OK. I’m a big La Sportiva fan. I use & love their skis & ski boots. But these are the first LS hiking shoes I’ve owned, after seeing the soles on a very expensive pair of Salomon Quest 4D boot fall apart after around 250km of mixed hiking. Happily, I have narrow, low-volume feet, so it seems I’m in for an easy ride with LS footwear. After a few km of light track walks, I’ve gotta say these are grippy, supportive & snugly comfortable and inspire a lot of confidence that they’re going to handle the misery they’ll be occasionally subjected to. I bought 1/2cm longer than my measured foot length and they are the ideal length - my feet don’t get to slide far on the downhill, but my toes have wriggle room on the flat. Easy to lace, super light, possibly waterproof (I have ... MoreOK. I’m a big La Sportiva fan. I use & love their skis & ski boots. But these are the first LS hiking shoes I’ve owned, after seeing the soles on a very expensive pair of Salomon Quest 4D boot fall apart after around 250km of mixed hiking. Happily, I have narrow, low-volume feet, so it seems I’m in for an easy ride with LS footwear. After a few km of light track walks, I’ve gotta say these are grippy, supportive & snugly comfortable and inspire a lot of confidence that they’re going to handle the misery they’ll be occasionally subjected to. I bought 1/2cm longer than my measured foot length and they are the ideal length - my feet don’t get to slide far on the downhill, but my toes have wriggle room on the flat. Easy to lace, super light, possibly waterproof (I have NEVER met a truly waterproof hike boot, esp in damp snow conditions). Get them, you’ll be happy you did.

A tad tight but overall amazing

I have had an interesting experience with these boots. I bought a pair in the size I usually wear and they felt a bit tight, but seemed serviceable. I wore them on a few short hikes and they bothered my feet a bit but nothing too extreme. I wore them on a 17 mile hike and by mile 7 my feet had swollen and became quite sore due to the tight fit. By mile 10 I decided I need to cut the boots with my knife on the sides to relieve some of the pressure on my foot in hopes to make it out of the woods easier. These have to be the most durable boots on planet earth. I could barely cut though them with my knife! Long story short, I ordered another pair a size up and they fit wonderfully and are super comfortable. Would recommend these to anyone looking for a good boot.

Comfy Hiker

Super comfortable lightweight hiking boot. Purchased size 42.5 wide and took this straight out of the box to Rocky Mountain National Park for a 10.75 mile break-in through lots of packed snow, slush, and standing/running water and ice-melted streams. Comfort-wise, these were awesome with zero hot spots or other fit and break-in related issues. The problem I ran into was the effectiveness of the goretex. My merino socks were wet early in the hike after 2 shallow water crossings and later again descending through slush and other shallow bands of runoff towards the end of our loop. I was able to change socks early on after the initial issue, and after returning to the trailhead. Truly a bummer since these were super-super comfortable, especially for such a long ... MoreSuper comfortable lightweight hiking boot. Purchased size 42.5 wide and took this straight out of the box to Rocky Mountain National Park for a 10.75 mile break-in through lots of packed snow, slush, and standing/running water and ice-melted streams. Comfort-wise, these were awesome with zero hot spots or other fit and break-in related issues. The problem I ran into was the effectiveness of the goretex. My merino socks were wet early in the hike after 2 shallow water crossings and later again descending through slush and other shallow bands of runoff towards the end of our loop. I was able to change socks early on after the initial issue, and after returning to the trailhead. Truly a bummer since these were super-super comfortable, especially for such a long break-in hike, and they look pretty sweet to boot.

Disappointing these boots perform poorly in the wet!

