La Sportiva Men's Ultra Raptor Trail Running Shoes

Product Information

Completely at home on mountain terrain, whether you’re hiking, mountain running, or approaching a climb. 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.

I tested the Ultra Raptor II in a women’s 8.5 (EU 40), my standard size in most shoes. As is the case with many La Sportiva models, the shoe was a bit snug around the forefoot and not as long as I had hoped (despite being one of their most high-volume designs). Surprisingly, it still ended up being very comfortable on the trail, despite warm temperatures and swelling feet. That said, most users will want to consider sizing up a half size. If you’re after a similarly lightweight mid-cut hiking boot, then the La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II Mid GTX competes squarely with various rival models from brands like Adidas Terrex, Inov-8, Scarpa, Mammut and Salomon. For more options, out T3's best hiking boots and best women's hiking boots guides. Midsole: Injection-molded MEMlex, Endurance Platform EVA Insert, nylon-molded flex TPU Transfer shank 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. 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.

What Other Hiking Boots Should You Consider?

In all, I would say that while both are great trail running shoes, the Danner Trail 2650 Campo GTXs are more akin to running shoes, while the Ultra Raptor IIs veer more toward a hiking boot build. 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.

They both are lightweight and fit snugly. The Danners weigh in at one pound, 8 ounces per pair. Each of the shoe soles is grippy, however, the lugs on the La Sportiva are bigger than the Campo’s Vibram 460 Megagrips. 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.

This versatile La Sportiva design is one part trail runner, one part hiking shoe, and 100% mountain-ready

If you want similar characteristics but are prepared to sacrifice a little extra weight for the sake of even more cushioning, then you could consider the Hoka Anacapa Low GTX or Trail Code GTX, with their trademark oversized midsole. Of course, what you gain in on-trail bounce, you tend to lose in terms of precision and feel, which, in our opinion, makes the La Sportiva a better choice for mixed terrain. An Italian shoemaker through and through, La Sportiva is known for their high-quality craftsmanship and durable construction. The Ultra Raptor is no exception, with a premium build quality that is known to withstand hundreds of miles of trail abuse. Compared to other synthetic running and hiking shoes, it offers exceptional durability thanks to the generous TPU overlays and beefy rubber components.