When I first received La Sportiva’s Ultra Raptor 3 Mid GTX in the mail, I was hesitant. My limited prior knowledge of La Sportiva, as a shoe manufacturer, was that their footwear is traditionally targeted towards the slim and elongated foot, of which mine are not. As an everyday wearer of wide-toe-box shoes, my first thought upon unboxing the Ultra Raptor 3 Mids was that I was going to be like Cinderella’s ugly stepsisters, and that I would fail to fit into the glass slipper
As I soon found out, this was a false assumption. The standard width did, in fact, accommodate my feet. And, as I ran my hands over the surface of the boots, I was struck by their seeming toughness: The ripstop upper, chunky rubber toe cap and rand all scream, “I’m not here to mess about!” On a long-weekend jaunt up the ACT’s Mt Bimberi—which involved punching through early-season snow into all kinds of hidden rocks, roots and branches—the abrasion resistance of the Ultra Raptor 3 Mids really shone through. The Gore-Tex ePE Extended Comfort lining adds some extra weatherproofing, which helped keep the snow’s wetness at bay, too.
From a wearability perspective, I found the supportive midsole provides surprising comfort, even when walking on rocky surfaces for extended periods; previously, with other hard-soled boots, I’ve often increased comfort by using squishy pharmacy innersoles, but I haven’t yet felt the need to substitute out La Sportiva’s 5mm Ortholite Hybrid inners. The Ultra Raptor 3 Mids’ Frixion White compound outsole is not only grippy, but it also incorporates La Sportiva’s Impact Brake System tech, which aids with shock absorption.
To look at, the Ultra Raptor 3 Mids have, around the back of the foot, a noticeable low-cut section which slopes up to a more traditional mid-hiking-boot height around the ankle. On the first wear, I remember commenting on the “weird feeling” this caused around my Achilles. However, all it took was a little getting used to; after a few wears, I haven’t given it much more thought.
For a mid-cut hiking boot that gives welcome ankle support, I was impressed to find that my EU40 Ultra Raptor 3’s topped the scales at a mere 745g for the pair. For this weight, you get a whole lot of boot!
My only minor gripe is that, given the low-cut, there’s no loop near the heel to aid with pulling the boots on. And a word for the wise: If in doubt, opt for a bigger size.
But overall, for a mid-weight hiking boot, La Sportiva’s Ultra Raptor 3 Mids are a solid all-rounder.
The Details:
INTENDED USE: Hiking
MATERIALS: Ripstop upper; GoreTex ePE Extended Comfort lining; Frixion White compound outsole
WEIGHT (as tested): 745g (Women’s EU40)
RRP: $349.95
For more information lasportiva.com.au
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