Sportiva Katana Lace

La Sportiva added a P3 midsole and laces to its super-popular Katana (Velcro) to produce the Katana Lace, an edging master that one tester said fits “like a glove.” The stiff slip-last is slightly asymmetric and slightly downturned, creating a comfortable performance shoe for all angles except super steep. Synthetic lining and an upper blended with leather and Lorica give the Katana Lace a low-stretch fit while still conforming to your foot. A 4mm Vibram XS Edge sole hikes slabs, thin faces, and cracks. The Katana Lace received superior marks for all but its heel, which one tester described as “baggy” – they’re average for hooking. As with most La Sportiva shoes, the Katana Lace tends to fit narrow-to-averagewidth feet.