Excellent boot for off track hiking. very comfortable and great grip. The main problem that I have faced is that the tread wears out very quickly (upper is still in good knick long after). Would be great if there was a vibram sole version with the same upper construction. also, goretex lining lets in water after a couple of weeks of walking.

Comfortable to take on long hikes.

I have tried a half a dozen boots but this pair is comfortable from the get go. These are narrow boots but switching to a wide version did the trick. These boots held up well on a 18+ miles hike with highly technical terrain. I am also keen on ankle support and these boots have just enough support to keep my ankles from turning completely. Of all the boots I tried out, I am keeping this pair.

Great all around hiking boot.

This was my first experience with La Sportiva. The Raptor is a great looking boot. It has a soft material around the lower exterior for protection, but it does not make the boot too stiff. The padding around the ankles feels very comfortable, and does not cause any issues with hot spots. The sole was stiff enough for hiking, but still flexible enough that the boot could be worn comfortably around town. Great for those rainy or snow days.My feet run narrow, but I had not issues with the regular width boot. I would recommend buying one full size up from your regular shoe size to accommodate hiking socks. Straight out of the box I felt like I could start hiking with no break in required. The lacing was easy, and allowed for quick on and off.The reason for only four ... MoreThis was my first experience with La Sportiva. The Raptor is a great looking boot. It has a soft material around the lower exterior for protection, but it does not make the boot too stiff. The padding around the ankles feels very comfortable, and does not cause any issues with hot spots. The sole was stiff enough for hiking, but still flexible enough that the boot could be worn comfortably around town. Great for those rainy or snow days.My feet run narrow, but I had not issues with the regular width boot. I would recommend buying one full size up from your regular shoe size to accommodate hiking socks. Straight out of the box I felt like I could start hiking with no break in required. The lacing was easy, and allowed for quick on and off.The reason for only four stars was the plastic material used for the lacing support. It was causing a hot spot on the outside of my foot near my small toe. My recommendation would be to add padding material on the inside of the boot to cushion against the harder plastic.It's a great boot and I would recommend it as a light hiker or around town boot.

Great hiking boot for narrow feet

I have narrow feet, and generally have a hard time finding the right fit. These fit snug and, without being too restrictive. They offer good ankle support and traction. They survived a month of field geology, hiking over jagged volcanic rocks and carbonates, and still have some life left in them. No signs of sole separation yet. I only wish they offered some light colors, as the dark shoes can heat up pretty quick.

Great lightweight hikers

I have 35 miles on my hightop Raptors, loving them. Warning, they run narrow and small, but for those of us with narrower feet they are perfect. This is my 3rd pair of Raptors.I hike in the rock strewn steep trails of New England, long day hikes and backpacking.The toe guard and rock plates provide excellent foot protection. The goretex has been keeping my feet dry in the mud and wet crossings. The height is well designed for easy entry.Where will they fail? The tops have a lot of over lapping pieces which will delaminate and the fabric lace loops on my other Raptors always give way. The soles, treads and rock plates on my other Raptors have held up well.Happy repeat buyer. La Sportive makes great footwear.

Great show, wild sizing

This is a beautiful shoe - supportive yet light, with a solid sole to absorb the impact of rocks underfoot. The stretchy part in the back makes getting in and out of these a breeze, though one has to wonder if it will last. The only downside is that, like all things La Sportiva, the sizing is wildly unpredictable. I wear size 13 in Salomon, and according to the La Sportiva website I needed to order 47.5. I had ordered 47.5 low Ultra Raptors in the past and knew that they were too small for me by a significant margin. So I ordered 48.5, 48.5W, 49, and 49W. All were grossly large. I figured that perhaps La Sportiva has adjusted their sizing and reordered 47.5 and 47.5W. Both were as small as I remembered them to be. So I finally ordered 48 and 48W. The normal width ... MoreThis is a beautiful shoe - supportive yet light, with a solid sole to absorb the impact of rocks underfoot. The stretchy part in the back makes getting in and out of these a breeze, though one has to wonder if it will last. The only downside is that, like all things La Sportiva, the sizing is wildly unpredictable. I wear size 13 in Salomon, and according to the La Sportiva website I needed to order 47.5. I had ordered 47.5 low Ultra Raptors in the past and knew that they were too small for me by a significant margin. So I ordered 48.5, 48.5W, 49, and 49W. All were grossly large. I figured that perhaps La Sportiva has adjusted their sizing and reordered 47.5 and 47.5W. Both were as small as I remembered them to be. So I finally ordered 48 and 48W. The normal width sizes are uncomfortably narrow and constraining unless you have a very narrow foot, and 48 was no exception - right length, wrong width. Fortunately 48W (allegedly US size 14 equivalent) fits very similarly to a Salomon 13. With the Salomon Ultra line design fiasco with version 4 I will be transitioning to La Sportiva ultra raptors 48W in the future.

Initial Impressions - Good!

Order a 1/2 size larger. I have normal width feet and the toe box is narrow (not tight). I would not want it any tighter, but it is fine and causes no toe discomfort on descents. 3 hikes so far, 1 in snow. No moisture penetration. Really good traction and I like the close fit around the ankles. This is more of a debris protection than support at it is a neoprene type material in the achilles.Pleased so far.

Perfect shoe

For me this is that once in a lifetime boot that fits and feels and functions so well that I bought a second pair just in case this gets discontinued. I’ve never done that before. Compared to any other boot or shoe I have ever owned this boot is by far the most durable. I wonder if I’ll ever need that back up pair? Yes, it’s true, these run small especially they run narrow. Unless you know you have freakishly narrow feet, get the wide. One last thing. I demolish footwear, these too and four months in they still look new. Try that with any other outdoor shoe. It doesn’t happen. for example, I decided to wear these one day while doing some forestry work with chainsaws, no impact on the shoe . Next day I stabbed this shoe hard with a pitchfork while wearing them. I ... MoreFor me this is that once in a lifetime boot that fits and feels and functions so well that I bought a second pair just in case this gets discontinued. I’ve never done that before. Compared to any other boot or shoe I have ever owned this boot is by far the most durable. I wonder if I’ll ever need that back up pair? Yes, it’s true, these run small especially they run narrow. Unless you know you have freakishly narrow feet, get the wide. One last thing. I demolish footwear, these too and four months in they still look new. Try that with any other outdoor shoe. It doesn’t happen. for example, I decided to wear these one day while doing some forestry work with chainsaws, no impact on the shoe . Next day I stabbed this shoe hard with a pitchfork while wearing them. I thought for sure I had punctured them but I couldn’t even tell where I stabbed them.

Sauna hot boots, why?

on my endless search for light, supportive boots that I can hike and go on 3-4 day backpack trips in the rocky mts, I thought I may have stumbled on the answer, but...They are comfortable with a nice balance of support and cushion. they work well with Superfeet adapt hike insoles, too. But, I'm hiking in the GC in 50deg this winter with DT light socks, and my feet are boiling!!! I don't think my leather boots get this warm. How am I going to use these in the summer? Perhaps the Goretex comfort lining is an anomaly, but I expected a synthetic boot to breathe better. These do not breathe at all, they are brutally hot.

Wet feet? Say it ain't so.

These are very comfortable boots, however they are not waterproof. Even under conditions where I did not submerged my foot, my socks kept getting soaked. I really love the cut of these boots, but it's a shame they have used porous fabrics in the construction to save on weight. If you can deal with wet socks all the time, you can deal with these, but if you want dry feet like me, there are much better options. I will be returning these.