La Sportiva Bushido III Trail Running Shoe Review
stable, grippy, designed for technical terrain
December 3rd, 2024
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Our verdict
The La Sportiva Bushido III is a low-stack trail running shoe designed for technical terrain. This is one of the most stable-feeling shoes we’ve tested, and offers incredible traction on slick and rocky terrain. It’s highly durable, too.
The Bushido is one of La Sportiva's most popular models with a 10-year legacy. In the Bushido III they notably addressed one of the biggest challenges of these shoes: that it wasn't available in wide. Two of our testers used the new Bushido III wide version on runs, peakbagging, day hikes, and backpacking trips in Arizona, Colorado, and California from desert to alpine from mud and snow to sandstone and slick granite slab.
This shoe has a following because of its exceptional traction and responsiveness. The new Bushido also has more mesh than previous models for better breathability and an updated aesthetic. The end result is a shoe that lives up to its fame among trail runners, scramblers, and peak baggers alike.
La Sportiva Bushido III
Men's
Women's
Some folks may appreciate the sock-like fit of this shoe, and now that the Bushido III comes in wide, we recommend it to anyone looking for a low-stack, mid-drop, stable shoe with excellent traction.
The Bushido III doesn’t have the most cushioning of shoes we’ve tested. For that reason, it wouldn’t be our top choice for ultra-distance endeavors. However, it has enough cushioning for most trail runners, and this shoe shines in its traction and stability rather than cushioning.
We grab the Bushido III for the super technical runs, where you’re doing more scrambling than running due to steep, rocky, and exposed trail. If that’s the terrain you find yourself adventuring on, this might be the shoe for you.
For more of our favorite trail running shoes, check out our Best Men’s Trail Running Shoes and Best Women’s Trail Running shoes guides.
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Specs
Price: $145
Stack: 25-19 mm
Heel-to-Toe Drop: 6 mm
Weight (per shoe): 10.5 oz (men’s), 8.8 oz (women’s)
Closure type: Lacing
Cushioning: Moderate
Rock plate? Yes
Ideal use:
The La Sportiva Bushido III is ideal for steep ascents and descents on rocky, technical trails. Photo by Shawnté Salabert.
Technical, rocky trail runs or hikes
Steep ascents and descents at speed
Distances up to 20 miles
Folks with narrow-to-average width feet (La Sportiva now offers wide sizing, but we haven’t tested them yet)
Comparison table
| TRAIL RUNNING SHOE | WEIGHT MEN'S | WEIGHT WOMEN'S | CUSHION | HEEL DROP | STACK HEIGHT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hoka Speedgoat 6 Men's Women's |
9.8 oz | 8.2 oz | maximum | 5 mm | 35 - 40 mm |
| Altra Lone Peak 8 Men's Women's |
10.7 oz | 9.15 oz | moderate | 0 mm | 25 mm |
| Salomon Speedcross 6 Men's Women's |
10.5 oz | 9.2 oz | moderate | 10 mm | 32 - 22 mm |
| La Sportiva Bushido III Men's Women's |
10.5 oz | 8.8 oz | moderate | 6 mm | 13 - 19 mm |
| Hoka Challenger 7 Men's Women's |
8.9 oz | 7.3 oz | maximum | 4 mm | 24 - 26 mm |
What we liked:
We like the low stack height, stable feel, and grippy outsole of the La Sportiva Bushido III. Photo by Sam Schild.
Grippy
Stable
Responsive
Low to the ground
Now available in wide sizing
What could be better:
Not very much cushion
Heavier
La Sportiva sizing is weird
How we tested
We tested the La Sportiva Bushido III trail running shoes on rocky, slick, and technical trails in Colorado and California. Here, author Sam Schild poses in the Bushido IIIs mid-run. Photo by Sam Schild.
Two of our testers used the wide version on runs, peakbagging, day hikes, and backpacking trips. Our testers ran and hiked over 300 miles in these shoes, primarily on rocky and technical terrain in Colorado and California. We tested them on slick, wet surfaces and on dry, dusty trails as well as steep granite slabs and scrambling peaks in Yosemite.
Features
The welded ripstop overlays help increase durability of the La Sportiva Bushido IIIs. Photo by Liz Thomas.
Upper
The upper is constructed of La Sportiva’s proprietary AirMesh that wicks sweat, as well as thermal adhesive microfiber, high-frequency welded ripstop overlays with mono-burr mesh inlays, and a TPU toe cap. This upper improves on the breathability but the strategically-placed ripstop is surprisingly effective at preventing damage. We took these shoes on rough trails in sharp buckthorn and cactus country and they remained intact.
Midsole and Cushion
The La Sportiva Bushido IIIs are not a highly-cushioned shoe. Rather, they're intended to be a durable, responsive shoe for technical trail runs and scrambles. Photo by Marek Bowers.
