Disappointed in the changes
I have been wearing the Bushido since 2015. It is my absolute favorite La Sportiva shoe and I go through 3-4 pairs a year. I purchased my recent pair at the La HQ in Boulder and I have to say I’m extremely devastated to say that I’m not sure if I will continue to by the Bushido. The addition of the extra padding has started to cause my narrow foot issues. One of the many reasons I love Sportiva is because of how narrow my feet air. Additionally, after 3 months of wear the tongue started to destabilize and will no longer sit centered on my foot and always falls to the right or left. I’m pretty saddened to hear the Bushido will no longer be as lightweight of a shoe. That was one of my favorite things about the shoe!... Show more
Sarah in a van
originally posted on sportiva.com
Excellent trail running shoes!
As an avid hiker, I need durable shoes for diverse terrains. My last pair, Solomon Speedcross, only lasted seven months. The La Sportiva Bushido II Trail-Running Shoes are a better alternative.They are comfortable, lightweight, and offer excellent traction. Their proprietary FriXion sole handles all types of terrain, including dirt, rocks, grass, moss, roots, and mud. It absorbs impact, enhances traction, and improves grip downhill.I did replace the insole with a better one, as I do with all my shoes. For longer hikes, I use a two-sock system so I chose size EU 42 (US 10). They run small, my normal size for hiking shoes is 9.... Show more
Trailblazer
originally posted on REI
good shoe, but could be more durable for the price
I bought the Bushido II for a 300 off-trail backpacking trip across the Sierra Nevada, during I climbed 10 of California's 14,000'+ mountains, mostly class 3 scrambles and some class 4 climbs. I do at least one long back-country backpack trip per year, and until this year have been a loyal fan of the Brooks Cascadia. Recent design changes by Brooks prompted me to try to Bushido II instead.The Bushido II fits extremely comfortably right out of the box, exactly what I was looking for: narrower toebox, comfortable drop and great support.After my hike I found, the upper held up amazingly well! 5-stars for the rugged upper! Very little visible wear and tear even after dragging/smearing my feet against the side of rough granite. The breathable mesh does it's job well, ... MoreI bought the Bushido II for a 300 off-trail backpacking trip across the Sierra Nevada, during I climbed 10 of California's 14,000'+ mountains, mostly class 3 scrambles and some class 4 climbs. I do at least one long back-country backpack trip per year, and until this year have been a loyal fan of the Brooks Cascadia. Recent design changes by Brooks prompted me to try to Bushido II instead.The Bushido II fits extremely comfortably right out of the box, exactly what I was looking for: narrower toebox, comfortable drop and great support.After my hike I found, the upper held up amazingly well! 5-stars for the rugged upper! Very little visible wear and tear even after dragging/smearing my feet against the side of rough granite. The breathable mesh does it's job well, and my feet were dry in 50 minutes after a rainstorm or river crossing.The sole and supportive mid-sole however did not fair as well. The sole, while very sticky/grippy initially, wore down fairly quickly and I started losing traction after about 190 miles of cross-country. After about 250 miles I started slipping on smooth granite slabs. I was disappointing for a company well know for it's climbing gear to have have it's sole wear down so quickly. In comparison, last year my Brooks Cascadia held up to a 350 mile off-trail trip and still had enough life in it to take on short local hikes for the rest of the year.The supportive mid-sole failed similarly. Also after roughly 190 miles, the support in the shoe started noticeably degrading. resulting in some heel soreness.Overall, the shoe has a great design and started off strong, but for the price point I'd like a shoe that can hold up to at least one backpacking trip.... Show more
southsierra
originally posted on sportiva.com
Great Hikers, Kinda Stylish
Love these shoes for hiking & trail running. They hold my foot well, provide decent cushioning on rocky terrain and traction is solid. And there's a bonus - they worked great for mountain biking on flat pedals on a borrowed bike. And I love that they are not black but also not 100% neon (just a few accents) I was in the market for a new trail runner when my old trusted trail runners were discontinued, many of the more traditional runners were not gonna work (too much heel movement & not enough lateral support for me with the oversized tall 'platform' style runners so popular today). These are a great all around shoe!Minor 'con' - the inside of the heel tends to squish down and bunch a bit if you're not diligent about using your fingers as a shoe horn.... Show more
River Camper
originally posted on moosejaw.com
Holy grail for narrow feet!
