This Woodlands Ranger has been testing the La Sportiva Akyra II GTX. Here’s his verdict.

The La Sportiva Akyra II GTX are nimble, flexible shoes with trail running roots but mountain hiking features. They have a very close fit – I would choose to go up a half or full size if I was wearing them in cooler weather with thicker socks.

Peter Macfarlane’s verdict

A good, if pricey choice for a trail runner with mountain capability, but do check the fit first, as they are low volume shoes.
Pros
  • nimble feeling
  • grip in soft conditions
Cons
  • price
  • low volume fit
Quick specs
Price: $168.95 / £160 (available from Nevis Sport)
Weight: 822g pair UK9
Materials: recycled polyester upper, recycled laces
Features: Injection moulded EVA midsole, Dual Compound Frixion XT Red outsole, KPU 3D Grid 3 layer upper
Waterproof? PFC free Gore-tex liner
Sizes: UK 5.5 to 14 inc half sizes
Woman’s version? Yes
lasportiva.com

The upper is synthetic mesh and is overlaid with a plastic exoskeleton which protects the mesh fabric from abrasion. The upper also has a Gore-Tex waterproof lining which works as expected with a slightly higher ankle cuff keeping most water out. The outsole is aggressively lugged and grips well in dry, soft and wet conditions, but does lose traction on hard wet surfaces, and on my local wet clay.

The heel is well shaped for biting on descents and the heel cup is equally well shaped for fit and stability. The toe has some light reinforcement, but the confidence that the Akyra gives you to move quickly on rough terrain means toe bumps are more likely, and I would prefer a little more toe protection.

Lacing is through a mix of slots through the plastic upper and via webbing loops and this works well, but has to be kept clean to keep it running smoothly. The tongue although only lightly padded has a tougher material on its outer surface which combines to eliminate lace pressure, even with the thin socks I used with these shoes.

A good, if pricey choice for a trail runner with mountain capability, but do check the fit first, as they are low volume shoes.

Testing conditions

Peter walked Munros and ran his local trails in the Kilpatrick Hills for this test and is a long term fan of trail shoes for general outdoor use. He is a UK9, has a narrow heel and wide forefoot, and the weights are taken from his own digital scales.

This review was first published in the June 2025 issue of The Great Outdoors magazine.