The La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II can be a good trail shoe for hikers who mostly tackle mountainous trails. For years, it was La Sportiva's sturdiest and heaviest trail running shoe, which made it popular with hikers. In fact, La Sportiva actually reclassified as a "hiking shoe" in 2024 since it's more popular with hikers than with trail runners. Will the Ultra Raptor work for your feet, your budget, and your hiking style? I put this traditional trail runner to the test with a series of tough day hikes and a backpacking trip to find out. Learn more in this La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II review.
reviewing the La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II at Dolly Sods, WV
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La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II Review
My La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II review is based on a series of hikes in the low-cut Ultra Raptor II (non-waterproof). Once La Sportiva offered them in a wide size, I purchased a pair for my personal use. Since the Ultra Raptor is best suited for mountainous terrain, my test hikes included sections of Pennsylvania's rockiest trails, such as the Standing Stone Trail and Mid-State Trail, some off-trail scrambling at Shingletown Gap, and a backpacking trip to Dolly Sods, West Virginia. These hikes helped me evaluate the Raptor's support, weight, fit, comfort, weather proofing, traction, and value.
backpacking Dolly Sods in the Ultra Raptor II trail running shoe
Support
Ultra Raptors' "mountain running" build takes some heat off my feet and adds some ankle stability. They have moderately stiff soles with a little flex at the foot's natural flex point—what I look for in a hiking shoe—and good torsional rigidity. I normally don't backpack in trail runners. However, my feet felt supported enough on an overnight backpacking trip to Dolly Sods, WV. They felt fatigued earlier than they would have in a backpacking boot. Still, there was enough support for me to carry a moderate pack comfortably across moderate terrain. Overall, the Ultra Raptor is most supportive trail runner that I've reviewed (along with the Brooks Cascadia and LOWA Fortux). It's fair for Sportiva to call it a "hiking shoe."
Weight
The Ultra Raptor II is heavy by trail runner standards and lightweight by hiking shoe standards.
My pair (men's size 46.5) weighs only an ounce under two pounds. For comparison, that's 6 ounces heavier than the Hoka Speedgoat—the best-selling trail runner in the U.S. right now. It's a couple ounces heavier than the Salomon X Ultra 4 GTX, one of the best-selling hiking shoes.
Fit
NARROW (WIDE SIZES AVAILABLE)
Like other Sportivas, the Ultra Raptor II has a snug fit and runs narrow by US standards. Happily, this shoe is now available in wide to accommodate more feet. Hikers should size up—and consider wides if their feet aren't narrow and low volume. My everyday shoe size is 11.5. My Sportiva size is 12.5+ wide (Euro 46.5).
Ultra Raptors feel firm underfoot with plenty of trail feel for accurate foot placement. It's a lock-down fit with a snug heel pocket and sturdy uppers that wrap around your feet to hold them in place (similar to Salomon's Sensigrip)—a performance fit.
Comfort
TOSS UP
Comfort depends a lot on fit, hiking style, and people's personal preferences. The snug fit could feel comfortable (or claustrophobic) on technical terrain, preventing your feet from slipping around. Likewise, if you prefer more feel than float, the stiffer build may give you more confidence in tricky terrain. There's moderate cushion, but it's not a soft shoe. I prefer a wider toe box. However, the Ultra Raptor II protected my feet from jagged rocks much better than my lighter, roomier trail runners do on Pennsylvania's gnarly trails.
Overall, the Ultra Raptor II's feel will probably appeal more to serious hikers—and less to those who want a running shoe that doesn't feel like a hiking shoe.
Weather Proofing
AVAILABLE IN GORE-TEX
My Ultra Raptor II review focused on the regular, non-waterproof Ultra Raptor. (Most hikers who wear trail running shoes tend to avoid waterproof shoes because they run warmer and dry slower.) Obviously, these non-waterproof shoes got soaked quickly with shallow puddles and creek crossings. They were somewhat dry (but not completely dry) after airing out for a night outside my tent at Dolly Sods. If you want a waterproof trail runner, the Ultra Raptor II GTX features a GORE-TEX membrane, which is the most reliable and breathable waterproofing on the market.
Traction
BEST ON ROCK
Traction is probably the best selling point for the La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II. La Sportiva makes world-class climbing shoes, and they've used their grippy Frixion rubber compound in the Ultra Raptor II. That soft rubber is especially good on rock. The shoe's shallow lugs provide plenty of contact points to generate friction on rocks for good traction. I tackled some technical scrambling at Dolly Sods and easier scrambling at Rothrock State Forest with confidence when I was wearing my Raptors. They also feature a decent heel brake for better downhill traction on soft or loose surfaces. Overall, though, they're much better on rocks than they are in mud. If you mostly hike mountains and like to scramble, this traction is terrific.
Value
EXPENSIVE
The non-waterproof La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II retails for $165 (MSRP). (The GTX waterproof version costs $30 more.) That's high for a trail running shoe and about the average price for a good, waterproof hiking shoe.
For comparison, the Ultra Raptor II costs $25 more than the Salomon XA Pro—another traditional trail running shoe. It's also $15 more than the Altra Lone Peak and $10 more than the Hoka Speedgoat, two most popular trail running shoes for hikers. However, the price may be worth it if they fit you well and if you're looking to buy one of the most supportive, protective trail running shoes for hikers.
La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II: Pros vs. Cons
In several ways, the Ultra Raptor II is an outlier. It's strong where most trail runners are weak (support) and weak where most trail running shoes are strong (weight savings). That's why La Sportiva now calls it a hiking shoe—and why hikers should weigh its pros and cons:
Overall Recommendation:
With the La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II, it helps to answer this question: What's most important to you in a trail running shoe: support, weight savings, or budget?
If you're looking for a supportive trail running shoe, the Ultra Raptor II is a great choice (if it fits you). If you prefer a lightweight trail runner to a more supportive one—or want to buy trail runners because they're less expensive than hiking shoes— you don't want the Ultra Raptor II. It's noticeably heavier than my other trail running shoes and costs as much as (or mare than) many of the best hiking shoes for men and women.
Hike your own hike. But this is my take on the "best fit" and "best match" for the La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II:
Best Fit
hikers with narrow feet,
wides available (size up)
Best Match
technical trails, mountainous terrain, rock scrambling
Should you buy the La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II?
The key to buying hiking shoes is picking a pair that fits your feet and matches your hikes. If the Ultra Raptor II fits you—and you mostly hike hard, rocky trails—I'm pretty confident recommending La Sportiva's trail runner-turned-hiking shoe. If you have really wide feet, mostly hike easier terrain, or prefer ultralight trail running shoes, you should probably check out other leading brands or browse my other hiking shoe reviews.
If you ARE feeling the Ultra Raptor II, please consider purchasing them through the affiliate links above. That's free and easy for you—and sends a few dollars my way. Those small commissions cover my website costs, pay for the boots and shoes I review, and give me a little bit back for all the unpaid hours I spent testing this shoe and writing up this review.
Thanks for reading my La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II review! Whatever you buy, I hope you find the best trail running shoes or hiking shoes for your feet, your budget, and your hikes. Happy Hiking!
