Looking for tough soled trail runner

Have you checked out the La Sportiva Ultra Raptors? They have a stiff supportive sole and good friction. I believe the New Balance Leadville shoes have Vibram.

My family is debating between the La Sportiva Akasha and the Akyra  for the Wind River High Route this August.  The Akasha is pretty burly and the newer Akyra’s sole looks more so.  They fit similar to the Ultra Raptor but have a more aggressive sole.

I would suggest the newly released Akyra (an REI exclusive in the US for a few more months).

Check out this other thread as well for a better perspective:
https://backpackinglight.com/forums/topic/la-sportiva-akyra/

@Rog  yes i did the Sierra high route last summer with the Salomon XA”s and like i said in first post, they were great but the soles took a beating sliding over all that off-trail granite. A few of the small lugs ripped off… it appeared they were a separate glued on piece maybe. I can  post a picture later.

The Akyra’s do look promising. Although i’d worry they might suffer the same fate…

I guess what i’d like is a nice, thick lugged Vibram boot sole on a trail runner upper. something like the shape of the Altra upper but a little more protective…more like the La Sport of Solomon.

+must be breathable , non-waterproof

the New Balance Leadville has a Vibram sole and breathable upper

You might look at the La Sportiva TX3, sticky vibram sole, firm midsole, wider than you would think, unless you are really looking for trail runner to run in.

Here is Dave Chenault’s take

I have just begun to test them out but like what I felt so far.

Yea i had a bad experience with New Balances so kinda wary. and its still a running sole too. want a big,  heavy, hard boot sole with the runner upper.

yea i’ve considered approach shoes but worry the toe box would be too small. the only place i get, uhhh, ‘irritation’ (no blisters, but pinches sometimes) is on the inside of my pinky toe and a narrow shoe exacerbates that.

I have had the same pinky toe issues and wore Keens for years that solved that problem but the TX3 is a better shoe in many ways and feels just as wide, no toe issues.  Had to go up 1/2 size from my normal.

I have a pair of the TX3s that I used last summer for cross-country trips (parts of the Sierra High Route and others). I like them a lot except for the upper which can take time to dry if it ever gets wet. They were great on rocky terrain, comfortable after long days and have proven to be durable.

I was considering getting a new pair of the TX3 when I noticed the Akyra at REI.
The Akyra has a breathable mesh upper (like the Ultra Raptor and Akasha etc) but has a very rugged sole. But more comfortable than the TX3 when I tried them on in the store.

Peter Bakwin confirmed that they’re also very durable (see linked thread above) – he’s beaten up a pair for almost an year.

YMMV.

I too am planning the WRHR in August and was looking for something similar.  When you say tough do you mean the material or also a stiff sole?  I normally use trail runners, but with all the off trail miles I am nervous that a stiff sole may be better in the long run.

The sole on the Akyra is sticky like most La Sportiva shoes while not as stiff as the TX3 sole; it’s closer to the Akasha sole but a bit beefier. It also doesn’t have those little sticky soft rubber nubs as on the Ultra Raptors; those nubs, while providing great purchase, tend to wear pretty fast on rocky terrain.
It appears the Akasha aand Skyra soles are sticky while also being potentially more durable; time will tell.

Have you looked at Saucony’s Xodus?  Vibram sole, I’m not sure if you would consider it a boot sole though…

http://www.saucony.com/en/xodus-iso/25011M.html

Edit:  looks like only the GXT version has the Vibram sole now.  You might be able to find older versions…

“Looking more for a boot sole on a trail runner upper.”

Take a look at the Salomon X Ultra then. They have mid and low cut versions. Upper is a bit too beefy perhaps, but they’ve added several different versions now, also non Gtx etc.

Skurka used to use them for a long time. Me too, but I ultimately switched to Montrail and La Sportivas Mutant.
In fact, the Mutants might be to your liking as well. Very burly lugs. Upper stays glued to your foot, also on very steep terrain.

Hope you find what you need.

+1 on the Saucony Xodus.  They have a good stiff sole and good traction; very breathable upper – and dry quickly even after full submersion (your dryness may vary depending on your local humidity and temperature).  I’ve trail run and backpacked in them.

Saucony have made significant changes to the Xodus sole (after 6.0) – the new model is called Saucony Xodus ISO.

I’ve worn a couple of generations of Xodus (4.0 and 6.0) and yes they’re great. Only downside is that it’s a higher volume shoe so may not work if you have narrow feet.

You may be able to snag a pair of Xodus 6.0 if you look around online.
I always bought mine discounted for around $50.

“I too am planning the WRHR in August and was looking for something similar.  When you say tough do you mean the material or also a stiff sole?”

John, both.

Here is what happened to my XA Pro’s. keep in mind these were BRAND NEW before the SHR last summer. (maybe 2-3 5mi training before)

You can see that a lot of those little lugs got pretty worn down and a few of them were peeling off. (i glued them down when i got back..). + the edges of the heel wore down and are cracking.

again this is after only one long trip. and yes I know that thats to be somewhat expected for trail runners but I would like to get at least 400-500mi out of a pair..

That’s what granite and scree does to shoes and soles. ;)
Next time post pictures of the wear on your body after a hard trip……
On second thought…..DON’T!

The mesh uppers on a brand new pair of Brooks Cascadias were shredded in spots after I wore them on a Sierra cross country trip (over Alpine Col and the horrendous talus fields along Goethe Lake). It was just 4 days and no more than 40 miles total!

I consistently log about 30 miles of trail hiking/running every week year-round and most trail running shoes last about nine months or so. I rotate among 2-3 pairs of different trail running shoes.

That’s what granite and scree does to shoes and soles. ;)
Next time post pictures of the wear on your body after a hard trip……
On second thought…..DON’T!”

totally,,thats why i want a boot sole trail runner! :). actually my body held strong throughout the trip. little huffy puffy on the first day, took care of my feet, no blisters, wore sun gloves so fingers weren’t cracking, felt good.

+1 La Sportiva

i use them for almost all my outdoor footwear because they are super burly. best to try them on if you can. they have different soles and uppers for different uses, and the fit changes a bit. i like the mutants (10mm drop) or helios (2mm) for longer days or flatter terrain, but the bushido (6mm) are my favorite trail shoe period. very durable sole and upper, great protection, and fairly light. shorter runs/hikes and anything technical, these are my jam.

Arc’Teryx has the insanely priced Norvan VT trail shoe with a Vibram sole for $170.  This might be an option.

rogw….I don’t find the Akashas to fit like the Ultra Raptors.  The Ultra Raptors don’t work for me b/c of my wide forefoot, but the Akashas do and they have a wider shape also according to the La Sportiva website.  Depending on your foot shape and preference, you may or may not like this.

MUTANT!!

Another La Sportiva fan here.  The Ultra Raptors fit me well.  I hike almost exclusively in the rugged terrain of the White Mountains and Maine and these shoes keep my feet from being sore at the end of the day.

Yea the mutants might work for my next pair. ill probably try them next