La Sportiva

Cyklon Cross GTX Trail Running Shoe - Men's

mountain running shoe quiver must have!

Familiarity:

I've put it through the wringer

Size Bought:

41

Height:

5' 4"

Weight:

110

If you dislike having cold toes while trudging through snow, mud, slop, or during cold periods with wind/brisk windchill this shoe is one to consider adding to your shoe quiver for winter/transitional seasons. This shoe solved that issue for me, which allows me to train in all the elements without my toes being the limiting factor due to cold or discomfort. The thicker inner upper material, built in gaiter (tough material!), gtx membrane (bonus wind blocker, warmth trapper!) helps to keep my feet warmer on the cold days, which makes training in winter quite pleasant. I appreciate a boa lacing system (added grip on the dial to adjust with gloves/mitts on) on a gtx shoe because more often than not if it's cold enough to warrant gtx shoes my hands are also probably enduring similar issues (reduced dexterity/hand function). The boa allows for quick adjustment of lacing, tightening for a technical descent or as ones feet reduces swelling as the day progresses etc. It also helps if one has to take shoes off to empty pebbles etc out of the shoe (quick), which the integrated gaiter has helped to keep pesky pebbles out of my shoe - key features to have in a gtx mountain shoe, for me. Durable, burly lugged, sticky rubber (sticky on wet rock too!!) outsole is also a feature I appreciate in a gtx shoe, because odds are I'll be traversing across snow fields, which big lugs are nice for added grip on snow, kicking little steps into hard snow etc. For sloppy, muddy conditions, the knobby lugged outsole aids with traction. Sportivas white sticky rubber outsole also assures I can scramble on rock or have confidence on technical descents that my footing won't slip on rocks or boulders as I move from one to another, which is something that is very important to me. Currently have 350mi, over 250,000' of vert in mountain terrain on the Cyklon Cross GTX without signs of breakdown externally (outsole/upper) or internally (midsole) in the shoe, just slightly smaller lug height & therefore a slightly lighter weight shoe! =) Shoe quiver for training year-round in mountain terrain/conditions: - Kaptivas (I also like the Cyklons and interchange them in the quiver if I'm looking for a bit 'more' of a shoe from a protection standpoint or an additional gaiter layer if I'll be moving xc most the day and through a ton of loose scree/sand) - primarily use in summer, warmer months for all terrain. Light, nimble shoe with sticky rubber for scrambling, knobby lugs for traction up/across steep scree gullies or snow crossings. Enough cushion in the midsole that my feet don't get sore but not enough that interferes with ground feedback and feel/agility on rock. Mutant - 'dry' shoulder season. Multi-layered upper for additional warmth and protection from fine sand grains from entering the toe box (important in the Southern Sierra, which has no shortage of sand/decomposing granite) - I never have issues with fine particles entering the toe box, though less breathable on the really warm summer days (trade offs). Higher stack height is helpful for steep terrain, especially if it's a higher volume at a higher grade. Cyklon Cross GTX - 'wet' shoulder season (snow, winter rains) or brisk winter days, especially if there's a bite (wind chill).