La Sportiva

Why r/BuyItForLife recommends La Sportiva

17 mentions from real owners

• #1Dec 30, 2025

  What Are the Best Travel Shoes That Are Actually Worth It?

  I was traveling for 6 months earlier this year and I only took a pair of La Sportiva tx4 gtx. I was contemplating a different pair before I left because I had worn them daily for 2 years and the tread was starting to go. But I stuck with them and they were incredible, for me they look close enough to trainers to wear out in the evenings and solid as a rock on the trails.

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• #2Dec 30, 2025

  What Are the Best Travel Shoes That Are Actually Worth It?

  I really don't think there can be a single answer to this question, but I'll tell you what I do, with roughly a two shoe rotation depending on the travel. If I am not going to be walking or hiking on unpaved surfaces, I'll generally take a pair of "walking" running shoes. That is, something that's fairly sturdy and well-cushioned, and *not* meant for running fast. Currently, that's a pair of On CloudEclipse and was On CloudMonsters before this. On makes reasonably "fashionable" sneakers that you can get away with wearing in restaurants, tourist attractions, etc, and the ones that are not aimed at running fast are reasonably durable (will last a year or so). If I'm traveling in summer and need a sneaker that's really airy, I keep a pair of black Altra Escalante Racers (fully mesh, almost, and collapsible) for that purpose. For trips where I need shoes that will work for hiking, I LOVE LOVE LOVE my La Sportiva TX4 approach shoes. In fact, just like someone else suggested Lems, I highly recommend considering approach shoes as a semi-BIFL walking shoe option, and if you pick a suede/leather option, they're frequently not too bad looking. Super-comfortable, highly durable, waterproof options, and good for street & trail. Just not cushioned like a traditional sneaker. If you need something that's more "business casual", consider something like Mephisto, Allen Edmonds, Danner, etc. None of any of this is BIFL but you should have many options for shoes that both look good and are well-suited to your travel needs. Fwiw, nothing I am suggesting is so expensive as to be considered an "investment", either (like a handmade boot or sneaker would be), so just pick a general category you like, then a style you're aiming for, and narrow down the brands that sell something along those lines.

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• #3Dec 3, 2025

  New buy it for life shoes or hiking shoes

  I cannot recommend Men’s but I have a pair of Women’s La Sportiva Nucleo High II GTX Hiking Boots that still look almost brand new and they’ve been through hell and back. I got them in 2022. They’ve seen more National Parks than most people, different terrain, and been through extensive hiking trips. I highly recommend the brand.

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• #4Oct 10, 2025

  shoe recommendations ‼️‼️

  You need to get a footbed insert, look at Superfeet, to replace the standard insole in any shoe you buy. Try and size them by your heel size - there should be guides online. I think hiking/trail shoes are a good option as they typically have higher density foam and are more durable than typical lightweight running shoes etc. New Balance have a good selection of wide options, or look into brands like Meindl, Scarpa, La Sportiva for really high quality.

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• #5Aug 11, 2025

  Asolo is garbage and their customer service sucks donkey d!ck; what's my next boot brand?

  I've had a pair of bombproof [Alico Summit](https://www.reddit.com/r/goodyearwelt/comments/rtn01j/15_year_review_alico_guide_hiking_boots/) boots. They're essentially equivalent to something like a Danner [Mountain Light](https://www.danner.com/feature/usa/usa-hike-boots?sortId=product-family&stock_status%5B%5D=1&stock_status%5B%5D=0). Boots like these will last forever with good care, and can easily be resoled. That said, I've also learned that trekking boots are almost never the best option, and my primary hiking shoes & boots are pairs of La Sportiva approach shoes. [TX4](https://bettertrail.com/outdoor-gear/la-sportiva-tx4-evo-review) for most stuff, and TX4 GTX Mid for wet or colder hiking.

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• #6Aug 11, 2025

  Asolo is garbage and their customer service sucks donkey d!ck; what's my next boot brand?

