prodigio, so your choice might well come down to fit and ankle feel. Both are great shoes in their own right. For more, check out our review of the Athletic Traverse.
La Sportiva Frankensteined the Prodigio Hike with a knit cuff upper and a rockered, trail runner-like base. The result is impressive on- and off-trail performance, although its fit is polarizing and the price is fairly steep.
An approachable design, the Moab Speed 2 combines hiking-shoe-like stability and support with the low weight and rockered style of a trail running shoe. It’s comfortable out of the box and adept both on and off-trail. However, it lacks the performance fit and agility you’d get with a trail runner.
Designed specifically for thru-hiking, the Topo Athletic Traverse offers an ideal combination of comfort, structure, and low weight. Most hikers will love the roomy toe box. Our tester put 650 miles into this shoe before noticing a performance drop.
Is the Prodigio Hike GTX for You?
If you’re an experienced hiker or backpacker who wants a relatively light shoe that can do the work of a much burlier boot, the La Sportiva Prodigio Hike GTX won’t let you down. It’ll keep you moving forward with confidence on high alpine trails and broken, rocky terrain, thanks to a secure fit, more support than its build suggests, and some of the best traction we’ve seen outside of approach shoes. As long as the fit is right, it’s hard to think of a reason not to buy the Prodigio.
