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

Product Information

Being soft and slightly stretchy, it does not significantly limit ankle mobility, so in essence this is a very shoe-like boot. We're also happy to report no abnormal signs of wear and tear, even after a lot of time on the trail. The La Sportiva FriXion rubber compounds have been developed to provide shoe profiles with different levels of grip and durability depending on the type of use and surface. Now, let’s take a look at the sole: it’s equipped with a rubber compound that provides excellent traction on paved surfaces and off-road terrain. 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.

Mid-cut version of the Ultra Raptor II Mountain Running icon, ideal for fast hiking and light load excursions.The further I went, the worse it got, but I was convinced the beach would open up again … just … around … the … next … corner. 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. 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 sole has injection-molded EVA for comfort and shock absorption, and a TPU shank under the arch for stability and torsion control.

A shoe with less drop may be more nimble on rough ground, while a bigger drop can mean more cushioning for hard surfaces and long distances, so it's pretty clear where the Ultra Raptor Mid is positioned. 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.

The La Sportiva Men's Ultra Raptor II Mid Wide GTX - Black / Clay has the following sustainability attributes. Of course, they do feel warmer than an unlined shoe or boot, but even wearing the leather Ultra Raptor Mid on a sweltering weekend in the Peak District, they didn’t get overly sweaty or uncomfortable. An external structure that extends to the midfoot to provide a real feeling of support, the heel cage offers a close fit without feeling too aggressive, and the heel seems to really help support the foot when traversing slopes, while managing not to put pressure on the achilles. As with most things the model has undergone various changes, but the core characteristics have remained constant (and explain my loyalty). The Ultra Raptor II Mid GTX delivered comfort right out of the box, from snowy alpine hikes in the Eastern Sierra to long desert approaches in Zion National Park.