  La Sportiva and Scarpa are pretty much the best quality boots you can get for hiking. All their mountaineering boots can be resoled at most cobblers. My main boots are the [Scarpa Zodiac Teck GTX](https://ca.scarpa.com/products/zodiac-tech-gtx-men-s?pr_prod_strat=jac&pr_rec_id=d7e0f9efd&pr_rec_pid=8822561571055&pr_ref_pid=8822534013167&pr_seq=uniform). They are crampon compatible, sturdy, waterproof, rugged, have fabric at the top that helps keep out rocks and snow. I’ve used mine for rock climbing (action photography), mountaineering, and as my stability boot around town after I broke my toe. I’ve had 6 or so different La Sportiva approach shoes to their shelled mountaineering boots. Amazing quality, and repairability.

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• #7Aug 2, 2025

  What products used to be well built back in the day but now are low quality?

  I left for LaSportiva after getting fed up with annual updates to Cascadias that generally trended worse year over year (gen7-13, 9 was peak). LS doesn't do annual updates and only changes the styling yearly so you don't have to worry about changes every year. No more waiting 3 months after launch to see if it's a good generation or if you should buy up last year's model and wait another year. Eventually models do get refreshed, but it's like 5+ years later. Been happy with getting Bushidos IIs for for over half a decade now.

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• #8Jul 10, 2025

  What's everyone's go-to sneaker?

  No sport shoes are BIFL, but these approach shoes are all good durable options: • ⁠La Sportiva TX4 EVO • ⁠Scarpa Crux • ⁠Salewa Mountain Trainer 2 GTX • ⁠Zamberlan Salathe GTX RR • ⁠Kayland Miura GTX • ⁠Boreal Drom Tech • ⁠Mammut Alnasca Knit III Low GTX They’re all very highly regarded in professional reviews. My Scarpa Crux’s are about five years and they still look and feel brand new.

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• #9Jul 8, 2025

  What's your best BIFL clothing advice?

  Find a brand that FITS you, about as close to perfect as possible. If you are the intended shape that the company is making clothes for, then your clothes will last much longer. For example, I climb too and I wear La Sportiva. They make good stuff, but their fit feels tailored to me. Because of that, my body isn’t pulling on seams or making for high areas of wear. Even if I squat down, there isn’t a lot of tension in the pants - and they aren’t oversized or stretchy, they just fit me.

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• #10Jul 6, 2025

  Walking Shoes Recommendation?

  I would believe the postman. I worked in healthcare and while I wasn’t at 10+ miles, I was pretty close to that 8 mark most days. Everyone around me wore Hoka’s and New Balance. I wore a pair of La Sportiva’s and they were a game changer (typically not subtle styles though).

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• #11Jul 4, 2025

  What are some BIFL wool clothing brands, especially those that have wool summer clothing (if such thing exists)?

  As most manufacturers use merino, BIFL is tricky. Merino is fantastic, but it’s just not as tough.  Wool in general is magical. If you plan to use it in non-contact ways in summer, ie every day wear, road running, some sports like tennis or pickleball(gross) it’s great. But if you’re like me, I hike a ton and get outdoors where brambles, rocks etc, will shred merino quick.  My recommend is organic cotton hemp and linen in summer. Vintage stuff from eBay goes a long way. Patagonia, Mammut, some La sportiva, and outlier from eBay, will cover your basis nicely on those fronts.  As far as winter wear goes, Icelandic wool and Shetland get you pretty close to BIFL. Some of my Icelandic sweaters are from eBay, likely manufactured in the early 90’s or 80’s but still feel practically new.  Those wools will hold up well.  Basically the thicker the wool strand, the closer to BIFL. 

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• #12Jun 6, 2025

  Best wide shoes for heavy folks (8+ hours standing)

  Rather than looking at running shoes, try looking at hiking/trail running shows- these will typically have a higher density/sturdier sole because they are designed to move over rough terrain for long distances. This will significantly increase the longevity of the shoe compared to running shoes which typically have lighter, lower density soles and are really not suited to prolonged use by heavier individuals. These hiling/trail running shoes will also typically have wider options available, some brands to look out for; Garmont, Scarpa, New Balance, La Sportiva, Merrell, Danner, Salomon. Avoid On Cloud like the fucking plague, they are terrible shoes. Also, combine the shoes with a good foot bed, like Superfeet, which will offer much better support and help regulate posture and foot alignment, increasing overall comfort and longevity of the shoe.