I have narrow feet and have the hardest time shopping for shoes, let alone gear/technical shoes. The only rock climbing shoes that have truly fit my narrow feet at the Sportiva Mythos, so decided to give these running/hiking shoes a try on in the store because of my success with Sportivas in the past. I couldn’t be more thrilled. They fit my narrow foot like a glove, have great arch support, and are perfect hiking shoes. I took my regular size. Buy these shoes if you have narrow feet!... Show more
sydstill
originally posted on REI
Ideal for hiking—tough, responsive, perfect fit
These are my perfect hiking and backpacking shoes — or, more accurately, the first-generation Bushidos were & the Bushido IIs are a close second. They are super grippy and wonderfully supportive yet spare, with an exacting fit that hugs my foot like a glove and makes for excellent responsiveness and control. They're tough and don't wear out quickly, and they excel in cross-country/bushwhacking scenarios. They're great for scrambling on slab because of how sticky the rubber is, and they're great for tromping over talus and scree and crushing brush and blowdown underfoot — unlike any other trail runner I've ever tried on, I can get a sharp rock or stick straight into my arch wearing these and not feel it. They're cool and breathable on hot days and dry quickly, even ... MoreThese are my perfect hiking and backpacking shoes — or, more accurately, the first-generation Bushidos were & the Bushido IIs are a close second. They are super grippy and wonderfully supportive yet spare, with an exacting fit that hugs my foot like a glove and makes for excellent responsiveness and control. They're tough and don't wear out quickly, and they excel in cross-country/bushwhacking scenarios. They're great for scrambling on slab because of how sticky the rubber is, and they're great for tromping over talus and scree and crushing brush and blowdown underfoot — unlike any other trail runner I've ever tried on, I can get a sharp rock or stick straight into my arch wearing these and not feel it. They're cool and breathable on hot days and dry quickly, even after getting dunked in a stream.As for the fit: My long, low-volume feet slide around in most other hiking boots and shoes, which makes for blisters. These are the ONLY shoes (other than the Saucony Peregrines, which I don't consider backpacking- or bushwhacking-worthy) I've found where my heel and instep feel secure. They are indeed a bit narrow, and because the toe box is a bit more tapered than I'd like (more so in the Bushido IIs than their predecessors), I size up substantially — I am normally a 9.5 in ordinary shoes or 10 in running/hiking shoes, and I wear a 43 in these.Now, a couple of downsides: The breathable, quick-drying mesh upper DOES allow sand and silt through, which was never a problem for me with East Coast hiking but in California can make for very dirty feet at the end of the day (or, if you're hiking in desert washes, for accumulations of sand you have to dump out periodically). It's also not cactus-needle-proof, as I've learned from some cholla encounters. Also, do not expect a ton of cushion or shock absorption. My feet can feel sore after a long descent carrying a heavy pack, but I'm OK with that because I like the responsiveness and sturdiness.... Show more
SJS in SD
originally posted on REI
Sizing way off…
I really wanted these to work. I read all the reviews and knew the sizing was small. I normally wear a 36 European, so ordered a 37.5. Shockingly, the 37.5 would hardly fit on my foot. I really think the 37.5 was the equivalent of a 35 or smaller…. So sad. They seem well made. I may reorder, but will be getting a 39 probably. Unbelievable to need to order a 39 when you wear a 36… When I returned the shoes the REI employee told me that this was Sportiva’s “most aggressively sized shoe”. I thought that was a funny way to describe “poorly sized” ;)... Show more
Breezy
originally posted on REI
Trail MONSTERS!
