Price: $135
Weight: 7.1 oz (M), 6.3 oz (W)
Type: Trail
The right shoe for: Why Trust Us
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La Sportiva collaborated with Vertical Kilometer world record-holder Urban Zemmer to bring you a running shoe worthy of taking on the ascent on your most grueling trail runs. The VK trainer is designed for the mountain crusher in mind; minimal and lightweight, La Sportiva stuck with just the essentials when it comes to features. The VK will keep you nimble on your toes on the gnarliest terrain.
The shoe has a form-fitting, tongue-less upper with a hemmed, snug heel collar and Ghost-Stream lacing to keep your foot secure. But don’t let its sleek, minimalist build fool you: The unassuming, slimmed down VK is packed with a defense system—a TPU toe cap and integrated rock guard on the outsole—that guards your feet so you can rock your run. This racer resembles a water shoe, which was not lost on a wear-tester. “I plan to do a swim-run race in the fall and you need to swim with your shoes,” she said. “I plan to use these for it.”
Supernova Rise: Race Day Foam for Everyday Mileage footwear. You can attempt high altitudes, tackle less-ventured paths—or, sure, even take them for a swim.
Firm Midsole
A thin dual-density EVA midsole provides some support underfoot. The insole is also fused to the upper. Because the shoe was developed with FKT (Fastest Known Time) racing in mind, the shoe is sparse on cushioning to save weight. So it makes sense that at the RW Shoe Lab, the VK measured very firm. While the firm midsole didn’t affect her runs, a wear-tester pointed out the lack of arch support as a minor downside running in the shoe.
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Flexible Build
To strip more weight from the VK, so vertical climbing is less taxing, the lightweight rubber outsole is incorporated into the forefoot only, with an integrated rock guard. Our shoe lab found the VK to be very flexible, a trait trail runners will appreciate on vertical climbs. Unlike a road racing shoe, which is usually stiff for snap and propulsion, the VK’s flexibility helps runners grip and work the ground as they flex their feet on the uphill grind.
Stretch Zone Upper
The VK has stretch zones throughout the seamless knitted upper, which allow your foot to flex as you maneuver over rocks or roots. A rear spoiler on the back of the ankle helps you put on the shoes fast and with ease—just like how you want to navigate your run. The VK has Ghost-Stream lacing, which makes untied shoes impossible on your run; in place of traditional laces is a bungee cord that tightens for a snug fit. A TPU toe cap protects your foot from jagged rocks—because the last thing you need is to stub your toes on the way to the top.
All the Stats You Need!
Men’s
- The right shoe for
- Best Running Shoes 2025
- Salomon S/Lab Ultra
- How to Use Your FSA/HSA on Eligible Fitness Gear
- Forefoot Height: Very Low | 11.5 mm
- Nutrition - Weight Loss
- Demo Run First Impression: On Cloudrunner 2
- Races - Places
- Energy Return: Least
Women’s
- Shoes & Gear
- Heel-To-Toe-Drop: Low | 6.8 mm
- Heel Height: Very Low | 19.6 mm
- How to Use Your FSA/HSA on Eligible Fitness Gear
- Forefoot Height: Very Low | 11.5 mm
- Nutrition - Weight Loss
- Demo Run First Impression: On Cloudrunner 2
- Races - Places
- Energy Return: Least
We put each shoe through real-world usage and a battery of mechanical tests in our lab to provide you with objective—and exclusive—data. In addition to a shoe’s weight, we measure sole thickness (everything that sits between your foot and the road), how well the foam cushions your stride, and the flexibility of the forefoot. All this is taken into account in our reviews of each shoe.
Amanda is a test editor at Runner’s World who has run the Boston Marathon every year since 2013; she's a former professional baker with a master’s in gastronomy and she carb-loads on snickerdoodles.
