.jpg "la sportiva spectre 2.0 review")
La Sportiva has added the Mutant’s outsole to the Lycan 2.0, but has switched up the compound from FriXion Green to the less sticky, but more durable FriXion Blue. A huge part of my love for the Mutant was the super aggressive outsole. Back in 2016, I reviewed the La Sportiva Mutant, which went on to become one of my favorite trail shoes of all time. In an industry that is always obsessed with the new, I love that La Sportiva decided to go with something proven. The outsole of the Lycan 2.0 is the star of the show for me and is the main reason I find this shoe to be so much more useful than the original Lycan. There is no rockplate on the Lycan 2.0, but the firm midsole and tall outsole lugs provide protection agaist all but the sharpest of rocks. I could see the Lycan 2.0 as a nice fire road runner if you like a stable ride, but might feel a bit harsh if you prefer the cushion of an Altra of Hoka. The ride is perfect for my use, which is mixed running and hiking on mountain trails. The Lycan 2.0 isn’t as firm as the Kaptiva, but isn’t as soft as the Bushido II. The thick and firm midsole has moderate torsional rigidity, which makes the Lycan 2.0 a great option for technical trails and days with a pack. The Lycan is not a flexible shoe, but does provide a nice flex at toe-off. Built on a 6mm drop platform, this shoe has 28mm of foam in the heel and 22mm of foam in the forefoot. The midsole of the Lycan 2.0 is made with firm injection molded EVA and provides a stable and responsive ride. The TPU toe guard up front is solid, and will protect against just about anything I slam into. The Lycan 2.0 fits very comfortably on long days without any sloppiness on techinical trails. The Lycan 2.0 feels very similar to the Bushido II, but with a little more volume. The toebox on the Lycan 2.0 looks a little pointy, but actually has anatomical fit when worn. This is a nice improvement on the Lycan 1.0 which only had one grommet at the top. There is a double grommet at the top of the Lycan 2.0 for my preferred heel-lock lace technique. The lacing on the Lycan 2.0 uses fabric eyelets that really lock-in a secure fit.
The tongue is not gusseted, which allows small rocks and sand to find their way into the shoe at times. The tongue on Lycan 2.0 is thick and very well padded, it also has adequate length unlike the Kaptiva and Jackal. The heel is also very comfortable and well cushioned, which is a lot more than I was able to say about the Jackal. The heel still fits very snugly, without any slip at toe-off or lateral wiggle. The heel on the Lycan 2.0 has a fairly rigid heel counter and fits a little wider than most La Sportiva shoes. The midfoot instep is a tad narrow like most La Sportiva shoes, but fits my foot well. The wrap keeps my foot secure and in place on off-camber trails and steep ridge routes. The overlay midfoot wrap of the Lycan 2.0 hugs my instep and provides amazing lateral support. The Lycan 2.0 can also run a little hot in temps over 85° F, but as a mountain shoe this has not been much of an issue. The downside is that the shoe does not drain water and can take some time to dry. This burly upper has proven very durable and provides great protection from sharp rocks. The rest of the toebox, tongue, and heel use an open mesh. The upper on the La Sportiva Lycan 2.0 is built for rugged terrain with a stitched synthetic overlay that starts at the heel and wraps all the way onto the TPU toe cap. This is pretty light when you consider the amount of cushion underfoot, the burly upper, and the aggressive full-coverage outsole. My size 46.5 Lycan 2.0 weighs in at 12.57oz (356.4g), which is almost the exact same weight as the Jackal. For reference, I wear a 46.5 for the Jackal, Bushido II and for the original Lycan 1.0.
I find the 46.5 to be the perfect fit for the Lycan 2.0, as the 46 was too short. This puts me in between their 46 and 46.5.
La sportiva spectre 2.0 review full size#
I normally wear a size 11.5 US shoe, but wear a full size up to 12.5 for La Sportiva. I’ve been testing the Lycan 2.0s on mountain trails and ridge routes over the past few months, and will share my thoughts in this review. The upper and midsole remain virtually untouched, making for a mountain ready shoe from top to bottom. For the Lycan 2.0, La Sportiva has added the outsole from my beloved LS Mutants for a much more functional and performance oriented tread. I reviewed the original Lycan two years ago, and my general consensus was that it was a great shoe let down by a weak outsole. With an aggressive outsole, firm midsole, and bombproof upper, this shoe is made for the toughest of trails. The Lycan 2.0 is a classic no-frills La Sportiva mountain running shoe.
0 kommentar(er)