The midsole of the Bushido III is made of compression-molded MEMLex and dual-density compressed EVA. These are not a highly-cushioned shoe. While the Bushido III doesn’t offer as much cushioning as other similar shoes we’ve tested in our Best Men’s Trail Running Shoes and Women’s Trail Running Shoes guides—like the Altra Timp, Hoka Speedgoat, or La Sportiva Prodigio—it provides enough for as long as 10-20 mile runs. One of our testers wore them on 20-mile runs and found it cushioned enough for that distance, but not for longer than that. That limited cushioning also was less comfortable when carrying a heavier day-pack while hiking or fastpacking with an overnight pack.
Outsole and Traction
We were impressed with how well the updated outsole of the Bushido III performed on rocky and slick surfaces. Photo by Sam Schild.
La Sportiva uses their proprietary Bi-Compound FriXion XT 2.0 V-Groove3 to construct the outsole. The rubber in the middle is grippy, while the slightly harder rubber around the edges increases durability in high-abrasion areas. This means better traction where you need it and a longer-lasting rubber on the sides of the outsole, where shoes tend to wear out faster.
The Bushido III has a new Frixion red bi-compound outsole. While this news initially concerned us, we found that it performs just as well, if not better, than previous versions.
In addition to the grippy material of the outsole on the Bushido III, the 4mm lugs offer excellent traction. Photo by Liz Thomas.
The FriXion Red bi-compound outsoles have a distinct look that La Sportiva calls "fierce." The multi-directional lugs mean that there is maximum grip. These shoes impressed us on all the terrain we could tried it out on, especially on steep granite slabs and scrambling in Yosemite.
The 4mm lugs also offer excellent traction. These shoes are excellent for scrambling and running on slick rock. And after several months and over 300 miles of use, the outsoles of our both or men's and women's testers' Bushidos still look pretty fresh.
Weight
Weighing 10.5 oz per men’s shoe and 8.8 oz per women’s shoe, the Bushido III is neither lightweight nor cumbersome. It falls squarely in the average weight of trail running shoes.
Foot Protection
The La Sportiva Bushido III shines on rocky, slick, and technical surfaces due to its incredibly grippy outsole and durable construction. Photo courtesy Liz Thomas.
The TPU toe cap and tough rubber edges on the outsole both increase foot protection on technical or rocky trails. This shoe shines on technical trails because of their fantastic traction and overall foot protection.
Toe Box
This shoe fits pretty narrow, and the toe box is no exception. If you’re looking for a roomier toe box, we like the Alta Timp 5, Altra Lone Peak 8, Topo Athletic Ultraventure 3, and Hoka Speedgoat 6.
Heel-to-Toe Drop
The La Sportiva Bushido III has 6 mm of drop, making it a mid-drop shoe ideal for most runners. The stack is pretty low — 19 mm at the heel and 13 mm at the toe — which some runners appreciate for a natural, close-to-the-ground feel.
Lacing
The traditional lacing system and breathable upper construction of the La Sportiva Bushido III can be seen here. Photo by Liz Thomas.
Sizing
La Sportiva describes the fit as "slip-on construction [that] wraps around your feet like a sock without compression or exerting pressure points" and we find that description accurate. This "sock-like" fit is different from other shoes, reminding at least one of our testers of a climbing shoe more than a trail runner (minus the compression or pressure points).
The men’s come in European sizes 38-48.5 (half sizes), which is about 5.5-15 in US sizes, and the women’s come in 36-43 (roughly 5.5-12 in US). La Sportiva is known for a narrow fit, and the Bushido model may be one of the most guilty of that label. However, La Sportiva now offers a wide-fit option that may work for more folks.
Fit/Comfort
The La Sportiva Bushido III fits more like a ballerina slipper or climbing shoe than other trail running shoes we’ve tested. Some folks may like the sock-like fit, so we recommend trying it on before purchasing if possible.
As mentioned above, the Bushido III wraps your foot like a sock, intended to fit comfortably without feeling too restrictive or compressed. While we’ve been a fan of the Bushido for years, we’ve found they don’t fit our feet as well as even other La Sportiva shoes. We wanted to love these shoes for their abilities on technical terrain, but fit-wise they felt too much like a ballerina slipper for longer runs. Some people (a lot of people, in fact!) like that about these shoes. We think that if you've been a long-time fan of the Bushido, you'll find the IIIs to be no different.
But if you are new to the Bushido line, it's worth considering how you want your shoe to fit and if you're willing to experiment with something different.
Should I buy the La Sportiva Bushido III?
Not only are the La Sportiva Bushido IIIs great for technical, rocky trail runs, but they're also nice for scrambling and hiking. Photo by Shawnté Salabert.
The La Sportiva Bushido III is ideal for trail running on technical, rocky, slabby, or slick terrain. You may also like them for hiking and scrambling if you prefer doing so in trail running shoes rather than hiking shoes. They’re also ideal for folks with narrow-to-average width feet.
If your feet are wide, we recommend looking into the HOKA, Topo Athletic, and even Altra models featured in our Best Men’s Trail Running Shoes and Best Women’s Trail Running Shoes guides. If you’re looking for a shoe with more cushion, you may like the HOKA Speedgoat 6 or the Salomon Glide Max. The Speedgoats, along with the HOKA Challenger 7 and Brooks Cascadia 18, all make great crossover shoes if your runs or hikes will frequently take you over pavement.
