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

Product Information

FriXion® XF 2.0 outsole with Impact Brake System™ and Trail Bite heel provides excellent traction on any type of terrain 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. 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. 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. The Raptor’s chassis and sole have the same build as its predecessor. The boots obviously differ in protection from the mountain running shoes.

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.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. 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 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.

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. I brought the men’s Ultra Raptor II Mid GTX to Patagonia for testing, and the boot is also sold in a women’s version for the same price. Compared to the men’s model, the women’s is a little lighter at 1 pound 11.9 ounces and sold in different colorways, but the overall construction and feature set are identical. As I touched on above, both boots are also offered in dedicated wide versions for those with higher-volume feet, and La Sportiva recently released them in a leather option for added durability and a closer fit. Zooming out, the larger Ultra Raptor collection includes several low-top variations, from non-waterproof models to Gore-Tex-equipped leather and synthetic styles (see our in-depth review of the non-waterproof women's shoe here). Now that your boots are done up properly stand up on your tiptoes and walk on the spot on the balls of your feet as if you are walking up a steep hill. If your heels lift more than approximately 5mm from the footbed you may need to pull the laces tighter, or the boots may just be the wrong shape for you. Build quality is top-notch, from the quality Gore-Tex lining to the soft but hardwearing FriXion outsole. 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.NOTE: The above table is only a guide. Manufactures don’t like tomake it easy as every single oneof them strays from the measurements above. Our SportsShoes Trail & Hike ambassador, Ben Mounsey, has been busy putting the La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II Mid GTXto the test; Above all else, versatility is the key feature of this walking shoe; it’s tough enough for extreme terrain, yet suitable to wear on light and easy trails. This makes it the perfect choice for anyone looking for a walking boot to use for both epic adventures and short daily walks. I can confidently say that the La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II Mid GTX is a shoe I highly recommend - designed to perform in all conditions, on every type of terrain and all for a very reasonable price. 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 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.

Stand on the A4 paper with your heel pressed firmly against the wall and your foot pointed forward with the edge of your big toe aligned with the edge of the paper. 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. 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. 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.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. You should now be able to see approximately 2 cm (about an index fingers width) of the footbed poking out in front of your toes. 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.