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. 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). 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. 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.

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 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 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.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. FriXion® XF 2.0 outsole with Impact Brake System™ and Trail Bite heel provides excellent traction on any type of terrain I'm no fan of waterproof linings in trail shoes, finding them hot and sweaty in summer (which, I'd argue, negates some of the benefit of wearing a shoe in the first place). On boggy ground, a low-cut shoe is easily flooded, at which point that lining becomes a bag holding water in. 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.

Membrane: A Gore-Tex Extended Comfort liner has been included in the Ultra Raptor II to ensure reliable waterproofing whilst maintaining breathability. 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. 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.

What Other Hiking Boots Should You Consider?

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. 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. 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. Narrow toe box caused some issues on steep descents, and I likely would have been better off with the wide version. 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.

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 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. FriXion™ White sole in soft XF compound with pronounced Trail Bite Heel heel for better downhill brakingNOTE: The above table is only a guide. Manufactures don’t like tomake it easy as every single oneof them strays from the measurements above. 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. If you can see this amount of space then you are pretty much on the way to making sure that your boots are the correct size. This space between your toes and the end of the footbed ensures that you will not stub your toes on the inside of the boot when you descend. This can be excruciatingly painful. If you can’t see this amount of space then it’s a good bet that the boots will be too small. 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.

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. Build quality is top-notch, from the quality Gore-Tex lining to the soft but hardwearing FriXion outsole.Our SportsShoes Trail & Hike ambassador, Ben Mounsey, has been busy putting the La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II Mid GTXto the test; 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. The Raptor’s chassis and sole have the same build as its predecessor. The boots obviously differ in protection from the mountain running shoes. 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 Reboot 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.