Our verdict
Whether you're tackling the outdoor terrains on a humid or rainy day, the Lycan GTX from La Sportiva wipes your worries away. Despite featuring waterproof qualities, the shoe still maintains a breathable wrap, giving wearers optimal in-shoe comfort. Living up to the standards of a quality trail shoe, it is able to supply maximum protection, traction, and support, helping you in your outdoor endeavors.
Pros
- Grips on varied surfaces
- Abundant toebox
- Doesn't require a break-in
- Waterproof
- Shields the foot
- Stable ride
- Snug heel
Cons
- Heavy
Who should buy the La Sportiva Lycan GTX
You will love the La Sportiva Lycan GTX if:
- You want a reliable shoe as a partner in your off-trail adventures
- You want a waterproof neutral shoe that has great use for long-distance running, or ultra marathons
The La Sportiva Lycan GTX
- For big guys Gore-Tex lining underneath the upper that keeps the foot from getting wet. Instead of coating the upper with a Gore-Tex film, the waterproof material was made into a lining, thereby allowing a bit of breathability.
- The forefoot of the shoe has a wider volume, giving optimal comfort. The wider volume caters to the natural swelling of the foot, preventing runners from feeling constriction mid-run. It also improves the runner's balance during toe-off.
- On the outsole is a Rock Guard that has been combined with the Impact Brake System (IBS). The combination makes the bottom of the shoe ideal for taking on hard, rocky terrain without any slipping or sliding.
You want a waterproof neutral shoe that has great use for long-distance running, or ultra marathons
The material the outsole is made of is called Frixion Blue Compound. It is marked with a blue “X” sign near the heel. This rubber is highly durable and supplies a good amount of grip while maintaining its bendability. With a rating of 5.6 on La Sportiva’s grip scale, the outsole ensures that the runner is ready for all types of terrain.
The outsole has the IBS or Impact Brake System. Developed in collaboration with Vibram, the system softens the impact a runner receives while running on hard ground. It makes use of angled and opposing lugs that increase the outsole’s traction and it has the ability to reduce the impact by 20% as compared to regular lugged soles.
Protecting the foot from different debris that can be encountered on the trail is the Rock Guard. Aside from protecting the bottom of the shoe, this component also improves the durability and longevity of the outsole.
The responsive midsole of the La Sportiva Lycan GTX
The midsole is made up of an Injection Molded Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate or IMEVA. This type of material is produced by injecting liquid EVA into a mold, and then letting it sit to cool and form. When the rubber becomes solid, the mold is opened, and the midsole pops out. This process produces midsoles that deliver better bounce and responsiveness compared to other manufacturing processes.
The forefoot of the midsole follows the shape of the wider forefoot on the upper. The design on the midsole improves balance by providing a stable platform that can evenly disperse the runner’s weight and helps push the runner off during the propulsion phase of the running cycle.
The responsive midsole of the La Sportiva Lycan GTX
The upper is made up of breathable mesh that easily allows air to pass through. The material delivers proper ventilation. Microfiber reinforcements coated with an abrasion-resistant material were added, consequently strengthening it. These additions not only augment the durability of the upper but also provide extra protection for the foot. The Brooks Cascadia 13 is another trail running shoe that uses a mesh upper.
From within, a Gore-Tex lining was added, providing a comfortable in-shoe feel while acting as a layer that keeps the foot dry. Because the Gore-Tex is introduced as a lining, it makes way for sufficient ventilation as it doesn’t cover the mesh material of the upper.
On the tip of the forefoot is a TPU or Thermoplastic Utherane toe cap. It slightly enhances the durability of the upper, but its utility is realized when it protects the toes from accidentally getting stubbed during trail runs.
