Have done many a long backcountry hikes with these on, as well as running in them. They’ve held up great over time given the amount of abuse I put them through. Even good for low grade climbing approaches. Durable and nimble, compared to hiking boots at least.

I do a lot of mountain running and scrambling in La Sportiva's mountain running shoes, like the Mutant and Bushido. I recently picked up a pair of the Ultra Raptor II because I was interested in how well they would work on very technical terrain.The lug pattern is quite unique compared to the other La Sportiva mountain runners I have worn. The lugs altogether form a much flatter pattern with more surface area, making these shoes good for smearing and very grippy when running on technical trails. Although I still prefer my Mutants for highly technical scrambling (class 4/5), I have now worn the Ultra Raptor II a few times up the 2nd Flatiron in Boulder and they have performed well. The rubber is La Sportiva's stickiest compound, which gives the wearer an almost ... MoreI do a lot of mountain running and scrambling in La Sportiva's mountain running shoes, like the Mutant and Bushido. I recently picked up a pair of the Ultra Raptor II because I was interested in how well they would work on very technical terrain.The lug pattern is quite unique compared to the other La Sportiva mountain runners I have worn. The lugs altogether form a much flatter pattern with more surface area, making these shoes good for smearing and very grippy when running on technical trails. Although I still prefer my Mutants for highly technical scrambling (class 4/5), I have now worn the Ultra Raptor II a few times up the 2nd Flatiron in Boulder and they have performed well. The rubber is La Sportiva's stickiest compound, which gives the wearer an almost unsafe level of confidence in their ability to grip rock.The shoes are a bit heavier than Mutants but also have a slightly nicer ride, especially on the downhill. I prefer the Karacal for pure trail running, but they are not quite sticky enough for the type of technical scrambling I focus on. I think of these shoes as falling somewhere between those two options, but with an extra level of protective burliness that would make them great hiking shoes if you don't need a high ankle (although they do make a version like that as well).The fit is noteworthy, with a really good heel lockdown (for my foot, anyway), but some room for the toes to splay out in the forefoot, which is exactly what I want in a running shoe. My feet are on the narrow side, but some La Sportiva shoes are too narrow even for me. Fortunately that's not the case with these.I think these mountain runners will work well for big alpine efforts in the shoulder season, but they are not as breathable as other options for summertime running. They're on the heavier side for trail runners, but also offer superb protection and very good traction.

I love these shoes. I've used them for long range backpacking, trail running and everyday hiking.The quality, design and materials are great. I've put them through about 300 miles now...initially planned on buying another LS model, tried those on as well as another pair before I found these.Point being I tried 3 different LS trail runners, same size, and only one model worked for me. They're just like running shoes, specific to each person and their feet. Don't rely on them for a long distance/high stakes trip if you haven't put them through the ringer in training, let alone hiked a mile or two in them.La Sportiva makes great gear, give them your money