The La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II can be a good trail running shoe for hikers who mostly tackle mountainous trails. It's one of the most supportive trail runners out there. But it's also one of the heaviest ones. Will the Ultra Raptor work for your feet, your budget, and your hiking style? Learn more in this La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II review.
Meet the La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II
The Ultra Raptor II is a trail running shoe that La Sportiva designed as a "mountain running" shoe (not a hiking shoe). It's La Sportiva's heaviest, most supportive trail running shoe—a traditional trail runner that one La Sportiva rep characterized as "your Grandpa's or Grandma's trail runner!" Ultra Raptors features sturdy soles, a 9mm drop, and plenty of TPU body armor to protect feet from rocks, roots, and trail hazards. For a trail running shoe, this one's a tank—not a sports car.
That's why it's potentially a great hiking shoe for some men and women. And probably the wrong one for ultralight hikers.
My La Sportiva Ultra Raptor 2 review covers the low-cut Ultra Raptor II (MSRP $165)). You can also buy it with GORE-TEX ("GTX") waterproofing (MSRP $195). Here are links with current prices, which you can click to see available sizes and colors:
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La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II Review
reviewing the La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II at Dolly Sods, WV
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, and a backpacking trip to Dolly Sods, West Virginia. These hikes helped me evaluate the shoe's support, weight, fit, comfort, weather proofing, traction, and value.
backpacking Dolly Sods in the Ultra Raptor II trail running shoe
Support
GOOD FOR A TRAIL RUNNING SHOE
Trail running shoes generally provide less support (and durability) than true hiking shoes. However, the Ultra Raptor II provides more support than most trail running shoes— and even some popular hiking shoes (like the Merrell Moab).
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.
Weight
HEAVY FOR A TRAIL RUNNING SHOE
If you're more interested in weight savings than support, however, the Ultra Raptor II is not the best trail runner for you.
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. Weight-wise, the Ultra Raptor II is more like a lightweight hiking shoe than a trail running shoe. That may defeat the purpose of buying a trail runner for hiking—weight savings. Most of the best trail running shoes for hikers run 6-7 ounces lighter (per pair) than the Ultra Raptor II.
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.) As expected, these shoes got wet quickly and dried relatively quickly. 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've felt sure-footed on the rocky ridgelines, talus fields, and rock piles that count as trails in the Appalachians. 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—a similar 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 it's crucial to weigh the shoes 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 sturdiest trail runner to you. 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!
