La Sportiva Mutant 2023 update

I know the new version is softer/pliable than the older version but how does it affect the scrambling ability in lower to mid-class 5 terrain. A stiffer shoe is more precise in fact.

Has anyone had the chance to test the new version as an alternative to an approach shoe on technical terrain? 

Have a lot of miles on both the old black rubber and the new red rubber here in the Flatirons. I’d say they are just about equivalent. I like the old ones ever so slightly more and so do a few others I scramble with, but all in all the scrambling community seems to accept the new rubber. For 5.4+ scrambling I am still a little weary in the new rubber, but then again I always am on that terrain anyways.

Rubber isn't my main concern but the stiffness of the shoe which is paramount for accurate scrambling. You want a stiff not a soft shoe; climbing shoes are made that way to allow for precise edging and comfortable smearing.

So the new version, how does the shoe feel in that regard compared to the old one?

Also with this big change sizing will be most likely affected, has it changed?

What I noticed is that La Spo has completely ignored the fact that the factory shoe laces are crap and should be replaced straight away which I have done with every new pair of Mutant I purchased. The oval/tube type work great.

Thanks for your feedback!

I am a huge OG Mutant fan (having gone thru I believe 6 pair so far) and recently tried on the new red tread/ Carbon Hawaiian model. I have low volume/ narrow feet. I am a 44.5 in the OG and would be a 44.5 in the new model. The difference I noticed (in store only) was the new model felt slightly longer in length and higher volume in the toe box. I tried to size down to a 44.0 and it would be too small. Thus I stocked up on a couple more pairs of the OG's and I guess will sort it out in another season. I'll be curious to hear what more experienced users think. Same shitty laces in the new model.

Here's an initial review i found on the webs. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIKcB8uVzOI

Yes saw that review. Very basic. 

So the sizing of the new one is off compared to the OG? Crazy stuff. Dunno why LS keeps on messing up with their flagship products. If it ain't broke...capisce!

Thanks for your feedback. 

P B wrote:

but all in all the scrambling community seems to accept the new rubber.

Forgot to comment on that:

The rubber compound hasn't changed at all, it's still Frixion White. They only changed the colour of the outsole to red; that's the only difference. 

I've had probably 6 or 7 of the old pair... I wear this shoe for just about everything up to very low 5th class. Long alpine approaches, short cragging approaches, peak bagging and long distance hiking... They are by far and away the most comfortable and confidence-inspiring mountain shoes I've ever worn.

I am on my first pair of the new version, and I honestly haven't noticed any differences in sizing or softness/stiffness. What I have noticed, unfortunately, is that the three major faults of the original shoe have been carried over to the new version:

1. The totally obnoxious lacing system along with laces that shred after a few uses.

2. The extremely fragile pull loop on the heel (don't pull too hard or you'll rip it off the shoe).

3. Hideous color schemes.

In spite of these flaws, I love these shoes.

Thanks for the feedback. I just purchased the shoes but haven't tested them yet.

The shoes are basically the same however the heel is softer/more pliable. No idea why LS has introduced this minor modification

Agreed with the shitty laces. I don't bother and replace them from the get-go. A 45" (114cm) long oval laces are great and increase the boot style of wrapping of the Mutant which is the reason of the peculiar lacing system designed by the manufacturer. The old laces are too soft and frail pretty quickly.

The colour scheme is OK by me. Colours offered in the men's are:

-Carbon/Hawaiian sun
-Black/Yellow
-Lime Punch/Storm Blue

And women's:

-Storm Blue/Cherry Tomato
- White/Hibiscus

*Note: sizing between the OG and the updated version remains the same.

giraud b wrote:

The colour scheme is OK by me. Colours offered in the men's are:

-Carbon/Hawaiian sun
-Black/Yellow
-Lime Punch/Storm Blue

You must be located in Europe: Here in the USA our only choice is Carbon/Hawaiian. And there's no "u" in color. ;)

I have no idea, just found the
colours offered by La Sportiva global site:

https://www.lasportiva.com/en/man/footwear/mountain-running

https://www.lasportiva.com/en/woman/footwear/mountain-running

I wish they had some more consistency with the colour choices so every customer could choose from all the colours available regardless of location.

*Colour: standard word in British English. 

I've gone through two pairs of the OG mutants and one of the new version (only available in the terrible Hawaii color scheme here in Colorado). I think that the actual feel of the shoe is very similar, almost identical, but I do agree the new ones are may be slightly less rigid at the midsole. To me, it seemed like the new version might be very slightly shorter, but it's almost unnoticeable. The outsole stickiness feels exactly the same, the lug pattern is the same, and it's built on the same last. They added some adhesive on the toe cap, which always fails early on these shoes, but I found it doesn't make much of a difference - the toe cap still fails early and starts to collect rocks and dirt as it delaminates.

Still the best scrambling shoes I've used. I think that if you like the OG mutant, you'll like the new one just fine if you can get past LS's consistent failure to choose an attractive colorway. They make you look like a little kid who dressed himself in the most colorful shoes he could find.

Taylor S wrote:

Iyou'll like the new one just fine if you can get past LS's consistent failure to choose an attractive colorway. They make you look like a little kid who dressed himself in the most colorful shoes he could find.

I suppose targeted at trail runners who love shiny colours (high vis reasons though). I'm also a trail runner and love that colour for that reason. Got this pair with even a green fluoro outsole to make things worse:

https://www.lasportiva.com/en/karacal-man-red-46u320208

Love them!   

giraud b wrote:

Got this pair with even a green fluoro outsole to make things worse:

https://www.lasportiva.com/en/karacal-man-red-46u320208

Love them!   

Hahaha yikes!

We only get one color way on the Karacals in the US. I'm both jealous and not at the same time!

It ain't that bad:

https://www.lasportivausa.com/mutant.html

That colour is pretty much the same as the OG carbon flame:

https://www.amazon.com.au/La-Sportiva-26W705900-Mens/dp/B07CX8MGS3

Just a tad more aggressive colour-wise.

I like it. 

Wondering if anyone has done an alpine ascent with a predominant amount of rock wearing these shoes. I'm planning to do the Lyon Ridge on the Matterhorn in a near future and hoping the ridge is relatively snow-free in a late summer ascent. The Mutant should be the ideal candidate.