Field Tested: Prodigio Pro vs Prodigio Max with Coach Jodie Tully
Jodie Tully is a Strength and Conditioning Coach and ultrarunner based in Brisbane, with over 16 years’ experience working with athletes from the developmental stage to high performers.
She is currently undertaking a PhD at the Queensland Academy of Sport through the University of Queensland, exploring coaching and learning design in action sports as they transition into Olympic and Paralympic contexts.
Here is an outline of the content in this review.
Table of Contents:
After discovering a passion for obstacle racing and qualifying for the Spartan World Championships 3 years in a row, Jodie transitioned to trail ultras, running several 50km races in Tarawera, Blackall and Kosciuszko. In 2026, she attempted her first 100km ultra at the Buffalo Stampede in Victoria.
On Sunday evenings you'll find her doing tempo trail runs around Mount Coot-tha, cranking 90s rock and air drumming uphill.
In this Q&A, Jodie shares her thoughts on her preferred trail running shoes – the La Sportiva Prodigio series, including the Prodigio Pro and Prodigio Max.
Jodie Tully is a Strength and Conditioning Coach and ultrarunner based in Brisbane, with over 16 years’ experience working with athletes from the developmental stage to high performers.
She is currently undertaking a PhD at the Queensland Academy of Sport through the University of Queensland, exploring coaching and learning design in action sports as they transition into Olympic and Paralympic contexts.
Here is an outline of the content in this review.
Table of Contents:
After discovering a passion for obstacle racing and qualifying for the Spartan World Championships 3 years in a row, Jodie transitioned to trail ultras, running several 50km races in Tarawera, Blackall and Kosciuszko. In 2026, she attempted her first 100km ultra at the Buffalo Stampede in Victoria.
On Sunday evenings you'll find her doing tempo trail runs around Mount Coot-tha, cranking 90s rock and air drumming uphill.
In this Q&A, Jodie shares her thoughts on her preferred trail running shoes – the La Sportiva Prodigio series, including the Prodigio Pro and Prodigio Max.
What are your local training trails around Brisbane?
Predominantly, I go to Mount Coot-tha, but I was also training around Camp Mountain ahead of the Buffalo Stampede so I could practice on some steeper hills.
Do you have a favourite spot?
Probably my switch off place is South Boundary Road at Enoggera Reservoir.
Could you talk us through the La Sportiva Prodigio Pro and Prodigio Max?
So, the La Sportiva Prodigio series includes the standard Prodigio trail runners, as well as the Max and the Pro. I’ve been using both the Max and the Pro for several months now, so I’ve got a pretty good feel for both.
The Pro version, I just took straight out of the box and into a hill session. That’s not something I'd normally do, but they were comfortable straight away and didn't have a huge break-in period. They have been great for anything from a short run to 50kms.
The Maxes have a little bit more cushion so they’re great for multi-day events or long days out on the trail. You can definitely feel a difference in the cushion, so that would be my preference if I’m doing a miler or anything that's multi-day.
When you say multi-day, rather than doing 50 or 100kms in a day, does that mean you’re running multiple days in a row?
Yeah, so there's some events like the Four Peaks Bright Alpine Climb in Victoria where you might be doing 10kms or 15kms each day for four days, but the elevation is quite spectacular, so you need a decent cushion, especially when you get to the third and fourth day. Or maybe you're doing a miler where, regardless of whether you sleep or not, you’ll be running for many, many hours so a shoe like the Prodigio Max is going to hold you over.
Are there any other key differences you think are important for runners to know?
Between the Pro and the Max, the biggest difference to understand is that the Pro is a speed shoe. Even though you’ll look at a 100km race and think it’s not a speed race, the pro athletes are going really fast the whole time. So, the Prodigio Pro has features to allow that like a forward rocker which means it’s propelling you forward more than the Max would.
If you're looking for a race day shoe to compare to another brand’s race day shoe, then the Pro is the one to consider. It’s nice and light, with good cushion, but is still really reactive on the ground.
Prodigio Pro and Max Specifications
| Specs | Prodigio Pro | Prodigio Max |
|---|---|---|
| Stack Height - Heel | 34 mm | 37 mm |
| Stack Height - Forefoot | 28 mm | 31 mm |
| Drop | 6 mm | 6 mm |
| Lug Height | 4 mm | 4 mm |
| Midsole | XFlow Speed | XFlow Endurance |
| Sole | FriXion White | FriXion Red |
| Insole | XFlow 5 mm | XFlow 5 mm |
Prodigio Pro and Max Specifications
Specs
Prodigio Pro
Prodigio Max
Stack Height - Heel
34 mm
37 mm
Stack Height - Forefoot
28 mm
31 mm
Drop
6 mm
6 mm
Lug Height
4 mm
4 mm
Midsole
XFlow Speed
XFlow Endurance
Sole
FriXion White
FriXion Red
Insole
XFlow 5 mm
XFlow 5 mm
How do the Prodigio Pro and Max compare to other trail running shoes and brands?
