La Sportiva Bushido 2 - Women's Review
A sensitive yet protective trail runner best for technical terrain, with a little less cushioning in the forefoot
Credit: La Sportiva
Price: $130 List | $130.00 at Backcountry
Compare prices at 3 resellers Pros: Sensitive, stable, precise fit, great for technical surfaces
Cons: Heavier, lacks cushioning, best for narrow feet
Manufacturer: La Sportiva
Compare prices at 3 resellers Pros: Sensitive, stable, precise fit, great for technical surfaces
Cons: Heavier, lacks cushioning, best for narrow feet
Manufacturer: La Sportiva
By Amber King ⋅ Senior Review Editor ⋅ Mar 6, 2022
Our Editors independently research, test, and rate the best products. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and we never accept free products from manufacturers. Learn more
Our Verdict
The La Sportiva Bushido 2 is the most current version of this tried and tested trail runner, known for its sensitivity and minimal protection that performs well over technical surfaces. It is a rigid shoe with fantastic stability, making it an excellent option for tackling super nasty terrain. In the last update, La Sportiva integrated a new type of foam in the midsole, which is more energetic and responsive. The heel cup has been redesigned to slip less (which it accomplishes), reinforcing the toe cap. Unfortunately, the toe box is a little more narrow than we'd like. This superb shoe still lives up to its reputation, however, offering fantastic performance for those who prefer a less cushioned and protective trail runner.
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Bushido 2 boasts stand-out sensitivity that offers just the right amount of protection. This low-profile shoe has minimal yet responsive cushioning that'll keep you plugging away the miles. It's great for technical trails and, with some calluses, could perform on long trail runs.
Performance Comparison
A look at the overall fit and profile of the still-awesome La Sportiva Bushido II.
Credit: Edward Kemper
Foot Protection
Ultimately, this shoe provides just the right amount of foot protection for most technical trails, but it's far from being a super protective shoe, and it earned a below-average score in this metric. The midsole has a stack height of 19mm in the heel and 13mm in the forefoot, with an integrated rock plate. If you're a midfoot striker, like our main tester, you'll find your feet getting sore from taking impacts after running over sharp rocks. Heel strikers can expect more protection. While the integrated rock plate does a good job dispersing these direct impacts, you can still feel sharp rocks underfoot, which adds to sensitivity but takes away from protection.
Testing over loose rocks and scree really helps us determine which shoe is the most protective. While this one does integrate a rock plate with minimal cushioning, it's a little less protective than it looks.
Credit: Edward Kemper
The toe cap in this iteration seems to be about the same as the previous, offering a more rigid and rubberized collar of protection from toe stubs. The rubber isn't super hard, so ultimately, you won't be entirely protected against a hard enough impact.
The toe cap is burly which prevents from stubbed toes. It also does well (with its rigidity) to easily kick steps into snow slopes.
Credit: Edward Kemper
The overlay offers fantastic breathability and does a great job of keeping out trail debris like sand, small sticks, and the like. Overall, foot protection is a little less than average, which might be perfect for those who appreciate an intimate trail experience.
A look at the breathable mesh that does a decent job drying quickly on the run.
Credit: Amber King
The newest iteration of this shoe offers a more protective midsole that is a little more responsive than the previous version, thanks to the newly integrated LaSpEVA foam.
Traction
The Bushido 2 has the same outsole as the previous version. The lugs are directed towards the front for good traction on downhills. However, we'd love to see a more multi-directional design as we noticed our foot slipping out on slippery and steep terrain.
Testing traction on a small snow patch in early Spring. The heel stomper works well for minor snow sliding fun while the lugs do well on some not-super soft surfaces.
Credit: Edward Kemper
Aside from that, we tested this shoe on dirt roads, hard-packed trails, over kitty litter, and snowy surfaces. In all these conditions, the outsole does a great job of grabbing and sticking to the surface. It earned a score similar to the Inov-8 Terraultra G270.
A look at the outsole and the lugs patterns. While the lugs do a good job, we'd love to see a more 'multi-directional' focus so going uphill doesn't slip as much.
Credit: Amber King
The shoe itself is pretty rigid, which makes it easy to kick in a snow step for enhanced stability on technical surfaces.
