ILa Sportiva caused a stir amongst the trail running community last year after a flurry of UK records were broken by the runners wearing their trail shoes.
One such record breaker was 31-year-old American John Kelly, who laid down the fastest known time for the Pennine Way, completing the 268-mile route in just 2 days, 16 hours and 40 minutes. On his feet were a pair of La Sportiva Jackals.
I’ve recently had my own pair to test out, admittedly not over the course of a 268-mile continuous run, but over a number of hill trips, including a few days spent exploring some technical routes in the Lake District. Here’s what to expect from the Jackal and how I’ve got on with them…
The Upper
The mesh on the upper sits over the toe and tongue, with the tongue itself connected to the inner like a sock. Designed with comfort in mind, these internal bellows stop any unwanted bits of nature (twigs, mud, rocks, etc…) sneaking their way in to wreak havoc with your run.
TPU reinforcements sit around the toe box which helps to aid the longevity of the shoe and protects against any unwanted rock abrasion and scuffing when scrambling or running through rougher terrain.
The side panels come in a ‘mono-burr nylon’ that helps with breathability and keeps your feet cool during those summer sessions.
