La Sportiva Akasha II

There is no doubt that the La Sportiva Akasha II is the Italian brand's ultra shoe for those who spend whole days on technical mountain terrain and put protection before low weight. Within the La Sportiva range it shares long-distance territory with the even more armoured Ultra Raptor 2, while the Prodigio Max is the modern alternative for those after a softer ride with more foam. It is not a fashionable shoe and does not try to be, although it gained quite a reputation across the pond when Anton Krupicka chose it to run Leadville.

Compared with the original Akasha, the changes are concentrated in the upper. The seamless AirMesh is thinner and more flexible, lets in less dirt and drains water better, with slightly less dense heat-sealed overlays and more protection at the toe. The gusseted tongue now has more mesh and fewer overlays, which is welcome when the heat is on. The fit is medium by La Sportiva standards, with enough room in the toe box for when the foot swells after many hours, and the sizing is the brand's usual.

Underfoot, the midsole and outsole remain practically unchanged. The dual-injection EVA MEMlex is firm, and that is where the protection comes from: there is no rock plate and it does not need one, although your legs feel it at the end of a long day. With 31 mm at the heel and 25 mm at the forefoot (6 mm drop), the TPU STB pieces on both sides of the midsole provide stability on slopes and cambered terrain, although more than one runner finds the system somewhat dated, adding weight and making the transition a little clumsy on smooth forest tracks. The FriXion XT 2.0 outsole, with 4.5 mm arrow-shaped lugs and the Impact Brake System, grips wonderfully on rock and technical terrain, although on ice or loose snow you are better off reaching for some microspikes. Ideal for ultras and long days on technical, broken terrain; for forest tracks and runnable trails, the brand's own range has lighter, livelier options such as the Prodigio 2.