La Sportiva NZ — Italian Mountain Footwear for Trail Running and Tramping
When it comes to mountain footwear with genuine heritage, few brands can match La Sportiva. Founded in 1928 in the Dolomites of northern Italy, La Sportiva has spent nearly a century perfecting shoes and boots for the world's most demanding terrain. What began as a small cobbler's workshop in Tesero, Trentino, has grown into one of the world's leading technical footwear brands — trusted by elite alpinists, trail runners, and everyday adventurers alike.
In New Zealand, that heritage translates directly. Our trails are steep, our weather is unpredictable, and our terrain switches from root-covered forest floor to wet rock in the space of a few hundred metres. La Sportiva footwear is built for exactly these conditions. At Dwights, we're proud to be an authorised La Sportiva NZ dealer, stocking the full range of trail running shoes, hiking boots, approach shoes, and mountaineering boots at our La Sportiva collection.
Trail Running Shoes
La Sportiva has long been a favourite among competitive trail runners, and their running shoe lineup reflects decades of race-proven development. Every model in the range features La Sportiva's proprietary FriXion® rubber compound — a high-grip outsole material specifically engineered for wet, technical surfaces. In NZ, where trails after rain become slick with clay and wet rock, FriXion rubber provides a genuine edge over standard outsole compounds.
Akasha II — Distance Trail Running
The La Sportiva Akasha II is the brand's flagship endurance trail runner, and a natural first choice for NZ runners tackling longer routes like the Kepler Track, Queen Charlotte, or any multi-hour outing. Updated in 2022 with increased durability and improved protection, the Akasha II balances cushioning and responsiveness in a way that keeps your legs fresher over the back half of long runs. The Cushion Platform footbed absorbs impact without sacrificing ground feel, while the FriXion rubber outsole grips NZ's wet and technical trails with confidence. Available in both men's and women's fits.
Bushido III — Technical Trail
If the Akasha II is the endurance workhorse, the La Sportiva Bushido III is the technical weapon. Originally developed for skyrunning — the discipline of racing up and across steep mountain ridges — the Bushido III is fierce on the kind of off-camber, rocky, root-strewn terrain that defines NZ's best trail runs. An aggressive FriXion rubber lug pattern bites hard on wet surfaces, while the updated midsole delivers precise stability without sacrificing the snappy feel that competitive runners demand. The Bushido III has earned its place as one of La Sportiva's best-selling models worldwide, and it's easy to understand why once you run it through a properly technical NZ descent.
Helios III — Speed Training
The La Sportiva Helios III sits at the lighter, faster end of the trail running range. Positioned as a "door to trail" shoe — equally at home on road warm-ups and off-road trail segments — the Helios III is built for runners who want something genuinely lightweight for training and tempo efforts. A breathable, low-profile upper keeps weight down, while the outsole compound still delivers enough grip to handle NZ's typical trail mix of gravel, dirt, and wet rock. If you're after a quick-turn NZ trail shoe for regular training runs, the Helios III is worth a close look.
Explore the full trail running range at Dwights' La Sportiva collection.
Hiking and Tramping Boots
La Sportiva's hiking and tramping range draws on the same mountain engineering DNA as their running shoes. The result is footwear that's genuinely capable in NZ's conditions — where waterproofing, grip, and ankle support all matter in equal measure. Whether you're heading out for a day walk or a multi-day hut trip, there's a La Sportiva option for you. Our full guide to choosing tramping boots in NZ covers what to look for across all terrain types.
Ultra Raptor III (low-cut trail running shoe) — Versatile Low-Cut
The La Sportiva Ultra Raptor III is one of the brand's most versatile options and a consistent favourite with NZ trampers. It's worth being clear on fit: the Ultra Raptor III is a low-cut shoe, not a low-cut trail running shoe. That low profile makes it ideal for faster-paced day hiking and trail running crossover use, where agility and weight savings matter more than maximum ankle support.
The ripstop upper is reinforced with a rubber toe cap and rand for protection against rocks and roots — a smart design choice for NZ's bouldery ridgelines and rooted forest tracks. A Gore-Tex version (the Ultra Raptor III GTX) adds waterproof breathable protection for wetter days. Both men's and women's versions are available, including wide-fit options. The FriXion rubber outsole grips confidently on NZ's wet trail surfaces.
TX5 Gore-Tex — approach and scrambling and Heavy Pack
For trampers heading out with a heavier load — think multi-day Fiordland routes or Great Walk packs — the La Sportiva TX5 Gore-Tex is a compelling option. This is a mid-cut approach boot with a Gore-Tex Extended Comfort membrane for waterproof breathability across long days, and a Trango-family-derived 3D Flex cuff that protects the ankle without sacrificing movement. The TX5 is built around the hiking boot. It's a smart pick for NZ's more demanding multi-day routes.
