La Sportiva Men's Ultra Raptor Ii Mid GTX Hiking Boots

Product Information

Upper: The upper of the Ultra Raptor II Mids is made of an abrasion-resistant mesh with a microfiber reinforcement band with anti-abrasion coating. This upper choice is perfect for keeping the weight down but maintains its durability. The collar has been kept soft to protect the ankle and remain incredibly comfortable. It also provides a fairly snug fit over the ankle, keeping all that trail debris at bay. After testing a range of La Sportiva trail shoes over the last couple of years, a clear pattern has definitely started to emerge. Each pair of La Sportiva shoes I’ve worn have all been extremely well-made, offered high-levels of protection and very much built to last. And so, it’s extremely pleasing to see that the same high levels of quality and performance have been extended into their hiking range. The first thing to note is that the fit of the standard boot is slightly narrow, especially at the toebox. This may or may not suit you, but it’s worth noting that the Ultra Raptors also come in a wide fit, which might be worth trying even if you normally take a regular width. We’d actually say that with this boot, the regular fit feels more like a narrow fit, whereas the wide fit is more like a regular. As ever, try before you buy. If you’re a fan of the original Ultra Raptors and want your ankles covered and kept dry in wet conditions, here’s the hiking boot you’ve been waiting for. Likewise, hikers who have thought about ditching traditional leather boots for lighter running shoes are met halfway here.

Our SportsShoes Trail & Hike ambassador, Ben Mounsey, has been busy putting the La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II Mid GTXto the test; Get the fit right, though, and in all other respects, this is a superb boot. All-day comfort is excellent. It has a higher ankle cuff than most, with plenty of padding plus an elasticated rear panel that reduces pressure on the Achilles. The uppers are lightweight yet durable, with a chunky toecap and heel counter. On the foot, the boot feels structured and supportive, inspiring confidence when moving fast on technical terrain.The boot also has an unusual heel cage and a lightweight rand for enhanced rear and midfoot support. Meanwhile, the lacing system is threaded through a series of webbing eyelets connected to an external TPU ‘skeleton’. It’s easy to pull everything in tight, ensuring a secure fit with no heel lift. The top set of lace hooks is also designed to minimise lace slip. It’s an excellent design. However, when the weather and trail conditions vary, the Ultra Raptor II Mid boots are a midheight, all-weather alternative to hiking in the original Raptors. Shop Raptor II Mid GTX Hiking Boots But let’s not dwell on what you don’t have, instead we shall teach you how to ascertain your size using some common household objects. When covering distance is a major part of the sightseeing goal, such as a thru-hike, trail stompers reach for shoes that can do both. In dry climates with groomed trails, running shoes are a common choice. Narrow toe box caused some issues on steep descents, and I likely would have been better off with the wide version.

FriXion® XF 2.0 outsole with Impact Brake System™ and Trail Bite heel provides excellent traction on any type of terrain FriXion™ White sole in soft XF compound with pronounced Trail Bite Heel heel for better downhill braking This boot comes in both men's and women's/lower volume models, and is also available in standard width and a widerfit. With fairly broad and quite blunt-ended feet, I went 'wide' and I definitely haven't regretted it. The regular size must be fairly narrow. Even in the wider fit my toes push against both sides of the shoe, but because the uppers are soft and have some give this isn't a problem in the way it would be in a stiffer boot. The standard Ultra Raptor is marketed on its wider fit, something I've always liked about it, so perhaps the two versions of the bootwould be more accurately described as narrow and regular. Berghaus’ new VC22 GTX (external link) might also be worth a look. Just bear in mind that although there are even lighter mid boots than the Ultra Raptor II Mid, they tend to sacrifice overall protection and durability. On balance, we think the La Sportiva is the best all-around lightweight mid-boot we’ve tested. There are no additional costs or duties on products marketed in countries within the European Union. Customers will not have to pay anything on delivery.This test will tell you if the shape of the internal heel cup matches your heel to ensure it holds you securely, especially when ascending steep ground. We are trying to eliminate the dreaded heel blister. However, even after the most rigorous assessment and testing, there is no better way to be absolutely sure than to have the boots on your feet for an extended period of time. We therefore offer our Home Trial Period which gives you the opportunity to wear the boots around your house to give you an indication of how they feel before you venture outside. We recommend that during the Home Trial Period that you wear the boots for as long as possible and at different times of the day, wear them up and down stairs, when moving around and when resting, you can even sleep in them if you want. I put the Ultra Raptor II through its paces on wet Vancouver Island trails rife with puddles, constant rain, and river crossings, and the Gore-Tex lining has been up to the task. In this case, La Sportiva opted for Gore’s Extended Comfort membrane, which is designed for use in warmer conditions or during higher-output activities. All in all, it’s done a remarkable job at keeping my feet dry while allowing a decent amount of airflow, even when temperatures reached into the mid 70s Fahrenheit during our trip to Patagonia. As with all waterproof hiking boots, the membrane won’t help much if you happen to dunk them above the collar (and will take a while to dry), but the taller cuff and laces extending all way up the ankle provide a good amount of coverage when stepping in puddles and streams. A final highlight is the elastic gaiter-like design at the top, which is highly effective at sealing out debris and falling rain or snow. Mid-cut version of the Ultra Raptor II Mountain Running icon, ideal for fast hiking and light load excursions. Waterproof and breathable thanks to the Gore-Tex Extended Comfort membrane.

