The La Sportiva Quantum is here! Well, it’s almost here, but you can reserve your pair of these incredible trail running shoes right now, exclusively at rockcreek.com. We are now accepting pre-orders, and are expecting the Quantum to arrive in mid-May, so you can be one of the first in the country with a pair.
The heart of the La Sportiva Quantum is La Sportiva’s new “MorphoDynamic Technology,” a unique construction where the outsole of the shoe features a layer of soft EVA wrapped in high-traction rubber. This EVA layer is, as the name implies, dynamic, flexing and compressing to move responsively with the terrain beneath your feet. The Frixion AT rubber is sticky, like a rock-climbing shoe, but more durable for the demands of the trail. This combination adds a significant amount of cushioning without sacrificing traction or light weight.
This is a slip-lasted shoe, which means it has a glove-like, ergonomic fit. With a super-breathable mesh lining and a scree guard, the La Sportiva Quantum is built to keep your feet comfortable and happy for the long race ahead.
The Quantum is available in both men’s and women’s versions. The men’s Quantum is black & yellow (above right) and the women’s Quantum is black & pink (below right); here are links to both shoes:
La Sportiva is known for their low-profile, lightweight “mountain running” shoes, and they spent two years figuring out how to design a shoe with more cushioning without compromising these core values. The result, the Quantum, is a super-progressive design, and a breakthrough in terms of combining trail performance with shock-absorption.
Rock/Creek Race Team standout (and current Rock/Creek StumpJump 50k course record holder) Josh Wheeler received an advance pair of these shoes last fall, and has run several trail ultramarathons in them. He writes:
The La Sportiva Quantum is great and provides excellent support & cushioning. I was a little nervous at first about the MorphoDynamic sole, but my initial impression of it being too flexible proved incorrect, as the shoe responds perfectly to all terrain and seemed like a great balance between flexibility and stiffness. I was also a little nervous about my feet getting beat up from rocky or technical terrain; however, the Quantums provided excellent sole coverage and protection. I am big fan of the responsiveness of the shoes and how they handled on slick, rocky terrain. They molded nicely to my foot and I had little to no lateral or forward movement when running downhill, which tremendously limited soreness and blisters.
I am most impressed with the La Sportiva Quantum and its MorphoDynamic sole. I could not be happier about the fit and performance of this shoe, on all terrain.
Check out this video from La Sportiva, which explains the construction of the Quantum’s MorphoDynamic sole:
Here’s how La Sportiva describes the Quantum trail running shoe:
“Our latest innovation in trail running shoes (the La Sportiva Quantum) has been in development for over 2 years. and addresses the need for lighter products that are low-to-the-ground and well cushioned. The new MorphoDynamic technology addresses these needs, with a midsole that adapts to the trail while providing a well-cushioned ride to protect the foot from impact forces. By using a soft, lightweight PU foam that is wrapped by sticky FriXion® AT rubber, we have increased the amount of cushioning material in the midsole which also drastically reduces weight. The Adaptable Terrain Interface adapts to the running surface, creating a smoother ride and increasing the surface area contact of the outsole.
MorphoDynamic Technology (designed exclusively by La Sportiva) allows the shoe to constantly adapt to any terrain, thanks to the unique construction of the sole/insole block where polyurethane foam fills the cavities of the sole to create a shock-absorbing interface layer. This guarantees fluidity of movement at all times. The super grippy sole, with its characteristic “wavy” shape, works in synergy with the soft, lightweight polyurethane midsole to further reduce negative impact on terrain. (MorphoDynamic Technology by La Sportiva is) Ergonomic, adaptable, shock absorbing, stable and lightweight.
At Rock/Creek, we openly admit to being excited about new trail running shoes (especially the highly-anticipated variety), but we’re really excited about this one. La Sportiva is always on the forefront of trail running footwear, and the La Sportiva Quantum is surely a game-changer. With the Quantum, you’ll be able to run over the gnarliest terrain while keeping your foot stable and protected. Get yours now, and take off running!