La Sportiva Karacal Review

The versatile La Sportiva Karacal is a heavily cushioned, protective, high-volume shoe designed for long days over varied mountain terrain. They are stable for their stack height and surprisingly breathable despite ample cushioning.

Performance Comparison

Foot Protection

The Karacal kept our feet in great shape over longer runs thanks to a rock guard that runs throughout the sole and a dual-density midsole that provides a measured stack height of 32mm in the heel and 23mm in the forefoot (though La Sportiva claims the shoe to be at 29 and 22mm). The ankle collar feels higher than what we're used to, but after a few miles, it never bothered us and did a great job of keeping small bits of gravel out, so you don't have to use a gaiter. Near the front of the shoe, a thick rigid toe bumper effectively prevents painful toe stubs. Materials aren't the lightest here, but they stand up to abuse. The upper is a mesh with large pores, which are key for breathability, especially since the tongue is so thick and well-padded. Once we're strapped in, we feel ready for some serious terrain.

Traction

As a manufacturer of the top climbing shoes and best approach shoes on the market, La Sportiva knows a thing or two about sticky rubber and traction. For the Karacal, they've used FriXion AT 2.0 rubber with 4mm lugs. The rubber is plenty sticky for smooth, compact surfaces like granite slabs, and the lugs hit a real sweet spot, as they're deep enough to effectively grab on to mud and gravel surfaces while still making plenty of rubber-to-rock contact on smoother surfaces. We felt much more secure on rocky, scrambling terrain with the Karacal than softer minimalist shoes and shoes with deeper lugs that can throw you off balance.

Sensitivity

The Karacal is not as sensitive as a low-riding soft racing flat, but for a burly mountain runner, we are pretty happy with them in terms of sensitivity. The measured drop of 9mm leaves 23mm of foam under the forefoot, which isn't all that thick compared to the rest of the trail runners we have used, so the forefoot strikers among us feel in tune with the trail and receive a decent amount of trail feedback. You won't be able to feel every pebble, but if you're this far into researching this shoe, you probably don't want to feel every pebble.

Stability

A 9mm drop and an overall stack height of 32mm in the heel come into play when considering the stability of the Karacal. In general, a higher stack height and a more severe drop result in a less stable shoe, but the Karacal has several features that mitigate this, so these “high heels” still have decent stability. The Ortholite insole has a high arch that keeps our feet locked in place, so the shoe doesn't feel sloppy, and if your feet aren't high volume enough to fill out the shoe, an additional lace eyelet allows you the option to lace the shoes tighter near the ankle. Switching into the Karacal from a lighter weight zero drop shoe, the drop is very noticeable. It takes some adjusting to, but by no means did we feel like a wobbly fawn, and we didn't roll any ankles during the testing of these shoes.

Comfort

Fit is critical for good comfort, and we consider the Karacal a high-volume shoe with a medium width. Compared to other shoes from La Sportiva, there is a lot of room in the Karacal. However, these shoes still run small compared to many other brands, and our lead tester went up half a size from his usual shoe for a perfect fit. The arch catches in just the right spot, and there is about a centimeter between the big toe and the end of the shoe, allowing room for swelling and miles of downhill slamming. As previously mentioned, the tongue is heavily padded, and the porous mesh upper is essential for breathability. The mesh, combined with a “Thermo adhesive framework,” provides plenty of structure, despite being thin. While the heel collar feels higher than what we're used to, it cradles the Achilles well without any pressure points.

Weight

At 10.58 ounces per shoe (size 10.5 US), the Karacal isn't jaw-droppingly light, but it also isn't heavy considering the features that provide protection and stability. These shoes are for bone-grinding ultra runs and lengthy mountain rambles where you might usually reach for your favorite hiking shoes; they're not trying to be minimalist trainers.

Should You Buy the La Sportiva Karacal?

This La Sportiva model scored near the top of the pack of excellent trail runners. If you like the performance of La Sportiva, but you've shied away from this brand in the past due to their reputation for being narrow and lower volume, the Karacal is worth checking out. It shares the sticky rubber and technical capabilities of other Sportiva models but has a much roomier fit to accommodate slightly wider footed runners. Just don't forget to go up a half size for the most comfortable fit.

What Other Trail Running Shoes Should You Consider?

These are high-quality running shoes designed in Italy. They aren't cheap, but this shoe has a reasonable price compared to other technical shoes, and in terms of durability, comfort, and miles per dollar, they may be worth it if you can find the right fit. We tested another great La Sportiva model called the Bushido III. It scored slightly higher in most metrics and earned a top rank in our review. However, for those who already know that they have a wider foot or need a broader landing platform to increase stability, you may want to look at the Brooks Cascadia 17, which earns an excellent stability score. Another great option is the Altra Lone Peak 8, which offers more stability and is just a bit more comfortable, though it does lack the Karacal's great foot protection and traction.