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The La Sportiva Blizzard GTX excels in true winter conditions and is built for running over snowy and icy ground with excellent grip and snow and debris protection.
To protect you from the elements and wet or snowy ground the Blizzard has a flexoble Gore-Tex membrane and a water repellent gaiter which also helps keep out stones, mud and the like. The Single Cord Lacing System with a retractable lace pocket is quick and easy to use. Connected to the lacing system is the high frequency, Fusion Gate Technology reinforcement structure that makes for a snug fit with easy volume adjustment for precise and stable running.
For grip you have a sticky sole with great lugs and most obviously the AT Grip Fixed Spikes for truly icy conditions.
Enjoy your winter off road runs in comfort with the La Sportiva Blizzard GTX. Though perhaps seen to be a bit niche you can't argue that it won't stand up to the task in true winter conditions on the hills.
If you require some assistance with sizing this shoe to your particular needs click here: Running Shoe Sizing Guide
A short video pointing out the key features
Features
Would you like to try on some climbing shoes, running shoes or mountain boots for size before you make your purchase? If so, then why not book an appointment with us today! We can offer you a bespoke one-on-one shopping experience with one of our experienced staff members.
Would you like to try on some climbing shoes, running shoes or mountain boots for size before you make your purchase? If so, then why not book an appointment with us today! We can offer you a bespoke one-on-one shopping experience with one of our experienced staff members.
I’ve only run in these shoes three times so far but one of those was a 67km leg of the Spine Race, on frozen ground, hard ice and snow - so I have reasonable experience of how they perform for their intended use.
Overall, they provide a very good balance of grip, cushion/protection and comfort, without excelling in any area.
For grip on ice, I found it to be noticeably poorer than Inov-8 Orocs that I’ve used previously. I don’t believe this is due to too few studs (as many reviews suggest) but because the studs are not very prominent. Running on flat or downhill ice was ok, uphill (especially if walking) led to frequent slips but no falls. However, I found them superior to Yaktrax on ice and much better than non-studded shoes. Grip on hard frozen mud, grass, snow and rock is excellent, as is grip in deep mud (within the limitations of a stiff shoe compared to a fell shoe). Your foot is also well protected from the studs, I couldn’t feel any pressure like I do in Orocs.
Fit is slightly more generous in the toe box and midfoot than the Mutant and the laces lock the upper well. The “one-pull” lacing means variable tension across the foot isn’t really possible. However the tongue/upper provides good protection from the laces.
The heel cup is rigid and unforgiving and was the reason why I switched back to other shoes after 67km of running. I was beginning to get pressure blisters on my heel edges. So I’d recommend being very mindful of the heel fit, especially if you have hard skin on your heels because the rigidity means it’s unlikely to get better with use/break-in. It was fine up to 25km but started to hurt after that. It was probably exacerbated by the hard frozen rutted ground and would have been fine on softer ground (e.g. snow) for much longer.
The back of the heel cup is also largely unpadded (similar to the Mutant) but I had no problems here, it is well shaped and didn’t irritate my achilles.
I can’t comment directly on waterproofness but have no concerns based on experience with other Sportiva Gore Tex shoes. There are no signs of wear after 85km (as you’d expect) and based on material similarities to the Mutant, I’d expect these to easily last more than 1000km.
Overall, highly recommended as a comfortable winter running shoe, as long as they fit well (especially in the heel) and you recognise their limitations on harder, steeper ice (where microspikes will still be needed).
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