Bottom Line
Of all the footwear on our Best Hiking Shoes for Men guide, the La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II Low is one of our top choices for technical, mountainous terrain. Thanks to robust protection, a durable design, and outstanding stability, it’s our four-wheel drive shoe for navigating boulder fields, loose gravel, and sidehills. For over seven years, Gear Analyst Ian Krammer has worn this shoe while climbing almost all the states’ 14ers and over 200 other Rocky Mountain peaks. He’s found its relatively low weight and exceptional tread to be game changers on difficult, high country terrain.
On the downside, this shoe’s a bit overbuilt and stiff for lower-elevation hikes and packed trails. The fit is narrow and small, so you may want to size up – or choose another pair from our men’s hiking shoe guide. Raptors also dry slowly when wet, run hot in warm weather, and have a higher heel to toe drop than many shoes. However, if you’re looking for the ultimate trail shoe for peak-bagging and backpacking with light-to-medium loads on high alpine routes, it’s your ace in the hole.
Quick Specs
Men’s La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II
Best Hiking Shoes for Technical Terrain
CleverHiker Rating: 3.9/5
Price: $149
Weight (Pair): 1 lb. 9 oz.
Heel-to-Toe Drop: 9 mm
Pros
- Solid construction
- Comfortable
- Sticky grip
- Durable
- Huge toe guard
- Snug fit
Cons
- Runs a bit narrow
- High heel drop not for everybody
- Limited breathability
- Stiffer midsoles than some
- Traction wears down around 250 miles
Comfort
It takes a handful of miles to break in the Ultra Raptor IIs, but once they soften up, these shoes deliver a glove-like fit from heel to toe that makes for a comfy and protective ride. Senior Gear Analyst Ian Krammer has size 7 feet with slightly higher arches, which means American sizing doesn’t always work best for him. He appreciates the European sizing on these since they offer a more nuanced fit. and a snug fit from heel to toe that makes for a comfy and protective ride.
Ian’s mostly tested the Ultra Raptors in the high alpine of the Colorado Rockies. Whether taking on 7,000 feet of vert in a day or scrambling class 3 and 4 ridges, Ian has found the Ultra Raptors provide excellent arch support, and the midsoles are stiff enough to provide a stable, secure step. He also appreciated the padded tongue, flexible uppers, and sleek profile – a combination for springy and nimble steps from cliffside to lakeside.
On the downside, the Ultra Raptor II Low is considerably narrower and a bit smaller compared to other shoes we’ve tested. That tighter fit includes the toe box, so if you prefer a more natural toe splay, these shoes might miss the mark. Those with wider feet may want to consider the wide version for a bit more room. And keep in mind this shoe’s rigid design is better for rocky high-peak routes and technical adventures – not packed, moderate trails.
Traction
The Ultra Raptor II offers tacky traction on everything from slick, steep rock to soft, grassy descents. We’ve put these shoes through hundreds of miles of Colorado’s gnarliest backcountry. We’ve appreciated La Sportiva’s seriously sticky rubber composite and excellent heel brake, which provided all-terrain traction and maximum grip on steep angles. Based on our testing in the Rockies, it excels on loose scree slopes and steep snow fields, common obstacles on the way to 13,000’ summits.
However, the Ultra Raptor II Low’s impressive traction comes with two significant trade-offs. That tread is overkill for nontechnical hikes, and the outsole isn’t as durable as shoes with denser rubber blends. The tacky rubber offers excellent traction, but it wears down faster than we like since it’s softer than other hiking shoes. However, if you’re looking for a shoe for long days above 10,000 feet, the Ultra Raptors will keep you secure and strong on the mountain.
Weight
The La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II Low tips the scales at 12.5 ounces per shoe, which puts them in the middle of the pack for their weight. Overall, the weight supports the shoe’s primary function: providing reliable performance in challenging environments. Thanks to the burly synthetic construction of the uppers, hefty TPU overlays, a thick toe cap, and reinforced heels, these shoes offer top-tier protection and stability no matter what you encounter on your route. For hikers tackling rough and unpredictable trails, that added weight translates directly into excellent safety and comfort.
