Outdoor Retailer 2018 Summer Market Recap - La Sportiva Highlights

Outdoor Retailer is North America’s largest tradeshow for the outdoor industry. Split between an annual Summer Market show and an annual Winter Market show it is the conference where exhibitors, retail buyers, and the outdoor media come together to preview upcoming products. Brands previewed a ton of upcoming new products we should generally see in the next 3-9 months. In this article we’ll focus on what caught my eye from the brand’s booth.

Note: any specifications cited are pre-production numbers. As brands get closer to mass production and distribution we may occasionally see slight tweaks based on final wear testing and feedback.

La Sportiva

Three trail running shoes were my main focus when talking with the folks at La Sportiva at Outdoor Retailer. An upcoming performance-oriented, new model looks promising in the Kaptiva. La Sportiva’s best selling trail running shoe see an update in the Bushido II. And the recently released Unika caught my eye as well. Finally, some good-looking and well designed trail running apparel looked promising too.

Kaptiva

Weight: 9.1oz / 260g, 7.0oz / 225g

Stack Height: 22mm/16mm, 6mm drop

Available Spring 2019; $139

The La Sportiva Kaptiva is a new model from La Sportiva. With a performance fit in a relatively lightweight package, with a full length rock plate, this shoe should appeal to folks looking for a trail racer or trail workout shoe. The bootie construction

Bushido II

Weight: 10.5oz / 298 g, 8.8oz / 250g

Stack Height: 19mm/13mm, 6mm drop

Available Spring 2019, $130

The La Sportiva Bushido has been La Sportiva’s best selling trail shoe of the past few years. The La Sportiva Bushido II adds 3mm of cushion for a softer overall feel. A more padded tongue and restructured heel cup are also changes we’ll see in this second version.

Unika

Weight: 11.6oz / 330g, 9.3oz / 264g

Stack Height: 33mm/25mm, 8mm drop

Available now, $190

La Sportiva’s wants you to know this is the first mountain running shoe made entirely in Europe. I’m not sure why that is a big deal but what I do know is that the new midsole (they call it Infinitoo) has really plush step-in comfort. Similarly, the upper is really unique and La Sportiva is certainly pushing the design boundaries here.

The La Sportiva Tempo Short will be a 5″ inseam running short with a good-looking pocket setup.

The La Sportiva Velocity Tank.

The La Sportiva Blizzard Windbreaker has what a lot of other lightweight windbreaker’s lack – venting!

Thank you for reading and thank you for your support!

Meet Your Shoe & Gear Editor: Ben Zuehlsdorf

I am an avid running gear junkie. When I’m not smelling new shoes I’m usually running or racing around the local trails in Marin County, California or talking shop with the San Francisco Running Company community of friends. I was once a road marathoner but now have transitioned almost exclusively to the trails and racing ultras the last few years.

Disclaimer: All words and thoughts are my own and no compensation was offered nor received.

Outdoor Retailer 2018 Summer Market Recap – La Sportiva Highlights