La Sportiva Mutant

The eye-catching La Sportiva Mutant is a versatile shoe for running not-too-long distances in the mountains or on trails. Compared with the popular Bushido, which is more of an all-terrain shoe and more agile, the Mutant offers more cushioning and is aimed at muddy, boggy trails, as an evolution of the Q-Lite.

The upper of the Mutant stands out not only for the short gaiter that protects the ankle and aims to keep annoying small stones out of the bootie, but also for the Fusion Gate lacing system, which joins the laces to the shoe for a personalised fit. The new spiral tongue is not very plush, and you need to take care not to over-tighten the thin laces to avoid discomfort.

Cushioning in the Mutant starts with the almost indestructible 4 mm Ortholite^® insoles (with antibacterial treatment) and continues with a compressed EVA midsole that also has a stabilising plate at the heel. As in other models from the Italian brand, the FriXion XF outsole stands out for its high quality, with lugs spaced further apart than usual to prevent mud build-up, favouring grip over durability.