Trango TRK GTX — Classic Trekking Boot
The La Sportiva Trango TRK GTX is La Sportiva's purpose-built trekking boot, drawing on the Trango mountaineering family's technical heritage. Gore-Tex waterproofing keeps feet dry across NZ's typically mixed weather, while the construction uses recycled laces and an Ortholite Hybrid footbed — small but meaningful sustainability choices. The Trango TRK GTX is designed for full-pack trekking and woodland trails, making it well suited to NZ hut-to-hut routes and anything involving serious elevation gain with weight on your back.
Mountaineering Boots
Nepal Evo GTX — Alpine Climbing
At the top of La Sportiva's technical hierarchy sits the Nepal Evo GTX. This is a genuine high-altitude mountaineering boot — evolved from the legendary Nepal Extreme — designed for technical ice, glacier approaches, and high-altitude climbing where warmth, precision, and crampon compatibility are non-negotiable. The Gore-Tex/Duratherm insulated lining keeps feet warm on extended alpine routes, while the boot's construction is fully compatible with technical crampon systems. For NZ mountaineers heading to the Southern Alps or beyond, the Nepal Evo GTX represents the pinnacle of La Sportiva's craft.
Why La Sportiva's FriXion Rubber Suits NZ Conditions
The single most important technical detail across La Sportiva's trail and hiking range is the FriXion® rubber outsole compound. Standard rubber outsoles can become dangerously slippery on wet NZ trails — clay-over-rock, damp roots, and wet sandstone are all common hazards across the country's trail network. FriXion rubber is engineered specifically for high-grip performance on wet and technical surfaces, using a compound that stays pliable and sticky even in cold, wet conditions.
This isn't a marketing claim. FriXion rubber has been refined through decades of use on the Dolomites, the Alps, and by elite trail runners and mountaineers globally. In practice, NZ trail runners and trampers report measurable confidence improvements on wet descents and off-camber root sections — precisely the conditions that define the harder end of NZ trail running. It's one of the key reasons La Sportiva has built a loyal following among serious NZ outdoor athletes, and one of the main reasons we stock the brand at Dwights.
For more on what to look for in a trail running shoe for NZ conditions, see our best trail running shoes NZ 2026 guide.
La Sportiva at Dwights
Dwights has been supplying New Zealand's outdoor community with quality footwear and gear for years. We're an authorised La Sportiva NZ dealer, which means you're buying genuine product with full manufacturer support — not grey-market imports. Our team is familiar with the La Sportiva range across trail running, hiking, approach, and mountaineering categories, and can help you match the right model to your intended use.
The La Sportiva range suits a wide spread of NZ outdoor pursuits: weekend trail runners will find their match in the Akasha II or Bushido III, trampers heading to the Great Walks will appreciate the TX5 or Trango TRK GTX, and alpine climbers won't go past the Nepal Evo GTX for serious mountain objectives. Whatever your terrain, there's a La Sportiva built for it.
Browse the complete range at Dwights' La Sportiva NZ collection — or get in touch with our team if you'd like a recommendation before you buy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is La Sportiva good for NZ trails?
Yes. La Sportiva's FriXion rubber outsole compound is specifically engineered for grip on wet and technical surfaces — making it an excellent fit for NZ's typically damp, rooted, and rocky trail conditions. Models like the Akasha II and Bushido III are used by competitive NZ trail runners.
Where can I buy La Sportiva in NZ?
Dwights is an authorised La Sportiva NZ dealer. You can shop the full range online at dwights.co.nz/collections/la-sportiva with NZ shipping and support.
Is the Ultra Raptor III a low-cut or low-cut trail running shoe. It's not a mid mid-cut tramping boot. There are separate mid-cut Ultra Raptor II models in the range if you need ankle height.
What La Sportiva shoes are best for tramping in NZ?
For day tramping and faster-paced routes, the Ultra Raptor III or TX5 Gore-Tex are excellent choices. For heavier pack loads and multi-day hut trips, the Trango TRK GTX offers additional support and waterproofing. Our tramping boot guide covers the decision in detail.
Does La Sportiva make Gore-Tex trail running shoes?
Yes. Several La Sportiva models are available with Gore-Tex waterproof linings, including the Ultra Raptor III GTX and TX5 Gore-Tex. Gore-Tex versions add waterproof breathability while maintaining the FriXion rubber outsole grip.
