La Sportiva Crossleather

Is it a trail runner or light hiker or both? The La Sportiva CrossLeather joins the company’s product line this year as the more rugged sibling of the wildly popular and multi-award-winning CrossLite. The Crosslite was built specifically for trail racing and employs mostly synthetic materials and mesh for the uppers. As the name suggests, the CrossLeather replaces the mesh with leather adding a higher degree of ruggedness to the standout platform.

Out of the box, the Crossleather is definitely an eye catcher. The shoe sits low to the ground and has minimal heel to toe drop.

These shoes at just 26 oz just felt light and fast. The scree guard adds to the streamlined look, hides the laces and keeps debris out of the shoe. It’s a nice touch but from a practical standpoint, I’m not sure how you replace the laces with the scree guard in place.

Where the rubber meets the trail, the CrossLeather employs the company’s proprietary FriXion rubber and some very heavy duty lugs. The shape and spacing between the lugs aids in traction and helps to keep mud from clogging the sole. These elements worked well together. And despite the low heel, the midsole provided surprising rebound and comfort.

For a more complete review and photos, visit GearGuide.