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I have to admit: the Bushido II had really surprised me. I didn’t have the Italian brand on my radar until then, but now I’m of course curious to see how much fun an even more agile shoe model will bring.
Sponsored Post: La Sportiva provided me with the products for this review at my request. This had no influence on the content of my post. The article is written indipendently and reflects exclusively my personal experiences.
ReviewLa Sportiva Kaptiva GTX
[php snippet=1]First Impression
I was lucky: out of the three available colours of the model I like the combination “Opal / Poppy” by far the best. Even though these are three strong and contrasting colours, the shoe still doesn’t look gaudy or overloaded.
In the side view you can already see that the shoe is relatively flat and built like socks. According to the manufacturer it is the shoe for medium distances – so it is probably a faster model.
The outsole consists of “studs” which are relatively evenly distributed over the surface but are relatively flat. The “Frixion White” rubber compound promises good grip and durability.
To further increase grip on snow and ice, some of the studs are designed to accept spikes that can be added later. This “A.T.Grip” system can probably be mounted and dismounted several times.
The upper material is – as the name suggests – equipped with a GoreTex membrane. This gives the foot even better protection against moisture and cold in winter. Of course, mechanical protection of the feet was considered and a Rock-Guard was built into the midsole.
The sock-like construction of the shoe avoids pressure and chafe marks by eliminating unnecessary seams. The elastic collar at the instep fits snugly and prevents dirt and stones from getting in.
At 719 grams, the La Sportiva Kaptiva GTX is certainly not light, but for the comfort and cushioning it offers, it is in an appropriate weight class.
Running experience
When running, the Kaptiva immediately feels very agile, which is certainly due to the tight construction. The weight is almost forgotten. But not the flat construction. Where the Bushido 2, despite its flat toe box, offers room to move in the width, the Kaptiva quickly comes to an end there. However, this was more unfamiliar than unpleasant and was no problem for runs up to 15 km. Just as the feeling of standing on a relatively narrow sole, which was especially noticeable in curves or during evasive manoeuvres.
The GoreTex equipment worked as expected during my test runs: my feet remained dry and warm during runs in the rain. Even small puddles or long lasting rain were no problem. In ankle-deep water, the elastic collar apparently protects quite well against water penetration.
Conclusion
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