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• #13May 6, 2025

  Non-popular sneakers which will last at least couple of years

  Saucony, Brooks, Mizuno, Mammut, Innov8, Salewa, Scarpa, Sportiva, Lowa. All of those have a particular reputation for longevity and general quality. Bear in mind it may depend on the particular purpose, for instance more specialist/high performance models of those brands may be comparatively short lived, i.e. shoes that are intended to help you win a race at all costs. :)  But in truth the BIFL answer is to buy cheap when sales come around. Combine with the above, there's your answer. Shoes don't live forever, it's about making your money go further.

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• #14May 5, 2025

  Work is paying for me to get snakeproof/waterproof boots, what wont immediately fall apart?

  TLDR: LaCrosse Grange and Rattler brand snake gaiters for water/muck less than 18 inches deep. Probably looking at US$180 for the combo. No boots will be waterproof if it's deeper than that. Then you use waders unless it's hot. If it's hot it's better to just wear synthetic blend (quicker drying, non-cotton) pants, merino wool socks, and non-waterproof boots you don't mind messing up. Longform for anyone who may be in the same situation, or looking for more long-term solutions: For almost 20 years I have worked year-round in Texas swamp, desert, rocky slope, Piney woods, and everything in-between, kicking a shovel the whole time. I wear a combination of boots and snake gaiters. My gaiters are Rattler brand, and I'm usually wearing them just for thorny brush or vines. I don't wear them when it gets above 95° F. I only ever wear two types of boots: Zamberlans (really expensive) and La Crosse Grange 18 ($100). I can hike all day in either, and both are waterproof; Zamberlans are Gore-tex and breathable and LaCrosse are rubber and NOT breathable. Zamberlans are about as BIFL as waterproof work-hiking boots can get. I'm on about 3.5 years on my current pair and they're still waterproof and bombproof as they were day 1. Similar quality brands are Alico, Meindl, La Sportiva, Danner, and Lowa. Asolo may fit in there somewhere, but they've fallen apart on me before. The LaCrosse are gonna be like 1/4 the price of the Zamberlans, but they're just rubber boots with a shank (this is VERY important to have in whatever boot you get). They'll last a good long while and are super comfortable for rubber boots, but eventually their tread wears down, they get holes, and the material will break down, probably after a year of frequent use. If you're gonna be in legitimate swamp, where it's over 18-inch deep water, then snake gaiters and waterproof boots ain't gonna do shit for you anyway. They'll just weigh you down, which is more dangerous than snakebites. If you're in hot weather, I don't recommend thigh, hip, or chest waders, either. It's a recipe for heat stroke, which is also far more common and far more frequently deadly than snakebites. Better to just wear all quick-dry clothing (I wear Duluth Flex Firehose if vegetation is thick...otherwise I wear Wrangler ATG quick-dry pants) and boots that you won't mind messing up each day. To help take care of your feet, wear merino wool socks. Any merino wool blend will be better than cotton. They'll be more important than your boots if you'll be wet all day.

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• #15Apr 10, 2025

  Best hiking boots for men - Suggestions needed.

  I don't know if it's just that they don't have much presence in the USA, but I'm surprised there's no mention of La Sportiva in here. I've used various options over the years, and I rate them very highly both for durability and comfort. I've got Aequilibriums for heavy stuff (I do a certain amount of winter climbing where a trainer + studs won't cut it, and you need full crampons). I've then got the Ultra Raptor IIs for lighter stuff. As a few folks have pointed out, a significant element is just how well a given pair of boots fits your feet. That really should be the most important factor in your decision making.

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• #16Apr 10, 2025

  Recommendations for quality vegan hiking boots

  I know it was answered already but I got La Esportiva hiking boots for the Everest Basecamp Trek and I absolutely love them! I wear it everyday to take my dog to the park too ◡̈ https://runrepeat.com/la-sportiva-ultra-raptor-ii-mid-gtx

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• #17Jan 4, 2025

  My friend goes through shoes/boots within a couple months, are there comfortable, lifetime quality options for restraunt workers in the 300usd range? Please advise, thank you

  Dirt is not your friend. It is an abrasive that will cut through leather. Boots. Danner comes to mind. Plenty of military boots out there. But now you look brown military boots. La sportiva is my go to now.

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