I purchased a pair of these boots last year because they fitted my foot well. In light rain they kept the water out. Anything more than this and they were useless! I mainly used these boots for walking my dogs on the side walk. If there was any surface water on the floor it seemed to get absorbed from the sole and soak the entire bottom of my feet. It happens with both shoes and neither have any obvious holes, rips or tears. The more I wore them the worse it got and the water starts entering from the sides as well.I should have returned them last year but didn’t get around to it. I put them on again for the first time in months and after a 20 minute dog walk in the rain my feet wet all over. (See photos) I am so angry by their poor waterproof quality I felt I ... MoreI purchased a pair of these boots last year because they fitted my foot well. In light rain they kept the water out. Anything more than this and they were useless! I mainly used these boots for walking my dogs on the side walk. If there was any surface water on the floor it seemed to get absorbed from the sole and soak the entire bottom of my feet. It happens with both shoes and neither have any obvious holes, rips or tears. The more I wore them the worse it got and the water starts entering from the sides as well.I should have returned them last year but didn’t get around to it. I put them on again for the first time in months and after a 20 minute dog walk in the rain my feet wet all over. (See photos) I am so angry by their poor waterproof quality I felt I needed to write this review to share my experience of these boots.Maybe I got unlucky and they are faulty, but at the moment I certainly DO NOT recommend them.

Good alternative to trail runners

Purchased a few months ago and have put around 100 miles in, no issues with seams or tears, water resistant enough to keep dry during whatever puddles might get splashed through, and soles are solid such that crossing volcanic areas with lots of jagged rocks presented no issues. Nice and lightweight, the toebox is a little small and rigid for my feet resulting in my toes getting somewhat chewed up during prolonged downhill sections, but that may be more just how my feet are built than an issue with the shoe. Overall pretty good, I typically prefer trail runners but these are a solid choice for when something more sturdy or protective is needed.

Great boot

Just like the Ultra Raptor shoe but in boot form. Thank you AS for carrying the handsome version! The leather is an amazing touch to this style of boot. Would love to get more LS products from Europe.Sizing needs to be considered. I have the Uraptora shoes and boots in 42.5 (US8.5+) which is a perfect fit in length while holding my foot very well. There’s 1-1.5 inches for my toes from the end so I can feel the edge of ladders, rocks etc with my toes. My new balance, Vans and Addidas size is always 8.5. Those brands usually fit very well out of the box, La Sportiva Ultra Raptors fit “bespoke” in comparison. Toe box is smaller volume. I have a “Italian” foot shape (narrow, lower volume) and high arch. These shoes/boots “hug” my feet and toes when new. After break in, ... MoreJust like the Ultra Raptor shoe but in boot form. Thank you AS for carrying the handsome version! The leather is an amazing touch to this style of boot. Would love to get more LS products from Europe.Sizing needs to be considered. I have the Uraptora shoes and boots in 42.5 (US8.5+) which is a perfect fit in length while holding my foot very well. There’s 1-1.5 inches for my toes from the end so I can feel the edge of ladders, rocks etc with my toes. My new balance, Vans and Addidas size is always 8.5. Those brands usually fit very well out of the box, La Sportiva Ultra Raptors fit “bespoke” in comparison. Toe box is smaller volume. I have a “Italian” foot shape (narrow, lower volume) and high arch. These shoes/boots “hug” my feet and toes when new. After break in, they are perfect even with foot swelling using thin Cool Max socks.Out of the box, very comfortable. Little to no break in. Achilles area has a cut out and soft fabric making it very comfortable when toe pointed downwards.I haven’t had these for long so can’t comment on longevity but if they’re anything like my shoes they’ll outperform any expectations. Don’t expect crazy durable like trad backpacking boots.Looking forward to my Via Ferrata adventure in Whistler with these boots!

I’ll absolutely buy again!

Best boots / shoes i’ve had. I live hike and do some trail running in the mountains. Just took a snow hike feet are perfectly warm and dry. I love the natural foot fit with spacious tow box. Traction and support are excellent, with enough flexibility they’re as comfortable as low tops. Cushioning is perfect. I run hiit sprints on rocky trails, and I’ve hiked many miles with 35 pounds. 1.5 years later, They’re not hot in summer, and no quality problems at all.

