Submitted 1 year ago

By Thomasb11507

From Washington State, Montana State

Verified Reviewer

Reviewed at

These shoes are lightweight, sturdy, and fast. I've had two pairs of these shoes and just ordered my third due to how good they are. These shoes have a smaller drop, which I personally like for trail running, but they still have plenty of cushion, especially on long downhill stretches. It would be cool if Sportiva made a newer version of these shoes though, with maybe a slightly stronger rubber compound, or thicker lugs. That being said, I'm still wearing my first pair of these shoes, which have survived two high school XC seasons, and countless miles of trail running, hiking, and bushwhacking while I've been in college for 2 years. As per most Sportiva shoes, they run about half a size too small.

Submitted 4 years ago

By Tony

From Charleston WV

Verified Buyer

Reviewed at

I got these Shoes 3 weeks ago, and they alredy starting to fall apart. I only wor them for everyday use, and i didn't run or hiked with them. In the ankle region the soft material, what makes the shoes more comfortable, looks like i have woren these shoes for 2 years. The overall quality is also not good at all. But still, the shoes are very comfortable

Submitted 5 years ago

By TW1950

From Fredericksburg, TX

Verified Buyer

Reviewed at

I never used the Helios 2 but have been using the Helios 1.The Helios 3 is an excellent upgrade. Perfect out of the box. Sizing is the same as Helios 1. Upper and lacing is dialed in better. Better cushioning but still firm. If the sole is more durable, I'll be 100% happy.

Submitted 5 years ago

By Thomas R

From Hudson Valley, NY

Verified Buyer

Reviewed at

The original Helios is my all time favorite trail running shoe. Bought 6 pair when they went on close out and still have 1 pair left. Also have 3 pair of Helios SR and just 1 pair of Helios 2. In it's third generation it feels like La Sportiva melded the fit and excellent laces from the SR with the breathable upper and medium flex of the original Helios. The original Helios was near perfect. The only issue for me is that my heels were not fully locked down and the laces were not my favorite. The Helios 2 had a more narrow fit, good heel lock down, and fixed the lacing system, which all helped, but the show was made more flexible and too soft and minimalist for my liking. Since the Vertical K was discontinued at that time maybe La Sportive intended the Helios 2 to appeal to fans of the VK. I run on rutted, rough, rocky trails, and that is where Helios has always shined. High stack height shoes reduce ground feel and lead to ankle rolls in this type of terrain. Helios 3 gives the perfect amount of feel underfoot and enough protection. Gravel was felt too sharply with the Helios 2 but the Helios 3 has been firmed up again underfoot and is fine for running and scrambling over rocks. I run a lot of hills with uneven terrain and I need to have shoes that keep me stable on uneven ground, and are lightweight. Durability so far seems on par with Helios SR which I still use in colder weather. Thank you La Sportiva for making the perfect shoe for technical mountain running. Fit does run a little small and like all of my La Sportiva shoes I size up 1/2.

Submitted 5 years ago

By CJ91

From Arvada, CO

Verified Buyer

Reviewed at

I've been using the Helios IIIs for training runs around my neighborhood and have found them to be a great option. They're light, breathable and really flexible. The strong energy return on each foot-strike has made them an efficient option for runs that include pavement before or after the trail. Happy to add them to the arsenal. Also loving the new black/red color!

Submitted 5 years ago

By Ed

From Ridgeway, CO

Verified Buyer

Reviewed at

I've had all three versions of the Helios and have liked every iteration including the SR "sticky rubber" model from a few seasons ago. I mainly use these for training runs, approaching, scrambling and everyday wear. The upper is super breathable and flexible while the cushioning minimal, responsive and comfortable. The outsole is sticky and low profile which makes it a great front range scrambler. The only downside is that without a rock guard, you feel everything underfoot. This can be tough on long miles. However, ground feel is unrivaled because of the minimal construction and the 4mm drop does seem to give it more protection than a zero drop barefoot style runner. Size up a half to full size from US street shoe.

Submitted 5 years ago

By thirdeyeclimber

From Boulder, CO

Verified Buyer

Reviewed at

The Helios series are hands-down my favorite running shoe by La Sportiva and these are my 3rd model, 5th pair. They aren't for everyone due to being extremely light and sensitive however, if you like the idea of bare-foot running, this is a very fun shoe to try! They will be lower on the durability factor for the sake of the light and quickness they feature so well. I most enjoy these for short-distance road and trail runs as well as casual everyday use. The important thing to note about these is that they don't support much weight. If I'm going for a long hike, I'll definitely choose a more supportive pair so my feet don't get too worked. Regarding size, I'm a US 10.5 with a wider midfoot and these run tight as most things do with Sportiva, however, Euro 45 is generally a safe size for me in the running and hiking shoes.

Submitted 5 years ago

By zibo

From Quebec,canada

Verified Reviewer

Reviewed at

Still my favorite trail running shoe. I was so afraid the model was not made anymore. I put spikes on my old models and use them for my arch Canadian winter condition. Can throw to the garbages my oldies, so comfortable! And still, as I love minimaliste shoes, they are light but with just enough absorption.

Submitted 5 years ago

By RP123

From SLC

Verified Reviewer

Reviewed at

I've had these for about a month now, they broke in nicely after a few hours. They widened significantly and seemed to mold to the shape of my foot. I have an average c width and normally wear 10.5 - 11 in most other shoes, a 45 fits me perfectly. Super light, secure, and excellent all-day comfort. I don't go on long runs in these, but I do just about everything else. Hiking, approaching, scrambling, etc. When it isn't raining or snowing, I almost always grab these shoes when I'm heading out the door.