La Sportiva Quantum Trail Running Shoes (For Men)

The general consensus on this shoe is accurate: Well built, good traction, stylish, built small (in other words - sized wrong). All true. If you’re looking for the short story, you can stop reading this review now. For more of the story, keep reading. Regarding the sizing: I generally wear size 10 shoes. I have a low volume foot (meaning - narrow fore foot, narrow heal and low arch/low in-step). I like snug shoes. So it can be hard to find a shoe with a “perfect” fit. This shoe is close – bit not in my normal size. After reading the reviews, I ordered a 43.5/10.5. The shoe definitely fits snug. I can lace it and tie it with the stock shoe laces, but just barely (and without using the top islet holes. which, by the way, are the only traditional islet holes on the shoe). Note: I have a distinctly LOW-VOLUME foot – and this shoe is very snug. The attribute that I consider to be a legit problem is the length. My toes easily touch the end of the shoe. I like the fit and feel of the shoe with the exception of the length. I’m guessing I would have been better off with a 44 or 44.5 (I can only guess about the size/volume progression). I had my wife try the shoe. She generally wears a 8.5 men’s (fairly wide fore foot for a woman, as well as a high arch & in-step). She commented on it being snug to get her foot in, but (when her foot was inside) she felt it was just a tad long. Remember: this shoe is marked as being 2 sizes above what she normally wears in a men’s shoe. She should be swimming in a 10.5 men’s. Maybe I got a pair that is exceptionally short – OR – maybe this model tends to run a little small. ? ?
In terms of construction (exclusive of size), this shoe seems very well built - nice padding, solid foot bed, good cushioning. The only thing I don’t care for is the lacing system. The lacing system uses relatively small gauge, fabric lace-loops. I question how long they will last, especially if used in the intended terrain/conditions. The fabric lace loops can also make it a bit difficult to tighten the laces – which may not be an issue because the shoe is inherently quite snug on the foot. But you're going to want to pull the laces tight in order to lock your heal and maintain any hope of keeping your toes from butting solidly against the end of the shoe.

buy 1 size bigger to fit

I knew these shoes run small - but it is so out of sizing it should not be sold on line / these shoes not sized according to any charts / runs not one but two sizes small or even more. I need size 10 maybe 10.5 - ordered 44.5 (which should be 11) and it was still way to small - how can I make sense out of that?!

I have been wearing these around town for a while to build my trust level in them as lightweight backpacking shoes and have really come to love them for that purpose, so I took them out for the first time this weekend and they were great under a load. 22 miles up and down 4 river gorges in the Jocassee Gorges area of NC/SC with an overnight load were no match. Great grip, great mud shedding, breath well (which is great since they're not WP). I used them with socks and ordered 1/2 size small. They look excellent to boot. I get tons of compliments!

These look to be great shoes, but I have to return them because they are not large enough. I normally wear a twelve or thirteen. The largest size available is 47½ and it is not wide enough. Your feet fit down into the sole to a small extent and that hard rubber is crimping the outside of my foot.