Sensitivity
Foot protection is "about right" for those who prefer a thinner shoe, and sensitivity is ample. You can really feel where you place your toes, which ultimately helps you keep your balance and stand upright. While this is a technical shoe, it offers an immense sensitivity that we appreciate. This shoe can take a beating for many miles, but you might find that you can have to condition your feet to get used to the impact.
The mid and front foot offer HUGE amounts of sensitivity as the cushioning is far from ample. The heel is more cushioned, offering more protection and less sensitivity in this area.
Credit: Amber King
Stability
We love the stability of this shoe. It earned a high score on par with the Salomon S/Lab Ultra 3. It has a more rigid construction surrounding the midsole and outsole with integrated shanks in the heel. The outsole is fairly flexible back and forth but doesn't offer much lateral torsion, keeping your foot straight on the trail.
While it is a rigid shoe, it offers some level of flexibility for traversing over big scree and rock fields, that would otherwise throw you off your game.
Credit: Edward Kemper
The stack height isn't very high, which aids in providing better stability as well. The forefoot offers a little more room than most trail runners but isn't as wide as it once was in the previous iteration. It hasn't changed the stability but is an important construction consideration.
Comfort and Fit
The compression foam in the midsole is harder and quite responsive, offering a pop to your running stride. It's not seriously cushioned and is not the most comfortable trail runner out there. The fit is specific, though, which we love. Our narrow-footed runners prefer this shoe, but it also works for those with wide feet as the upper is soft and flexible.
The heel cup is awesome! It seems to fit most of our testers well and offers a fair amount of rigidity that leads to better overall stability. We also like the extra cushion in the heel for a more responsive take-off.
Credit: Amber King
The lacing system integrates a TPU overlay that completely wraps the foot for the right amount of tightness and precision.
A look at the bomber TPU harness keeps your foot locked down...even when tackling super steep slopes.
Credit: Amber King
The arch has some support, and the heel cup fits nice and tight. There is no "extra" material inside the shoe, providing lots of room for a versatile fit. We understand the benefits of this shoe's fit but can't say it's the plushest or the most cushioned.
The uppers are thin and flexible, as is the lacing system, helping to wrap the foot effectively.
Credit: Amber King
Weight
In the world of trail runners, this one is a little heavier than average. It weighs about 10.3 oz for a size 9, where most trail runners fall into the range of about 9 oz.
A look at the weight of a size 9 shoe. Heavier than most trail runners in this review, it still feels light on the foot. The design is streamlined and not bulky.
Credit: Amber King
Should You Buy the La Sportiva Bushido 2?
The La Sportiva Bushido 2 is updated from the previous version, making it a more responsive but slightly narrow trail running shoe. It still has the same construction that optimizes a delicate balance between protection and sensitivity. It's not a great choice of footwear for those who need ample cushioning, but best for those who appreciate an intimate and stable experience on the trail. Take it to the tops of mountains, on zoomy track, and everywhere in between.
Running in the mountains is a great place for this shoe. It offers stability and support when running up or down super steep trails.
Credit: Edward Kemper
What Other Trail Running Shoes Should You Consider?
The Bushido 2 is an ultra-classic that has proven itself time and time again as a decently performing shoe at a fair price. After 400 miles of running, the lugs have worn down quite a bit, and the outsole is starting to finally pack out. It's a good choice if you seek a 6mm drop shoe that offers a stable and sensitive ride but does not have optimal features for heal strikers or those who need more cushion. If this sounds like you, then the Hoka Torrent 2 may be a better option, although you will sacrifice the excellent stability and sensitivity found in the Bushido. A happy medium would be the Salomon S/Lab Ultra 3, which score highly in most metrics, making no sacrifices, but coming in with one of the highest price tags in this review.
— Amber King
You Might Also Like
Ad-free. Influence-free. Powered by Testing.
GearLab is founded on the principle of honest, objective, reviews. Our experts test thousands of products each year using thoughtful test plans that bring out key performance differences between competing products. And, to assure complete independence, we buy all the products we test ourselves. No cherry-picked units sent by manufacturers. No sponsored content. No ads. Just real, honest, side-by-side testing and comparison.
Learn More