Looking for a shoe to protect your feet through rocky, technical terrain? Then La Sportiva Ultra Raptor 2 is a great choice, as it is stable, protective, and ready for long runs.
La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II
La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II - Stability and protection
My first impression of Ultra Raptor 2 was that it reminded me more of a mountain shoe than a running shoe. But after my first run in the shoe, I was surprised by it, as it has great features for long runs. The features making it a brilliant hiking shoe also work well in a running shoe, especially in technical terrain.
It all starts with the stabilizing heel, a supportive plastic plate around the heel ensuring good ankle stability. The way it fits around the heel gives stability on both the inside and outside of the foot. Under the outsole, there's an anti-torsion insert that further aids stability, particularly during push-off.
La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II
At the front of the foot, the outsole extends over your toes, providing ultimate protection against rocks if you're walking or running in mountainous terrain. If you want protection and support, then it's Ultra Raptor 2 you need.
La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II - Built to last!
The midsole is made of two different layers of foam materials. The Endurance platform is a softer foam at the top of the sole, providing a really nice feel underfoot. Especially under the forefoot, where La Sportiva has placed a thicker layer to enhance comfort.
Below the Endurance platform, you'll find the firmer EVA midsole foam, which keeps the shoe stable and secure. The EVA foam isn't designed to be soft and flexible but firmer and more resistant. There's no doubt that Ultra Raptor 2 works best on soft surfaces. However, I haven't experienced issues running on a few asphalt sections between trails.
The firmer midsole foam tends to have longer durability, and I have no reason to believe it won't be the case with La Sportiva Ultra Raptor 2. It's a shoe built to last!
La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II
La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II - An upper that lasts
The same can be said about the upper. With a solid reinforcement running from heel to toes, the upper supports you from the side, ensuring longer durability if you hit rocks or stress the upper with quick direction changes on wet days.
The upper isn't super tight-fitting, especially around the midfoot, there's room for a higher instep. The forefoot is fairly standard, but you shouldn't worry if you have wide feet, as Ultra Raptor 2 also comes in a wide version.
The tongue is relatively padded and provides protection against sand, stones, and debris, so you don't have to fight with annoying small rocks.
La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II - A perfect blend
Perhaps the most impressive feature of Ultra Raptor 2 is the outsole. La Sportiva has given it the fancy name FriXion White, but that doesn't tell you what it can actually do.
The outsole is a mix of soft rubber with plenty of grip and another firmer rubber. This way, you get fantastic grip on a variety of surfaces. The lugs aren't the most aggressive, so if you're running in knee-deep mud, they're not the best. But as an all-around trail grip, it works well on forest paths, wet days, and mountains and rocks.
Overall, I would recommend this shoe to those wanting a shoe that lasts for many kilometers and provides support whether you're in the mountains or running trails.
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