La Sportiva Cyklon Cross GTX review

Who should buy the Cyklon Cross GTX

This La Sportiva winter warrior is a perfect fit for:

• Hardcore runners who can’t be bothered with staying inside even during blizzards.
• Trail runners who don’t like fussing around with frozen or mud-caked laces.
• Hikers who love venturing off-trails and need supreme traction.

Who should not buy it

If you’re looking for a more responsive winter running shoe, the Hoka Speedgoat Mid 2 GTX might be a better pick. For a similarly gaitered and BOA-laced trail runner, there’s the Adidas Terrex Agravic Tech Pro.

The Cyklon Cross GTX is ready for winter adventures

Thanks to its Gore-Tex-lined upper and built-in gaiter, the Cyklon Cross GTX goes where its OG Cyklon brother cannot. These winter-specific upgrades make the shoe a legit beast on snowy and muddy terrain.

According to runners, because the shoe is so good at keeping their feet optimally warm and dry, “winter doesn’t need to mean a boring treadmill.”

Several reviewers added that the gaiter also presented a few extra benefits for them—it kept debris out and provided some mild ankle support as well.

Comfortably snug, unless you have wide feet

“It feels snug in all the right ways.” That’s how one reviewer described the Cross GTX’s upper. The shoe is well-padded all around, reassuringly locked in around the midfoot and heel, but still easy to put on.

However, it does have a slim toe box that might not make it an ideal choice for those with wide feet, especially since winter running usually necessitates the use of thick wool socks.

BOA-constricted

One expert ranked the Cyklon Cross GTX’s BOA lacing system as one of the best fits he has felt in a trail runner—second only to the dual-BOA tech featured in the Speedland SL:HSV. Testers loved how simple it is to get a precise lockdown in the shoe, and appreciated its easy-to-grip and easily accessible dial.

This midsole won’t freeze up on you

The dual-density midsole in the Cyklon Cross combines good amounts of trail feel, protective cushioning, and stability, shared reviewers. 

One trail shoe expert also noted that the midsole handled the cold well—"not becoming hard and stiff, retaining its performance properties." And considering that these shoes would mostly be treading near- or below-zero temps, this is incredibly vital.

Takes you off the beaten paths

“Technical terrain ain’t no thang for the Cyklon,” said one runner. Its durable FriXion rubber outsole and 7-mm lugs gobble up pretty much any terrain or condition thrown at it—mud, wet rocks, loose trails, slush, or snow. For hard-packed ice, testers suggest adding traction devices, which the shoe also easily accommodates.

The Cyklon Cross goes the distance

While the Cyklon Cross GTX isn’t particularly bouncy, responsive, or plush, experts found it to be competent and protective enough for mid- to long-distance mountain runs on rough terrain and bad conditions.

Cross-examining the Cross GTX

• The Cyklon Cross’s upper durability was put to the ultimate test when one runner got a sharp nail caught against his shoe’s gaiter—he reported that he was “pleasantly surprised to find that everything was somehow intact.”
• Expect a bit of a break-in period with the Cyklon GTX’s upper. Several reviewers experienced some rubbing and blistering due to the gaiter, even with high socks on.
• Its 335g weight is 20g heavier than the average for waterproof trail runners—”not too shabby” for a shoe with its own gaiter, contended one user.
• At $245, the Cyklon Cross is one of the most expensive GTX shoes around. For context, Gore-Tex trail shoes usually retail for only $152.