Review: La Sportiva Bushido III

The Bushido III from La Sportiva is the latest iteration of a trail shoe that’s been around for nearly a decade. You’ll see people wearing Bushidos at just about any trail race or casual 5k around town—and for good reason. The shoe is designed with a snug fit and minimalistic cushioning for fast, snappy trail running. A relatively small six millimeters of heel-to-toe drop keep the shoe responsive and nimble, while deep lugs provide good traction in mud or gravel. The outsole is a relatively soft rubber, which I’ve noticed sticks well to wet rocks and roots, but will likely come at a cost to long-term durability. An additional layer of compressed EVA foam in the forefoot provides a light rock guard, which adds a lot of comfort, especially on trails with chunky gravel.

As far as fit, the Bushido’s run narrow, like most La Sportiva footwear. However, they are available in a wide version, and a GTX version with a Gore-Tex lining. They also come in half sizes up to a men’s 14.5, which is unusual these days, but extremely nice for people with larger feet. The laces, though, are too short. If you end up needing either of the top two eyelets to snug down the shoe, you’ll need new laces. But that’s a small fault for a comfortable, supportive trail runner that’s otherwise ready to hit the mountains at full speed.

Available at lasportivausa.com; $145.