For years, when winter arrived and the snow began to pile up, I assumed my solely possibility for working meant heading to the health club. However winter doesn’t have to imply a boring treadmill.
La Sportiva simply unleashed its new winter path runner known as the Cyklon Cross GTX, which allows path runners to proceed getting outdoors all winter lengthy.
The Cyklon has been a well-liked shoe for La Sportiva for years, and now the model is leveraging the success of that path runner right into a winter model with the Cyklon Cross GTX. This can be a nice possibility for snowy path runs in tough terrain from fall by way of spring when the climate turns.
Simply have a look at the footwear — outfitted with a GORE-TEX built-in gaiter and BOA Match System — and you realize it means enterprise. As soon as I slipped on the sock-like shoe, I felt like I might tackle any path regardless of how slick or snowy.
To make sure that these new technical mountain trainers might stand as much as the hardest of winter situations, I took them into the snowy Rocky Mountains of Colorado to check them out.
In brief: The La Sportiva Cyklon Cross GTX path runners are like a sticky, waterproof second pores and skin that you would be able to slip on and tighten down with the handy BOA match System. The GORE-TEX membrane and water-repellent gaiter, mixed with the sticky and grippy FriXion White, add as much as a fairly epic package deal. This working shoe is protecting and prepared for the weather, and at first look appears extra like a boot than a path runner. However, don’t be fooled.
La Sportiva Cyklon Cross GTX Evaluation
Cyklon Cross GTX Specs
- Gaiter: Two-way stretch water-repellent anti-drag scuff-resistant single mesh and water-repellent lateral YKK zip with coating
- Lining: GORE-FLEX building
- Footbed: OrthoLite Hybrid Mountain Working 4 mm
- Midsole: EVA-injected shock-absorbing and bio-density with stabilizer insert
- Sole: Optimum grip FriXion White (appropriate to be used with AT Grip spikes offered individually)
- Lugs: 7 mm
- Waterproofing: GORE-TEX membrane
- Lacing: BOA Match System
Go Manner Off Highway This Winter
Strolling off path, a lot much less working, within the winter has at all times been a dicey proposition. Nevertheless, with the Cyklon Cross GTX, I really feel assured heading outdoors this winter.
One of many first issues that caught my eye with these footwear is the proprietary BOA Match lacing system, which I’ve on my mountain bike footwear and alpine touring ski boots. The straightforward click-and-turn mechanism will simply tighten the laces on the shoe with out having to tie something. That is particularly useful when you find yourself carrying gloves, have chilly palms, or each.
La Sportiva describes the match of the shoe as an “easy-in” system. I did discover it fast and straightforward to slide my ft into the footwear, ratchet up the BOA Match System, and zip up the gaiter. As soon as on, the footwear felt like heavy-duty socks with construction or nearly like a second pores and skin in the way in which they type to your ft.
The result’s a really comfy working shoe that I wore for four-plus miles out of the field with no points, hotspots, or discomfort in any respect. If in case you have worn or had success with La Sportiva trainers, such because the Extremely Raptor II, earlier than, these are a continuation of that, simply overbuilt for winter.
The shoe is built-in with a water-repellent gaiter guaranteeing that my ft stayed dry for 4 miles by way of the snow. Until you end up in snow that’s so deep that it comes over the ankle-high cuff, you’ll keep dry in these footwear, which is a should for winter runners.
FriXion White Soles for the Win
I first tried these footwear on inside the home, and the only, constructed from FriXion White, jogged my memory of NFL receiver gloves as they caught to the wooden floors. FriXion is a part of La Sportiva’s line of soles on footwear.
The White is a super-sticky compound that’s long-lasting and made for mountain trainers and indoor climbing footwear. The FriXion White ranks 7.5 out of 10 for grip and 5.1 on the hard-wearing scale.
The takeaway is that these soles are going to face as much as harsh winter components. As I ran on the gentle, fresh-packed snow path, it was much like working within the sand on a seashore — the footwear compressed the snow as I moved up the mountain, however they by no means misplaced traction.
The one factor these footwear are usually not resistant to is ice. Ice is harmful for any shoe, however you may pair the brand new Cyklon Cross GTXs with AT Grip spikes, offered individually, to make them chew the ice and provide some extra traction uphill.
Snowshoeing Accepted
La Sportiva says the Cyklon Cross GTX work with snowshoes, so to cap off my day on the mountain I strapped on a pair of snowshoes and headed deeper into the woods by way of untracked knee-deep powder. The footwear did nice with my snowshoes, and I used to be in a position to trek up and down the mountain, chopping a path simply.
My ft bought chilly within the deeper snow as there is no such thing as a insulation within the footwear. You’ll wish to be certain that to put on a heat pair of winter socks with these. The gentle toebox of the shoe would sometimes pinch within the snowshoe bindings as I ascended uphill.
One other issue I analyzed whereas working versus snowshoeing was these footwear’ consolation. Whereas working on snow, the OrthoLite 4 mm ergonomic footbed labored simply fantastic, however in a stiff snowshoe, I might really feel the insoles compressing into the soles at occasions.
Whereas not an issue for just some hours on the path, it might be price contemplating an insole with extra give when you resolve to make use of these for snowshoeing all day lengthy.
The waterproof breathable GORE-TEX membrane labored nice with the water-repellent gaiter to stop snow from entering into the footwear, even once I ventured into deeper snow. General, the snowshoes added traction and float to an already stellar shoe, making it simpler to go additional off path.
La Sportiva Cyklon Cross GTX: Conclusion
La Sportiva designed the Cyklon Cross GTXs for off-road coaching and even competitions in the course of the winter. After testing them out at 11,000 ft within the snowy Rocky Mountains, they’re essential for anybody who needs to proceed working and coaching outdoors in the course of the winter months.
The Cyklon Cross GTX gives an easy-to-put-on pair of footwear with a pleasant comfortable match that retains you safe and dry on the path. The standout FriXion White soles have been stellar performers and mixed with the BOA system and built-in gaiter make these winter trainers stand aside.
The one downsides I had have been chilly ft inside the skinny footwear (put on heat socks!), and the extra want for traction gadgets in sure icy situations. Some may additionally discover the worth a con, nonetheless, these footwear embody built-in gaiters and nice traction, so you might be getting your cash’s price.
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