I have 2 pairs of these. One in olive neon (I know it’s the men’s color but it’s the women’s shoe) and the other in this style (for fancy or until my other pair is retired). I bought the olive neon in Owen, Ut when we were on our way to Zions. I had a pair of Merrill’s with me but we stopped to hike and they chewed up my heels. There was no way I was going to make it hiking 7 days with that. I tried on the Bushidos and fell in love in the store. They have a wide toe box to spread out and grip, low heel and ankle (so my Achille’s doesn’t flare up), light weight, breathable, and they have the toughest, grippiest base there ever was! Normally, I would try to find a pair of Altras but the trail chews them up sooo fast. I have 200+ miles on the Bushidos so far and they ... MoreI have 2 pairs of these. One in olive neon (I know it’s the men’s color but it’s the women’s shoe) and the other in this style (for fancy or until my other pair is retired). I bought the olive neon in Owen, Ut when we were on our way to Zions. I had a pair of Merrill’s with me but we stopped to hike and they chewed up my heels. There was no way I was going to make it hiking 7 days with that. I tried on the Bushidos and fell in love in the store. They have a wide toe box to spread out and grip, low heel and ankle (so my Achille’s doesn’t flare up), light weight, breathable, and they have the toughest, grippiest base there ever was! Normally, I would try to find a pair of Altras but the trail chews them up sooo fast. I have 200+ miles on the Bushidos so far and they don’t show any wear. I’m about to buy a third pair….hoarder much? Seriously, I just want to make sure I don’t run out because shoe styles change and stop being manufactured. I love them!... Show more
Sarah
originally posted on sportsmans.com
very comfortabla
I tried them on on a hike last saturday. Normally I wear hiking boots, these were my changing shoes. I hiked a 6 km trail in them on a very nasty terrain after using my hiking boots for 7 km-s. They are light, very comfortable, but still hard enough not to feel all the sharp stones on the terrain. Since both of my legs were severly injured in the past, I needed extra-comfortable shoes to be able to do the hikes. And, my feet are very narrow, I prefer shoes in which they are not sliding aside.I am very happy with these shoes. No afterpain, no further injuries, no blisters at all. I highly recommend them for trail-runners and experienced hikers.... Show more
Csilla
originally posted on runnerinn.com
Worth the Break In period, Great for Narrow Feet
I just ordered my second pair of Bushido II s. The first pair has taken me over 550 miles over diverse terrain from road to rocks to trails. I have thin feet, in particular, a narrow heel and have lots of trouble finding trail shoes that fit me. These have been nothing short of fantastic. They survived a single day Presidential Traverse in the White Mountains and Pacing part of the Moab 240 no problem as well as all of the training for both. They work for road and trail running as well as hiking. Grip is fantastic and the cushioning is really minimal. If you like traction and knowing where your feet are, these are a solid choice. If you need a little more support under your feet, these may not be the shoes for you. My cat has a passionate love affair with chewing on ... MoreI just ordered my second pair of Bushido II s. The first pair has taken me over 550 miles over diverse terrain from road to rocks to trails. I have thin feet, in particular, a narrow heel and have lots of trouble finding trail shoes that fit me. These have been nothing short of fantastic. They survived a single day Presidential Traverse in the White Mountains and Pacing part of the Moab 240 no problem as well as all of the training for both. They work for road and trail running as well as hiking. Grip is fantastic and the cushioning is really minimal. If you like traction and knowing where your feet are, these are a solid choice. If you need a little more support under your feet, these may not be the shoes for you. My cat has a passionate love affair with chewing on the laces and those still aren't destroyed.The one issue I had at the very beginning was that the front of the shoes felt really hard. This is great if you are kicking rocks, but not so hot if you are just trying to live your life and carry boxes around. I had super sore toes after I would take the shoes off for about the first 2-3 weeks but the break in period was 100% worth it. Will be curious to see if the same thing happens with this new pair or if it was a fluke.... Show more
ToesOnTrails
originally posted on REI