Last updated on July 29th, 2021 at 09:26 am
Whether running an ultramarathon or just looking to run a few miles on a local bridal trail, I have put this review of the La Sportiva Ultra Raptor’s together to help you determine whether these trail running shoes are right for you.
The La Sportiva Ultra Raptors are a heavy-duty trail running shoe designed for mountain running. While designed for rocky and steep terrain, they also tend to work wonderfully on flat land too.
Impressions After 2000 + Miles
I have owned about six pairs of the Ultra Raptor – both the standard version and the GTX waterproof version. I have covered 1000’s of miles, and hopefully, that time in these shoes can help you get a good idea about what to expect if buying them.
My goal in this post is to provide you with my detailed thoughts on what is great, not-so-great, and helpful about these shoes.
Generally speaking, I love these shoes. I consider them to be one of the most comfortable trail running shoes on the market. I have:
- Never had to break them in. I’ve always been able to wear them right out of the box.
- Run various trail races in them; ranging from 10k to half-marathon (I’m training for a marathon but am not there yet).
- Have found their GTX version great for staying warm and dry in the winter or through puddles.
- Have found their FriXion Grip sole extremely effective,
There Are Two Main Types of Ultra Raptors
There are a standard Ultra Raptor shoe and a waterproof GTX version. Both are great, although I should state that the GTX version runs a bit tighter so you should consider going half a size up.
Please read the rest of this post if you want to get tons of specifics (with pictures) on the Ultra Raptor. If you are interested in checking more of their specs, pics, and current pricing out on Amazon you can check them out here:
- La Sportiva Men’s Ultra Raptor
- La Sportiva Women’s Ultra Raptor
- La Sportiva Men’s Ultra Raptor GTX (waterproof)
- La Sportiva Women’s Ultra Raptor GLX (waterproof)
If you want to see more of my insights having owned various Ultra Raptors make sure you read through the rest of this post.
Key Features of The Ultra Raptor
There are various key features that make La Sportiva’s Ultra Raptors one of my favorite all-around trail running shoes. Below, I go over the most notable features of these shoes, and I also touch on their minimal flaws.
Substantial Toe Protection
It is not uncommon to see beefier toe protection on a trail running shoe. What is unique about the toe protection on the Ultra Raptor, is just how substantial that toe protection actually is.
I am not exaggerating when I say that the toe protection in these shoes are likely the main reason I still have all my toe-nails intact.
Rocks and roots have been kicked at full gait, and the impact on my toes have been minimal. Even when smashed at full speed, the pain to the toe is very muted.
Extremely Versatile Treads
There are other trail running shoes with more aggressive treads, and I understand how the types of tread on the soles of the Ultra Raptor seem underwhelming.
That said, the ovular shaped treads that protrude grasp bridal trail, single track, and mud very well, while the FriXion sole also seems to hold slippery and smooth rock surfaces. I have found this particularly valuable when jumping from rock to rock across streams, or when scrambling up a variety of larger boulder-sized rocks.
The horizontal concave sections that span the width of the shoe, and extend from the toe to the heel every couple of inches provide additional help in shedding the mud as it cakes on.
If you take a look at the picture above, you’ll see that there are raised sections and lowered sections that span the width of the shoe.
These work well with the treads themselves in providing traction and releasing gathered mud.
Smooth Interior Heel Seating with a Snug (and strong) Heel Cup
Despite being a heavy-duty trail running shoe, the heel does not feel overly bulky around the ankle. Instead, the outsole gets narrow toward the top of the heel cup, and by the time it wraps around your foot near the ankle the material is narrow enough to conform well to your foot. I believe this helps you get a tighter grip around the ankle/foot.
Take a look at the material on the interior of the shoe in the picture above. The smooth finish here is one of the reasons I never need a break-in period with these shoes; I don’t get any heel friction and thus don’t get heel blisters with these shoes.
The heel shape on these shoes has also seemed to hold its form quite well over their lifespan. As you can see in the image above, the heel is well-formed (no sag is showing), and the shoes in the image have been used for hundreds of trail miles.
