La Sportiva Akyra II Hiking Shoes: When the Going Gets Tough, These Shoes Keep Going

Hi all! It is Sabine, one of the store co-owners here.

After ripping holes into yet another pair of trail runners, I felt the need to get some different footwear - once is an oddity, twice is a coincidence, but three times or more is a definite pattern and time to pay attention. Don't get me wrong, trail runners are fantastic - but largely when they are on trails! However, trails do not go everywhere. If you want to leave trails anywhere in the Sierra Nevada or in Death Valley to go enjoy some of the best areas, you are immediately into rocky terrain that rips holes into the soft upper fabric of runners. 

As you can tell from our trip reports, we almost never stick to the trails here...peak bagging is just too much fun.

So, when La Sportiva's Akyra II Hiking Shoes showed up in our store this spring, I was immediately curious. Could they be the answer to my problem? Hint: they were. All in all, the La Sportiva Akyra is a very versatile shoe. You can do anything from easy trail hikes to 3rd class scrambling in the same shoes. I can't wait to take these shoes on more SAR team missions, desert adventures, and High Sierra summits.

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Where We Tested the La Sportiva Akyra II

I took the Akyra on a 3-day backpacking trip to Muir Pass and back (from South Lake via Bishop Pass) covering 30+ miles and also several peaks whose routes were all off trail. The shoes also accompanied me on several SAR team missions (note: Sabine is a member of the Inyo County Search & Rescue team) where I hiked in total 20+ miles, carried up to 30lbs loads, and pushed litters with patients around trails. On SAR team missions, you almost never stick to trails, even if there is one, because the litter already takes up the whole trail's width. Rescuers get to "enjoy" scrambling around the rocky and overgrown sides. 

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Rock hopping in the stable and durable Akyra II - so much more fun than in a running shoe!

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Did the La Sportiva Akyra live up to the promise?

Yes! This is an amazing shoe for all who put in many miles on their feet in demanding (and sharp, rocky) terrain such as the Eastern Sierra.

La Sportiva advertises this shoe as a "hiker" rather than as a "runner", but thanks to the shock absorbing EVA midsole, it still has a running shoe's cushion. Personally, it is common for me at the end of a long hiking day to get pain underneath my toe knuckles, but this has delightfully not occurred in the Akyra II.

The lacing works great, holding my feet in position while giving the toes their necessary freedom. Of course, this is a La Sportiva shoe, so per the brand's reputation for narrower shoes, don't expect a wide toe box. Instead, the focus in the design of these shoes was   performance. I need to lace these shoes a little tighter than I'm used to - not sure if it's my low-volume feet or if my other shoes are just too tight. However, the laces never hurt the tops of my feet, even when they're tight.

The mesh on the upper side is very breathable and ventilated. When it's windy, I can actually feel a light breeze around my toes. On that note, it's probably not the best shoe for freezing temperatures, but winter is boot season anyway.

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The Akyra II at Bishop Pass with the West Slope of Mt Agassiz in the background

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The grip of these soles is amazing! I have yet to slip in these shoes. The soles are a combination of very aggressive lugs made out of a fairly soft rubber, so you can get a good grip on loose sand and scree as well as on granite slabs.

There are two kinds of rubber: the black FriXion® Rubber across most of the soles, and the red Frixion® Red rubber at the heels and toes provides extra stickiness, so you don't slip when rock-hopping off trail.

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The sole of the shoe almost resembles sports cleats!

Bonus points: The huge lugs of the soles will last a lot longer before they're worn down than the smaller lugs of trail runners, which is great for  all of us who hike lots of miles every year. I definitely expect these soles to last more than the average amount of miles.

The soles are also pretty stiff, almost like an approach shoe, so you can easily tip-toe around rocks and ledges.

I'm not sure what the exact construction around the heel cup is, but there is a notable stability there. The shoe has a very firm grip on the heel and almost stabilizes the ankle like a light boot. Usually, I twist my ankles here and there, but so far only once in the La Sportiva Akyra.

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The only criticism I have is that the side of the shoe around the ankle is cut a little high and can rub a little. This probably won't bother most people, except for those who get bothered by the same issue in TX4 approach shoes. If you're like me and use Superfeet insoles, this is the easiest fix because the insoles have a slightly higher volume than the stock ones by La Sportiva, and therefore lift my feet just enough to solve the problem.

Biggest upside of these, and the reason I wanted these shoes: the exoskeleton construction around the toes. It works! After all my adventures, my Akyras still don't have a hole!!

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Best Use for the Akyra

The Akyra II is a great all-rounder for everybody, but especially for people who hike long distances and/or in rugged terrain. It does everything a trail runner does and on top of that, it does a lot of the things people usually need an approach shoe for. If you don't want to accumulate tons of specialty shoes, just get the Akyra and use it for your adventures.

Do you know those days when you technically want to wear an approach shoe, but the mileage is so long, you need something more comfortable? This is what these shoes are built for!

La Sportiva advertises the Akyras as suitable for "ridge scrambles, loose scree, and long hikes" and I think they're 100% right.

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The North Face Route of Middle Palisade - where the Akyra II feels right at home

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The Pros

• durable soles
• durable upper material
• very breathable
• amazing grip

The Cons

• a little high around the ankle

The Bottom Line

Verdict: All in all, the La Sportiva Akyra is a very versatile shoe. You can do anything from easy trail hikes to 3rd class scrambling in the same shoes. I can't wait to take these shoes to more rescues, desert adventures and High Sierra summits.

I'll report back on here as soon as I manage to break them. I've had them since July 2025, so if you don't hear back from me by July 2026, they're definitely fantastic shoes. I never get more than a year out of other shoes.

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If the La Sportiva Akyra II has caught your attention, stop by the store to test them out or click here to see if we have your size in stock and get your own pair shipped today!

As always, don't hesitate to call us at store (760-873-7520) if you have questions about the right footwear for you!

(And if you need any gear to prepare for your own Eastern Sierra adventure, we got you covered with free shipping if you meet the criteria! All you have to do is join our email list and place your order of a certain amount with us online.)