I've tried so many different pairs and how they compare is, first and foremost, the grip. If you look at the bottom of both shoes, they have a distinctive grip pattern and for me, the difference was noticeable straight away.
I did a trail at Camp Mountain, a hidden descent that you can tackle, and it's really loose, it's very rocky, it's very technical and it's really steep. I'd gone down it in a previous brand, Clouds. Before that, I was using Saucony. The grip with the Prodigios was different. I didn't feel like I had to get lower to the ground. I'm not hugely confident on loose, steep, technical stuff – that's something I'm trying to get better at. But straight away, putting the Prodigios on, I felt way more confident in doing that trail.
La Sportiva Prodigio Max
The other pair I'd been using just didn't compare. These were far superior. I wasn't sliding every time I hit a pile of loose rocks, so that for me, was a huge difference.
And I really like how light, comfortable and stable the Pros are. There are so many shoes on the market right now which are really high off the ground and when I’ve worn them, I just end up rolling my ankle all the time, or the shoelaces keep coming undone. Whereas, particularly in the Prodigio Pro, your foot slides straight into the sock so even if the shoelaces come loose, your foot is still tight in the shoe, and you could feel the ground through the sole.
La Sportiva Prodigio Pro
Then, if you want the extra cushioning, the Maxes have that, without bringing you too high off the ground.
When I was running up around Mount Hotham or the Razorback Trail in Victoria, on very rocky, technical terrain, the Maxes were better because they protected my feet from the roughness underneath.
Who would you recommend each of these pairs to?
The Prodigio Pro could be worn by a pro athlete, but also by somebody who just wants a good race day shoe at a good price point. Plus, it’s a race day shoe you can train in – I’ve trained in mine a lot.
Then the Prodigio Max would be your work horse, day in and day out. They’re a good training or long-distance shoe that’s going to last you 500 or 600kms. I personally enjoy having both options, but if you’re trying to choose – just go with whatever style of fit and feel you prefer.
I think both pairs would work for either a pro or a beginner and with the price point being what it is, you can have both and make them last a bit longer.
Another thing to consider if you’re tossing up which one is right for you is the forward rocker in the Pro. Some people, including myself, just don't like the feeling of a forward rocker or need to get used to it.
It’s really fun on speed, tempo or hill sessions because you can feel yourself being propelled forward, but on the downhill, if you're not experienced, it can make you feel a little out of control. So, if you were wanting a little more control, a little bit more cushion on the downhill, then I'd be going the Maxes. I've got an old knee injury, and using the Maxes I just feel better in my knees going downhill.
What about sizing? Are there any considerations to be aware of?
Based on review recommendations I’d seen, I did go up a size in both shoes which worked well for me. In terms of the toe box, some people say the Pro is a narrow shoe, but I think they have just as much room as anything on the market.
The Maxes do have a bit more toe room. I guess the idea behind that is because they are a multi-day or a longer distance shoe, your foot does swell, so this will give you more space in the toe box should you need it.
La Sportiva Prodigio Max
Despite the wider toe box on the Max, I went the same size for both, but it was a size up from most of the other brands I’d been in before.
Are there any other factors runners should think about when buying trail shoes?
I’ve personally had issues in a race wearing carbon-plated shoes where my toes were not feeling great at the back end of 50km. They were really swollen and I had all sorts of problems.
At the moment, I can't think of a shoe company, except for La Sportiva, who hasn't gone down the route of carbon plates for race day shoes, and I think that's a really important difference, because if you don't want carbon plates, then the Prodigio series is a good option.
For me, the carbon plates won’t last as long and I feel like research will come out come out in the coming years to suggest that it isn't the best thing for our feet. Especially if you’re a beginner or an intermediate runner, you want a shoe that's going to get you down the hill at a speed that aligns with your ability and technique.
You don't want to be forced to go faster than you can physically handle, because otherwise you're going to have issues pop up.
The thing I love about La Sportiva is they have focused on good foam, good grip and not going down the carbon route, which makes the price point so much better.
A beginner, an intermediate, a weekend warrior athlete doesn't want to have to go out and spend $500 on like a pair of shoes for training and then the same on a race shoe. If you go with the Prodigio Pro or Max, the price point is not that high, and you get a quality shoe that will last you for longer. You don't need to worry about the carbon plate, it's just unnecessary.
Is there anything you’d change about the Prodigio Pro or Max?
For the Pro, one minor issue is with the tongue on the shoe – it’s a little bit thick – so some people have found it digs into the top of their foot, and they need to loosen up the shoelaces. In saying that, because the tongue is part of a tight sock structure, you don’t need the laces to be that tight anyway – once they’re on, you’re locked in.
The other thing to mention is that if you have orthotics or a preferred insole, you can take the insole of the Maxes out and put your own in. You can't do that with the Pros.
Also with the shoelaces, on the Max I’m able to do a race lace, which I couldn’t do on the Pro. It could just be the size of my foot, but if you really like to have the race lace, it’s something to think about.
The La Sportiva Prodigio series are available online and instore at K2 Base Camp.