Part of the reason the heel seems to hold form for so long (and is so comfortable) is likely because of the plastic material hugging its exterior, pictured above.
There are likely protection benefits to this type of plastic feature, but I would assume most of the benefit comes from how it supports the actual shape and fit of the heel.
Durable with Rock Plate - Reduces Foot Bruising
If you run trails long enough you will DEFINITELY come across trails riddled with rocks. And when I say rocks, I am not referring to the small pebble size rocks on bridal trails. I am referring to rocks the size of gravel, baseball, and softballs.
Yes, different rocks will create different levels of discomfort for your feet, but I can say with confidence that the rock guard in the La Sportiva Ultra Raptors is awesome. While my running form takes a hit when I stumble over these rocky trails, and there is some general discomfort (yes, running on rocks isn’t totally comfortable), I am confident the Ultra Raptors have prevented some bruising.
Some Trade-Offs To Consider
There are pros and cons to everything, and with the La Sportiva Ultra Raptor there are definitely a few downsides. While I find these negatives are outweighed greatly by the positives, I wanted to take a moment to go over what I feel are the biggest drawbacks of the shoe.
They Are Relatively Heavy
The Ultra Raptors come with tons of foot protections. They have a substantial toe guard, a rockplate, and a relatively thick sole. With this extreme protection comes a comparatively heavy shoe.
When I put my size 12 Ultra Raptors on a shipping scale their total weight (as a pair) was 1.95 lb. That is almost 1 lb per shoe.
If you are focused primarily on speed this weight might frustrate you a little bit.
Again, it is a trade-off you have to make when running trails. But not all trail running shoes have the heavy weight of the Ultra Raptors. You can check some of the other options out there in our posts on the best trail shoes for men and women.
They Run A Little Smaller Than Other Shoes
This ones not a huge drawback but it needs to be stated. I typically wear a 10.5 or 11, but I wear a size 12 in the Ultra Raptors.
The “off-sizing” might have something to do with their primary production taking place in Europe. That said, they definitely run small and require a larger size than what you might wear in another brand.
Where They Eventually Break Down
Every shoe, if given enough mileage, will eventually break down in ways. The shoe in the picture above has been used WAY more than I would ever recommend. It was once my daily runner, then it was demoted to a back-up hiking shoe, and then finally it became my gardening shoe. Now it is simply a destroyed shoe.
While the shoe above has been put through the wringer it is worth noting where the tear in the uppers are located. Having owned numerous pairs of the Ultra Raptors I can say with moderate confidence that this is the point at which the shoe is more likely to tear.
When the Cushioning Compresses (After 100's of Miles)
I have also noticed that the Ultra Raptor’s (like most shoes) experience a slight compression in the cushion after 100’s of miles – near the end to their life.
It is hard to pinpoint exactly what a compressed cushioning / sole looks like, but it can be felt. Since the Ultra Raptors have a rock plate the compressed cushioning might actually be more noticeable than some other shoe models.
Basically, the sensation of a compressed cushion just feels like you have to do a little more work to push-off with each step.
Who Should Consider The Ultra Raptor
Having purchased a ton of the Ultra Raptors in the past, I do have a special connection to them. I’ve used them as a beginning trail runner, and also in my first competitive trail half-marathon.
I think every trail runner could justify having these on their shelves. Maybe you wouldn’t use them for all your runs, but there is no doubt there are tons of running scenarios where I would argue they would make the most sense for your feet.
They are an extremely comfortable shoe that will provide appropriate protection from rocks and roots, and you can put tons of miles on them in comfort.
While a lighter trail running shoe might be great for racing, the La Sportiva Ultra Raptor is possibly the perfect all-around training shoe. Perfect for mountain ascents, or technical single track, this shoe can become a great companion for most trail runners. If this sounds like a shoe you could see yourself running in you can check out more pictures, specs, and current pricing on Amazon below:
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