La Sportiva Cyklon vs Speedland SLP DX: Two BOA Trail Shoes, Two Very Different Philosophies

Introduction

Both of these trail shoes lean on BOA dial closures, which is exactly why they make for an interesting comparison. They look similar on paper but take genuinely different approaches to fit, cushioning, and terrain. The La Sportiva Cyklon sits at $160, while the Speedland SLP DX comes in at $375, making it the highest-priced running shoe we have come across. Here is how they stack up when you look past the shared dial.

La Sportiva Cyklon: Aggressive Grip and a Built-In Gaiter

The Cyklon is a mid-cut trail shoe with a built-in gaiter system. Cinch down the single BOA dial and the gaiter wraps snugly around your ankle, keeping out dirt and loose stones for the most part. La Sportiva calls the tensioned lacing arrangement the dynamic cage, and pushing the dial tightens it across the whole foot. Popping it open loosens everything at once, so you re-tighten to your preferred fit.

Underfoot, the seven millimeter lugs are aggressive and substantial, giving the Cyklon one of the more capable outsoles on technical terrain. The midsole foam is fairly firm EVA rather than plush, and it does not feel overly forgiving, but the overall ride still worked well over long runs.

Speedland SLP DX: A Fit That Won The Comparison

The SLP DX uses the BOA Li2 fit system, a slimmer, more advanced dial that allows micro incremental adjustments in both directions. You can tighten or loosen in tiny steps on the go, which turned out to be a genuine advantage. Before a steep descent you can crank the fit down for a locked-in feel, then loosen it back up with a quick spin once you reach flat ground.

The lacing fibers are integrated with Dyneema, a very strong material also used in parts of the upper for extra durability. The fit lockdown is widely considered exceptional: the shoe attaches to your foot with no movement even on downhills, building real confidence on descents where other trail shoes still allow some sliding. That combination of the two-dial system and this fit is the single most persuasive argument for the SLP DX.

Fit System Trade-Offs

Both shoes use some form of wrap system, but they behave differently. The Cyklon’s approach pulls tension up rather than locking around the midfoot, so you get good ankle coverage from the gaiter but not the same midfoot lockdown. The Speedland’s PerformFit wrap delivers a strong lockdown around the ankle and a customizable midfoot feel. On lockdown quality alone, the SLP DX has the clear edge.

Cushioning and Midsole: Sandwich vs Traditional

The Cyklon uses a sandwich midsole construction with a Pivix layer, a Carbotex plate, and an EVA layer. The plate is asymmetrical, flexible in one direction and stiffer in the other, so it bends with rock impacts on trails rather than acting like a rigid platform. Uniquely, the plate is removable: because the Michelin rubber outsole is moccasined into the shoe, you can pull the plate out and run with just the EVA layer. The plate is easy to remove and adds a little snappier feel on trails, though it is subtle rather than a dramatic toe-off boost. One practical note: the outsole has drainage ports you can clip open, which matters because water that gets inside tends to pool in this cup-style design.

The SLP DX is more traditional underfoot with no removable plate, essentially a classic trail shoe that happens to carry a BOA closure. It also has six millimeter lugs that can be clipped down if you want to modify the shoe. At around the ten ounce range it is not the lightest, but the locked-in fit makes it feel less heavy on the foot, and it works well as a race shoe for longer efforts.

Grip and Durability: Very Different Outsole Stories

Grip on the Cyklon felt stronger of the two, and its outsole durability is impressive: after extended running and camping use in Colorado, the outsole showed wear almost nowhere. For seriously technical terrain, it is one of the better outsoles in any trail shoe.

The Speedland’s Michelin outsole is a little softer. After around 20 miles of road running, some lug wear was visible, though on smooth or buffed-out trails the grip is more than sufficient. If your routes are mostly technical and gnarly, the Cyklon’s outsole is the one that will last.

Which One Should You Buy?

If you are choosing purely on performance, the Speedland SLP DX is the more versatile pick: the unrivaled fit and dual-dial adjustability are worth a lot on their own, and the removable-plate design adds flexibility. The main caveat is cost, at more than twice the price of the Cyklon, plus a very limited production run. If you want a highly capable technical-trail shoe with standout grip and durability at a far lower price, the La Sportiva Cyklon is an excellent choice.

Conclusion

Both shoes deliver on the BOA promise, but in different ways. The Cyklon pairs aggressive lugs and long-term durability with a gaiter-style closure at a reasonable price. The SLP DX delivers arguably the best lockdown fit available in a trail shoe, with micro-adjustable dials and a removable plate, at a premium price and with limited availability. Choose based on your terrain and your budget: technical durability favors the Cyklon, performance fit favors the Speedland.