If you anticipate hiking over this type of terrain frequently, IвЂ™d recommend opting for a boot with a more aggressive tread pattern like SalomonвЂ™s Quest 4 GTX or La SportivaвЂ™s own Nucleo High II GTX.

I imagine this is a result of lug design: The spacing seems to be adequate to avoid clogging, but the shallow lugs just donвЂ™t seem to bite well into thicker and sloppier surfaces. The only time traction faltered was in mud, where I found myself sliding frequently. The FriXion XF 2.0 outsole has gripped reliably on everything from dry singletrack to rocky alpine terrain, and the Impact Brake System and Trail Bite heel provided a noticeable confidence boost on steep descents, even when navigating slippery, marble-like gravel. With a lot of technology focused at the bottom of the boot, itвЂ™s no surprise that the Ultra Raptor II fared well on most surfaces. All told, the boots have a pretty nimble and agile feel underfoot, and if comfort werenвЂ™t an issue for me, the Ultra Raptor would be my first choice for both short and long days with a lighter pack. For comparison, SalomonвЂ™s X Ultra 4 GTX checks in a little lighter at 1 pound 14 ounces, while La SportivaвЂ™s own Nucleo High II GTX is similar at 2 pounds 1.5 ounces per pair. 1.2 oz.), the Ultra Raptor II Mid stacks up very favorably with other mid-height Gore-Tex boots. To be fair, La Sportiva does offer the boot in dedicated wide sizes, and that likely would have been the better option for me.ДЄt 2 pounds 1.3 ounces for my pair of menвЂ™s size 44.5s (nearly identical with La Sportiva's listed weight of 2 lbs. I also noticed some slight rubbing above my big toe, which was likely due to the combination of the lower-volume shape and eyelet above the forefoot. When we began descending on our way back, I started to feel some significant hot spots on the outside of my left shoe, eventually resulting in a blister on my baby toe. I subsequently brought them to Patagonia and wore them for a 12+ mile hike to Laguna de los Tres on our first day, which included mostly level trail with a steep and rocky ascent to the lake. But even after they stretched a bit, the boots still felt a little tight and prohibitive at the front. I wasnвЂ™t overly concerned about this at first and was able to break in the boots on local trails on Vancouver Island before bringing them to Patagonia for testing. My only comfort-related gripe is that the Ultra Raptor II runs noticeably narrow in the toe box. But this hasnвЂ™t been too big of an issue for me-getting creative with the laces allowed me to get pretty close to the fit that I wanted. Like most lightweight designs, the Ultra Raptor II doesnвЂ™t have any locking eyelets, which I prefer for keeping the forefoot loose while cinching the ankle. The sock-like upper and one-piece tongue also help immensely with locking things down and providing a snug all-around fit, and there are minimal seams along the interior to reduce hot spots and rubbing. The lightweight personality is immediately noticeable, but the boot boasts ample cushioning both underfoot and around the ankle and collar, providing a very soft, well-padded feel. In trying on the La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II Mid GTX for the first time, they felt much more like a mid-height trail runner than a true hiking boot. To see how it stacks up to the competition, check out our article on the best hiking boots. Below I outline my experiences with the Ultra Raptor II Mid GTX. The boots do run noticeably narrow at the forefoot and were prone to slippage in softer surfaces like mud, but we think theyвЂ™re well-suited for everything from short day hikes to all-day summit pushes and backpacking with a light pack. The Ultra Raptor II Mid GTX is case in point: ItвЂ™s impressively light at just over 2 pounds and has a very nimble, trail runner-like feel to match, but stability and support are still excellent for longer objectives over tricky terrain. La Sportiva makes some of our favorite climbing shoes, and that technical expertise has translated nicely to their hiking boot lineup.

La sportiva nucleo high ii gtx review