However, the Ultra Raptor II Lows is not our first pick for backpacking on established trails or ultralight backpacking. The extra weight can contribute to quicker fatigue over time. While this shoe has a trail-runner profile, it’s definitely a mountain shoe – not a great fit for minimalists seeking lighter, more agile footwear. Despite these cons, the extra weight is a worthwhile trade-off if you need a durable, protective shoe for technical terrain. Based on thorough testing, Senior Gear Analyst Ian Krammer finds this shoe’s weight in the Goldilocks zone when it comes to off-trail trekking.
Durability
The La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II Low is decently long lasting. The uppers are fairly sturdy test after test, and the thick toe guards and large TPU overlays minimized wear and tear by shielding our feet from roots, brambles, and sharp talus. However, the harder the terrain, the faster these shoes will blow out. One summer, our gear analyst reserved these shoes specifically for peakbagging 13,000’ peaks in Colorado’s notoriously rough Gore Range in north-central Colorado, where the tread was notably mangled by 300 miles.
Our biggest durability issue is with the shoe laces and tread. The La Sportiva laces have a fiber core, and the thin sheath wears down faster than most shoes we tested. Gear Analyst Ian Krammer found that these laces wear down and blow out at 200 to 250 miles, so we highly recommend picking up some backups at the time of purchase. He’s also found that the rounded lugs and softer rubber don’t last as long as shoes with denser rubber composite. In spite of these concerns, Ian stands behind the Ultra Raptor’s durability.
Weather Resistance
The Ultra Raptor II Low is not our first choice for wet days since it absorbs water quickly. Once wet, the shoe can take many hours to dry out, which is a real problem on wet, cold days or multi-day trips. Our test pair wasn’t waterproof, but Senior Gear Analyst Ian Krammer found that the TPU overlays only offered some protection against small amounts of moisture. For waterproof protection, we recommend the GORE-TEX version, the Ultra Raptor II GTX.
Ian appreciated how the mesh uppers provided a bit of ventilation. However, his testing also found the Ultra Raptor was not nearly as breathable as other options on our list of recommended hiking shoes. They don’t feature a GORE-TEX liner, but Ian found they held in heat in much the same way. That means he doesn’t wear these La Sportivas for most hikes below treeline during hot summer conditions since they feel generally too warm. That said, this extra warmth is exactly what we love about them when cold winds hit on high mountain ridges.
Should You Buy the La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II?
The La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II Low is an excellent pick for tackling technical, rocky, and alpine terrain, thanks to its excellent traction, durability, and support. We don’t recommend the Ultra Raptor for ultralight backpackers and minimalists, and those with wide feet will want to keep looking since it runs narrow. But if you need reliable, protective shoes for high-altitude adventures, peak-bagging, backpacking with a medium-to-light load, or off-trail exploring, the Ultra Raptor II Low is a top choice.
What Other Hiking Shoes Should You Consider?
If the La Sportiva Ultra Raptor IIs is not at the top of your list, head over to our lists of the Best Hiking Shoes for Men and Best Trail Running Shoes for Men for more options.
Saucony Peregrine 14 Review: The Saucony Peregrine 14 offers similarly grippy traction and TPU overlays as the Ultra Raptor II Lows, but they’re lighter and more flexible for better speed and agility.
Salomon X Ultra 4 GTX Review: The Salomon X Ultra 4 GTX provides excellent support and, unlike the Ultra Raptors, are also highly water resistant. The Ultra X 4s also thrive on rugged off-route hikes.La Sportiva Spire GTX Review: These La Sportivas are the burlier older brother of the Raptor II Lows. They offer an even more durable construction with the same excellent traction – but with top-tier waterproofing.