Membrane: A Gore-Tex Extended Comfort liner has been included in the Ultra Raptor II to ensure reliable waterproofing whilst maintaining breathability. The integrated lacing system uses a strap sewn to an internal stretch fabric with high frequency reinforcements on the external mesh. This allows greater versatility in lace tension throughout the shoe, thereby enhancing comfort levels. The Ultra Raptor unites the performance advantages of a snug-fit construction method with those of the comfort derived from the wider shape and sole. The result is a shoe that can be used for several hours and is the ideal choice for endurance challenges and all types of off-road trails. Gore-Tex Extended Comfort liner nicely balances waterproofing and breathability, and the tall collar and elastic-like gaiter at the top are very adept at sealing out moisture and debris.The Ultra Raptor II Mid GTX boots are a hybrid hiker follow-up to the brand’s popular running shoe. The Ultra Raptor gained popularity for its stability and function as a lightweight hiker. That DNA carries over into the Raptor II boots, which add a higher mesh upper and waterproofing, among other features. The advantage of the boot cuff over a low-cut shoe is twofold: providing increased ankle support on rough ground and when carrying loads; and helping to keep out water and debris. Being soft and slightly stretchy, it does not significantly limit ankle mobility, so in essencethis is a very shoe-like boot. The obvious seasonal disadvantage of a higher cuff isthat it's inevitably a bit warmer than a shoe. Perfect volume adjustment and foot hold thanks to the dedicated lacing elements: the eye-stay webbings are sewn on the inside of the upper and reinforced on the outside with a high frequency TPU skeleton, allowing the lace pull-force to be distributed equally over all areas of the upper

Other hiking-minded touches include a rubber toe cap and mudguard. Also of note, the boots are made of vegan-friendly materials. A Sequel, Not a RebootYou should now be able to see approximately 2 cm (about an index fingers width) of the footbed poking out in front of your toes. In our Hereford shop we offer a professional boot fitting service where we assess your feet, find a selection of boots that match you foot shape and most importantly we make sure that they are comfortable.This iseasy to do in the shop, where we have access tothe right tools, the option of letting you try on as many styles as you like and a knowledgeable member of staff that cancommunicate directly with you regarding your needs. The lace-up mids cover the ankle with a collar for comfort. The upper is made from a flexible GORE-Flex nylon mesh that’s designed to enhance the breathability of the underlying GORE-TEX Extended Comfort. Let me cut straight to the chase – the Ultra Raptor II Mid GTX is the best walking shoe I’ve tested so far and I’m honestly struggling to find a single point to improve. Usually, there are many features of a trail or hiking shoe that I like and dislike, but in the case of this review, I can only list and discuss the many things that I absolutely love about this boot. To keep that functionality beyond dry conditions, the Raptor II Mid boots are built with rain, mud, and routine trail hazards in mind. La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II Mid GTX