This may be a plus side for those covering more technical ground with a pack, but for most day hikers and lightweight backpackers, the Ultra Raptor II is the clear winner in terms of all-day comfort. The boot also has an unusual heel cage and a lightweight rand for enhanced rear and midfoot support. If it weren’t for the narrow toe box outline above, I would have no hesitation grabbing the Ultra Raptor for involved fastpacking objectives.

Perfect volume adjustment and foot hold thanks to the dedicated lacing elements means you will get a perfect fit every day. All in all, the men's Ultra Raptor II Mid GTX from La Sportiva combines the performance of a lightweight hiking boot with the versatility of a trainer, making it perfect for fast hiking, everyday walks, uneven terrain and off-road trails.No lightweight, but still forgiving on the foot, this is a supportive, protective and well-cushioned all-round trail shoe, with a relaxed front-end fit that should suit wider-footed users (such as me) and accommodate the inevitable foot spread over a longer day out. The result is a shoe that can be worn for many consecutive hours and is suitable for off-road use on any type of terrain. Thanks to their non-insulated construction, they are the ideal solution for people who value excellent climate comfort and heat dissipation. And all of the smaller details are in good shape too, including the laces, webbed eyelets, and seams.

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. These features assist “push off” during the propulsion phase while running, making these models who use injected midsoles, ideal for use on off-road trails. Unless you need the added stability, it’s a competitive design that otherwise stacks up very favorably to the Ultra Raptor.

in the Ultra Raptor II Mid GTX (the same as my La Sportiva TXS GTX), but the toe box ended up being prohibitively narrow for my feet.

It has a higher ankle cuff than most, with plenty of padding plus an elasticated rear panel that reduces pressure on the Achilles. Designed for long runs and wet days out on the trails, the La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II Mids are a breathable, waterproof and comfortable pair of mid-trail shoes. Mid-cut version of the Ultra Raptor II Mountain Running icon, ideal for fast hiking and light load excursions. There's quite a lot of depth at the front relative to the width, and while this gives your toes plenty of wiggle room I have needed to fill the dead space with a second insole. As with most things the model has undergone various changes, but the core characteristics have remained constant (and explain my loyalty).A. The men’s boot comes in Black/Yellow, Poseidon (blue)/Carbon, Maple (orange)/Black, Black/Goji (red), and Black/Clay (grey). To help support the feet over long days, there's a lot of lateral stability in the sole, which only really flexes at the front. At the heel of the boot is a molded TPU stability piece that’s integrated with a mudguard that runs down to the toe box on both sides of the boot. The boots were tagged with a Gore-Tex guarantee paper label and a similar card with a QR code to find information on La Sportiva’s warranty and technologies.

Injected EVA midsoles reduce midsole compression, allowing the material to maintain the same performance characteristics. Built to perform in rugged terrain, the Ultra Raptor II also features a durable sole, a microfiber mudguard that wraps around the entirety of the boot, and a high-frequency lacing system that will last as long as the boot. All in all, it’s well-built, highly comfortable out of the box, and has deftly withstood extended on- and off-trail travel with ease.

Having said all that, we walked the entire 268-mile Pennine Way national trail in a pair of these boots, which crosses some of the boggiest moorland in the UK, and we were more than happy with their performance. From within La Sportiva’s lineup, another option with similar intentions is their Nucleo High II GTX. This pair can be resoled by the supplier - get in contact with the brand directly to organize a resole, or check out our recommended repair specialists. It is one the easiest ways to get outdoors for people of all experience levels, and simply put, any time spent on the trail has a way of soothing the.