La Sportiva Ultra Raptor 3 Mid GTX - Women's Review

The Ultra Raptor 3 Mid GTX is a well-constructed boot that offers excellent performance during shorter day hikes or extended backpacking trips. We love the updated fit that provides all-day comfort as well as the ePE GORE-TEX Extended Comfort membrane that kept our feet dry as a bone even while negotiating wet and soggy conditions. The ankle cuff provides additional stability, without requiring a significant break-in period, or limiting your range of motion. After leading the ranks in nearly every testing metric, the Ultra Raptor 3 easily came out as our top dog.

Comfort

The latest iteration of the Ultra Raptor is ready for any adventure thanks to all-day comfort direct from the box. There's no need to schedule a break-in period for these running shoe/hiking boot hybrids. The more breathable ripstop mesh upper allows more airflow into the upper, while the midsole creates all-day support to keep your feet happy on the trails. We love that the design isn't overly done yet provides padding where it counts, especially on the ankle cuff and Achilles, which we especially appreciated while carrying the weight of a pack. The ankle cuff is flexible and supportive without being too rigid.

We found that ordering at least a half size up in this design was the sweet spot on sizing, even more in some cases, depending on the thickness of the sock you plan to wear during your hike. And while the updated fit is “roomier” than before, the extra space seemed to be in overall volume rather than increasing the width of the toe box. While La Sportiva typically favors those with narrow feet, we think this boot will accommodate a wider range of foot shapes, especially with the additional volume. We love the softer ankle collar and the 6 1/4 inch shaft height that surrounds our ankle, providing enough support for all-day comfort during day hikes or backpacking trips.

Support

The Ultra Raptor is hands down the most supportive lightweight hiking boot that we've tested thanks to a tight-fitting heel and effective lacing system that locks the foot in position within the high volume upper. The 6 inch comfort collar combines with two laces hooks and TPU heel stabilizers to help secure the foot on steep climbs and descents, which is helpful to prevent any blisters from forming on the back of the heel. While some boots only offer a single lacing hook and an overly padded tongue, we love the low profile and lightly padded tongue that allows you to easily tighten the boot to your foot. There is more forward flexion rather than lateral flexion, but this allows for more agility and range of motion when the going gets steep.

The springy midsole was the perfect choice for our day hikes surrounding Yosemite National Park when oscillating between flat hikes around the Valley as well as steep climbs to the top of the rim. The removable Ortholite footbeds don't offer much support, and therefore, we recommend purchasing an aftermarket insole if you have truly high arches. The Ultra Raptor is the perfect choice for those seeking lightweight yet sturdy support for day hikes or fastpacks as well as everything in between.

Traction

La Sportiva's proprietary FriXion XF 2.0 rubber outsole performed among the best outsoles that we've tested. In places like Yosemite and Zion National Parks, where many trails consist of polished granite slabs or well-traveled sandstone that reduce friction, the Ultra Raptor provided exceptional grip and confidence underfoot. The design also includes an Impact Brake System, which essentially means the outsole has a special lug pattern with slanted and opposing angles to increase grip on steep climbs and descents.

Perhaps the only downside to the Ultra Raptor's amazing performance is the lack of depth in the lug pattern, which we noticed while negotiating thick sand during a particularly wet spring. At times, the sand will fill the lugs and prevent grip when moving from sand to rock on the trail. We love that the outsole performs well, even when wet, making it perfect for those who are keen on pushing through inclement weather or fair-weather hikers who like to stick to well-maintained trail systems. No matter your hiking preference, the Ultra Raptor performance doesn't disappoint.

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Water Resistance

Everyone loves a waterproof hiking boot that lives up to the hype, and the Ultra Raptor 3 does exactly that. While most boots advertise breathable, waterproof performance, the Raptor actually delivers, making it a great choice for performance in wet and soggy conditions. Whether we were crossing the Merced River in Yosemite National Park or the Owens River on the Eastside of the High Sierra, our feet stayed dry, and surprisingly warm thanks to an effective ePE GORE-TEX Extended Comfort membrane. While previous nubuck leather versions of this boot were prone to absorbing water, this model effectively beaded water away from the upper, maintaining lightweight performance.

The latest iteration of the boot features a lower flood height due to a change in the Achilles that dips lower than previous models; however, we still found it sufficient for the majority of the water crossings, only noticing the lower cuff during significant time spent navigating lingering snowfields. If your adventure requires extended periods of time crossing snowfields, we recommend combining the Raptor with a gaiter to prevent snow and moisture from seeping into the top of the 6-inch ankle cuff. While not the top performer when it comes to overall water resistance, the ePE GORE-TEX Extended Comfort membrane kept our feet dry and comfortable after tons of miles in an especially wet spring in the High Sierra.

Weight

The Ultra Raptor is among the lightest hiking boot designs that we tested, making it a solid choice for day hikes, backpacking trips, or speedy fast packing without the weight of the boot holding you back from covering lots of miles. Weighing only 1.56 pounds for a size 40 EU, this design feels more like a running shoe than a heavy hiking boot, allowing more agility on technical terrain, steep climbs, or demanding descents.

Heavy, leather hiking boots are often overkill for your average day hike or even backpacking trip, but we think the lightweight design of the Ultra Raptor strikes a nice balance between ankle support and all-day comfort. This versatile design is perfect for hitting your local trail, backpacking, or even covering lots of miles on a fastpacking adventure without being weighed down by the extra weight of a bulky, stiff, and more traditional hiking boot.

Durability

The Ultra Raptor is a high-quality, well-constructed boot that's durable enough to tackle uneven, demanding terrain. Our testers love the heavy-duty toe cap and additional rand that protect the mesh upper and shield our toes against rocks and stumps when we find ourselves distracted by the beautiful views instead of paying attention to the hazards along the trail.

The lacing system is also confidence-inspiring as the thicker mesh and metal eyelets securely cinch tight, where the boot will experience the most torque. While former iterations feature debossed leather, we found that the 85% recycled polyester and 15% polyester high-tenacity ripstop mesh upper combination withstood boulder fields and hikes that took us off the beaten path without showing significant signs of wear.

There is also a rand that surrounds the heel of the boot to provide additional protection for the mesh upper, along with a well-constructed inner membrane that delivers high-quality waterproof performance. Although the Ultra Raptor isn't as durable as its beefier, heavier, and fully leather counterparts, we think it's built to resist abrasions, capable of tackling most terrain, and will perform for many seasons of heavy use.

Should You Buy the La Sportiva Ultra Raptor 3 Mid GTX?

There's no doubt the latest iteration of the Ultra Raptor is the best yet, providing excellent performance for those seeking a lightweight boot that's built for everything from day hikes on local trails to backpacking trips off the beaten path. We love the new fit and substantial midsole that creates all-day comfort through a supportive yet not overly padded cuff. The ripstop mesh is durable without sacrificing too much breathability, and the Gore-Tex membrane is perfect for soggy conditions. If you're after a lightweight design that can do it all without weighing you down, the Ultra Raptor should be at the top of your list.

What Other Hiking Boots Should You Consider?

The Ultra Raptor 3 Mid GTX is perfect for those seeking lightweight performance in a high-quality, water-resistant design; however, it isn't the most rigid or supportive boot we'd choose for truly heavy loads. If you need something more substantial, the Lowa Renegade Evo GTX Mid is worth checking out. But if you like the sound of the Raptor but have wide feet, the Topo Athletic Trailventure 2 WP is another lightweight hiker. If you're on a budget and don't want to sacrifice performance, check out the Merrell Moab 3 Mid WP. The Moab 3 is perfect for women seeking extra support without breaking the bank.