Lightweight support for rugged trails

I bought these as an alternative to the superb Salomon GTX4 boots that I've had for a few years. I wanted something a little lighter for occasions when I'm not carrying much (e.g. less than 35 lbs +). These La Sportiva boots seem to be just the ticket, but I can't speak to durability yet. The little hooks at the top make me uneasy... but we shall see. Speaking of laces, I wish they came with thicker laces; the included set is scrawny, but they work.The fit is good for me; I usually wear a 46 (in my everyday Ecco footwear of all sorts and the boots mentioned), so that's what I ordered despite some reviews warning that these run small. I do think they are a tad shorter and narrower than the Salomon GTX4, but they fit my feet well, and the smaller interior volume is ... MoreI bought these as an alternative to the superb Salomon GTX4 boots that I've had for a few years. I wanted something a little lighter for occasions when I'm not carrying much (e.g. less than 35 lbs +). These La Sportiva boots seem to be just the ticket, but I can't speak to durability yet. The little hooks at the top make me uneasy... but we shall see. Speaking of laces, I wish they came with thicker laces; the included set is scrawny, but they work.The fit is good for me; I usually wear a 46 (in my everyday Ecco footwear of all sorts and the boots mentioned), so that's what I ordered despite some reviews warning that these run small. I do think they are a tad shorter and narrower than the Salomon GTX4, but they fit my feet well, and the smaller interior volume is compatible with my foot shape. I wear them with Smart wool (vintage, not the newer crummier kind) and other wool blend hiking socks. (The size label inside these boots say 12.5 US, but there's no way they are that big. 12 at most, in the opinion of this US resident.)The sole is kind of interesting, because it seems to be pierced. Rather than just the traditional lugs/pokey bits like in a Vibram or what-have-you, this La Sportiva sole also features small lugs that are captive in the holes pierced in the outsole. They flex a good bit, and smaller debris can get caught in the space between these lugs and the holes containing them. I've not tromped through water with them yet, so don't know if that design quirk might be problematic for keeping feet dry. (I hope not!!)During break-in, the synthetic upper rearmost sleeve rubbed my achilles area to the point that it got sore, but that soreness and the rubbing disappeared after 20 miles of break-in hiking.I like these boots enough to contemplate bringing them along with the Salomon's on an upcoming trip to Switzerland, and deal with the extra space they will need in my luggage. For hikes without a pack, I think they would be first choice.

Runs smaller than Nucleo High II GTX

I got these to replace my 2 year old Nucleo that ran a little small on me (my feet grew a little bit). I decided to go with these boots because the Nucleo didn’t go any larger. I went a size up from 47.5 to 48.5 expecting to have extra toe room for thicker socks. However that was not the case, while they’re slightly larger, they still felt snug without the extra toe room. Sizing aside, they’re comfortable right out of the box and they’re easier to get in and out of the boot with the extra range of motion in the design.Thanks to REIs easy return policy, I’ll be swapping these out for a 49 and I should be set with a great pair of hiking shoes.

Size measurements didn't work for me

I purchased La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II Mid Leather GTX x 1, 42.5 EUR / 9.5 US Wide Boots. As advised by the footwear fitment guidance, I carefully measured my feet and checked all the measurements provided for these boots, and according to the data they should have fit but they did not. The boots were both too short and too narrow. In this instance the GOHUNT measurements were a complete fail for me.I usually wear a 9.5 US men's, and have three other pairs or euro made boots that are sized 42.5 EUR / 9.5 US which fit me perfectly, including one pair which I recently purchased from GOHUNT. That being said, I have tried on four or five other size 42.5 EUR (regular & wide) boots from various companies which did not fit me. My advice is don't order footwear online ... MoreI purchased La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II Mid Leather GTX x 1, 42.5 EUR / 9.5 US Wide Boots. As advised by the footwear fitment guidance, I carefully measured my feet and checked all the measurements provided for these boots, and according to the data they should have fit but they did not. The boots were both too short and too narrow. In this instance the GOHUNT measurements were a complete fail for me.I usually wear a 9.5 US men's, and have three other pairs or euro made boots that are sized 42.5 EUR / 9.5 US which fit me perfectly, including one pair which I recently purchased from GOHUNT. That being said, I have tried on four or five other size 42.5 EUR (regular & wide) boots from various companies which did not fit me. My advice is don't order footwear online unless you can try on the item beforehand.