Most of the wider shoes we considered aren't going to feel nearly as technical, responsive, or grippy as the Bushido III, though. We found the La Sportiva Jackal II to have many of the benefits (technicality, responsiveness, almost all the grippiness) of the Bushido III with a more accommodating fit.
La Sportiva Bushido III
Men's
Women's
Other shoes to consider
La Sportiva Prodigio
Price: $155
Stack: 34-28 mm
Heel-to-Toe Drop: 6 mm
Weight (per shoe): 9.5 oz (men’s), 8.1 oz (women’s)
Closure type: Lacing
Cushioning: Maximum
Rock plate? No
What we liked: Responsive midsole, well-cushioned, stable upper, grippy outsole, excels on any terrain
What we didn’t like: La Sportiva sizing is weird
The La Sportiva Prodigio is the most cushioned trail running shoe we’ve tested from the brand, which sets it apart from the Bushido III. This shoe has become one of our favorite shoes for any condition, as it has just the right amount of cushioning for long days on the trail while providing proper stability.
This shoe earned Best Overall in our Best Men’s Trail Running Shoe guide for its overall comfort while navigating rugged terrain. (Our women’s tester is testing and will update the women’s guide soon.)
If cushioning is a priority, or you won’t be doing most of your runs on highly-technical trails, the Prodigio may be a better choice for you.
La Sportiva Prodigio
Men's
Women's
Salomon Speedcross 6
Price: $145
Stack: 32 - 22 mm
Heel-to-Toe Drop: 10 mm
Weight (per shoe): 10.5 oz (men’s), 9.2 oz (women’s)
Closure type: Quicklace single-pull
Cushioning: Moderate
Rock Plate? No
What we liked: Amazing on mud and snow, great traction, Quicklace system is fast and gets a good fit, very protective, available in standard and wide sizes
What we didn’t like: Doesn’t cross over well to road, feels like overkill on flat terrain
The Salomon Speedcross 6 has an aggressive lug pattern for excellent grip, like the La Sportiva Bushido III. This shoe has a higher drop and stack height than the Bushido III, which means it is better suited for folks who run steep trails, who heel strike, or who want a little extra protection between their feet and the ground.
Both shoes perform well where traction is needed. The Salomon Speedcross earned Best Traction in our Best Men’s Trail Running Shoes guide for its traction over a variety of surfaces and more comfortable fit. However, both shoes are great options in terms of traction, so it comes down to personal preference on fit and comfort.
Learn more in our in-depth review of the Salomon Speedcross 6 trail running shoes.
Salomon Speedcross 6
Men's
Women's
La Sportiva Jackal II
Price: $165, $185 for BOA
Weight (per shoe): 9.7 oz (men’s), 8.6 oz (women’s)
Heel-to-Toe Drop: 7 mm
Stack Height: 29 / 22 mm (heel/toe)
Closure Type: Lacing, with option to upgrade to BOA dials
Rock Plate? Yes
Sizing: Runs small (seriously—get a FULL SIZE bigger than other La Sportiva shoes)
Like the Bushido III, La Sportiva Jackal II trail running shoes offer excellent foot protection and traction (though they aren’t the best on muddy trails). However, we found they also offer better comfort over long days on the trail. They are versatile, performing well on everything from steep, technical trails to long flat stretches on smoother trails. These are our favorite shoes for long, ultra-distance trail adventures.
La Sportiva Jackal II
Men's
Women's
About the Authors / Why you should trust us
Becca Downs
Becca Downs ran D1 cross country and track for Indiana University—Purdue University of Indianapolis (IUPUI) and continued racing everything from elite miles to an ultramarathon in her post-collegiate years. She earned a USATF Level 1 certification and coached boys and girls high school cross country and track in Indianapolis for four years. Becca then joined the IUPUI women’s distance coaching staff as a volunteer assistant coach in 2020-2021.
She geeks out on trail running, track and field, and cries every time she watches a marathon (they’re just so beautiful!). After notching a few small FKTs under her belt in 2020, she was diagnosed with hip arthritis and now channels her passion for running into coaching, writing, creating training plans for her friends, hiking, and running when her hip allows it.
You can read more of Becca's work at her website or on her author page.
Sam Schild
Sam Schild is a thru-hiker, trail runner, cyclist, and mountain athlete based in Colorado. He’s been a runner since he was a child when he ran 5 days a week as cardiovascular training for soccer. As he grew older, he stopped playing team sports and focused on running and cycling.
After moving to Colorado a decade ago, he started trail running on the local trails. Since then, he has completed countless ultra-distance self-supported trail runs on trails throughout the American Southwest. He has thru-hiked the Pacific Crest Trail, Continental Divide Trail, Grand Enchantment Trail, and the Colorado Trail twice, always in trail runners.
You can read more about Sam on his author page or his website.
