La Sportiva’s Kaptiva Gets Gore-Tex’d for Wet Winter Runs

Sock-like fit around the ankle keeps out debris, but felt too snug for some testers: The Kaptiva GTX is ideal for cold-weather trail runners looking for a firmer ride to handle mud, rain, snow, and slush.

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Price: $160
Weight: 9.5 oz (M), 8.3 oz (W)
Type: Trail

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The phrase “over the river and through the woods” has always sounded—to me at least—more like an awesome trail run than a holiday trip to Grandma’s. In either case, you’d still need one of two things heading out this winter, especially if there’s some of that “white and drifted snow” Running in the Cold trail shoe Arch: Medium | Gait: Neutral | Footstrike: Midfoot.

If you plan on sticking to your usual singletracks over the winter months, a reliable Gore-Tex upper can make snow-covered routes feel more like a sweet wintry bonus instead of an inconvenience. The material works double-time for both warmth and waterproofing, and frequently accompanies an aggressive lugged outsole for traction. One of our favorite shoes right now that checks both those boxes is La Sportiva’s new Kaptiva GTX.

La Sportiva Kaptiva GTX [width:D - Medium]

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Pros

• Testers found the shoe fully waterproof on wet trails
• Sock-like fit around the ankle keeps out debris, but felt too snug for some testers

Cons

• La Sportiva VK
• Slightly heavier than the standard Kaptiva

Firm and Durable—Just Like the Original

We previously tested the standard Kaptiva, and are pleased that the midsole and outsole remain unchanged. The shoe still uses the same resilient layer of MEMlex, a combination of EVA and TPU materials, that provides enough cush to comfortably house two rock plates (one in the heel and the other in the forefoot) and soften hard landings on frozen trails. Our testers found that the sensation is firm, which our data from the RW lab supported, but the full-length Ortholite insole keeps the shoe adequately cushioned, even over ultra distances. “The cushioning is spot on,” said one tester during training for an upcoming Swimrun race. “I like that I do not feel every rock underfoot, as I do with the La Sportiva VK, but some may still want more cushioning.”

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Burly Lugs, Tacky Rubber

Even if you don’t get much of the white stuff on winter runs where you live, the Kaptiva’s outsole makes quick work of the other mud, slush, and puddles you’ll hit on the trail. Lugs ranging in height from 3.5 to 4.5 mm (about the length of some longer distance cross-country spikes) flesh out a sole made of La Sportiva’s stickiest rubber available from its five distinct offerings. If that’s still not enough to handle the worst winter slop, the lugs’ corkscrew-shape is also compatible with extra Sock-like fit around the ankle keeps out debris, but felt too snug for some testers that twist on for even more traction on climbs; the same outsole flex grooves carry over from the original model so it’s easy to get up on your toes.

“These will definitely be my go-to shoes for wet or rocky terrain. Its traction is better than any of my other trail shoes from Brooks and On,” one tester said. “I wore them on an extremely rocky section of the Appalachian Trail on a wet, misty day. My feet stayed dry and I had secure footing, even on the wet rocks.”

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Warm but Waterproof

Here’s where we see the big change: a fully waterproof Invisible Fit upper. According to La Sportiva, runners have needed to bump up a half size when the brand’s shoes adopted a Gore-Tex construction in the past. The newer Invisible Fit style largely alleviates that issue. While one tester did note that the upper did feel slightly stiffer (and a bit heavier), most of our testers were able to stick with their usual sizes. Another nice tweak is a slightly altered fit around the ankle that gives the GTX a snugger seal for keeping out stray dirt and rocks.

Most of the waterproof uppers we’ve run in aren’t especially breathable, and such is the case as well for the Kaptiva GTX. However, the extra warmth might be welcome for runs below freezing. If you’re used to doubling up socks or always reaching for your thickest wool pair, you’ll be able to get away with something a bit lighter.

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What Our Wear Testers Said

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“The aggressive outsole is perfect for digging into any sloppy conditions. I’ve also been really impressed with how well [the Kaptiva GTX] gripped wet rocks, roots, and muddy trails—all while keeping my feet dry. [It has a] narrow but very comfortable fit and the sock-like ankle feels like you are putting on a slipper, a very secure feel. They ran a bit hot, but not uncomfortable. These will be my go-to winter shoes once we get some snow in PA.”

Jason P. | Tester since 2019
oz M, 8.3 oz W
“I loved this shoe. Durability, fit, and weight all exceeded my expectations to create the best trail shoe experience I have ever had. I found them more than adequate for local trails across all rocks, roots, and elevation. The cushioning on the shoe was overall on the firmer side and on 10+ mile runs on hard terrain, my feet began to hurt a bit, but this could be simply due to time on feet. That said, I appreciate the harder sole as it gave me a better feel for the ground compared to softer alternatives.”