La Sportiva - Ultra Raptor II Wide Mountain Running® Shoe

I use the raptors both boots and shoes. The boots are probably my favorite hiking footwear of all time. The first time I wore them they felt perfect for my feet. Without snow on the ground or being in wet conditions, they're perfect. The shoes felt a little tighter and had a break in period which the boots did not. For trail runners, they seem to be on the heavier side but they feel pretty robust, have done me well over an estimated 200 miles, and have been good for scrambling here in CO. I can certainly recommend them depending on what kind of hiking you do and where. If you really value lightness you might want to look at another shoe at least for comparison. I believe the TX4, for example, is lighter and otherwise performs very well.

With a similar fit but more oriented towards the use you want to make of it and not the city use, I recommend the La Sportiva Ultra Raptor

La sportiva Ultraraptor without a doubt

Just got some Topo Mtn Racers and can confirm they are wide and very grippy. Work as well as my UltraRaptors (wide) on steep slabs, but actually run-able with a bit less stability. My Speedgoat 5s were also really grippy and plenty wide for me in normal but sized up .5 (I always do this).

I find Ultra Raptors to be the perfect stability hiking shoe. They have wide sizes which are ideal for me. Great sticky rubber for scrambling too. They also have Gtx if you want that

For a 100K trip with 40lb loads, you’ll want something durable, with solid traction and quick-drying ability. Since you don’t need much support, trail runners or lightweight hiking shoes are great options. La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II is a solid choice for rugged terrain with excellent grip and durability. Altra Lone Peak 8 offers great comfort and breathability but has a wider fit. If you prefer something more structured, Salomon X Ultra 4 GTX balances support, traction, and quick-drying materials. Given your narrow feet, La Sportiva and Salomon tend to run slimmer.

**Salomon Speedcross** has a really aggressive outsole and snug fit. **Hoka Speedgoat 5**, **La Sportive Ultra Raptor**, or **Altra Lone Peak 7** are good options as well. I would also go with a good pair of insoles like **Stride Soles** which have a deeper heel cup to help stabablize the foot. Good luck! Source: I'm a PT and a 4X Ironman who used to have really bad foot pain.

For super rocky and big rock terrain, I run in La Sportiva Ultra Raptor (a half size up from true size and also in wide, because they are snug). While not as light as Speedgoats (or other shoes), which I have also run in, they help me feel more sure-footed. ( I rolled an ankle in the Speedgoats.) The Raptor cushioning for me feels more appropriate for the bigger rocks, without being too firm or too soft. Excellent sticky lugs. Very protective at the toe point. No rubbing at ankles. Tougher construction, less likely to suffer a tear. They double as solid hiking shoes. For most other trail running, I like my Nike Zegama 2’s (I have three pairs, love them! Again, a half size up). I never see anyone else in Zegamas, for some reason. They are rarely reviewed. But for my 3-7 mile runs, they feel speedy. No need to get a wider size. And Nike sells them at a decent price—even discounted, frequently, in the Nike app. Zegamas also have good lugs for my nearby leafy, rooty, scrabbly rock trails in Central Atlantic region. And I wear my older Zegamas for daily walking. (stats: 5’10” 155lbs male).

Some number of years ago I wore Cascadias. While hiking on the AT from NJ to NY near the border the tread filled up with mud. While hiking along narrow rock I slipped several times and finally cracked a rib. Later while camping that night I met another hiker who also wore Cascadias. He was bloody from slipping and falling. Going through several different pairs of shoes I finally settled on La Sportiva Ultra Raptors.

I’m larger and a big fan of the La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II. Have had several pair. Beefier than most. Sole is supportive, thick, but not spongy. Nimble enough around my larger foot.

Yes, the Speedgoats are good for hiking, very comfortable and grippy on rocks (I wore them in rocky, wet conditions in the Adirondacks mostly). However I stopped wearing them because the soles wear down too quickly. I switched to La Sportiva Ultra Raptors instead.

I’m on my like tenth pair of la sportiva ultra raptors. Love those shoes. Grips great on rock scrambling and comfortable for long mileage. True approach shoes kind of suck for backpacking because there’s less cushion, and you shouldn’t need them for class 3-4.

I have hypermobility and found the Topo Traverse to be a good balance between lightness and stability. LaSportiva ultra raptor was also recommended to me and seemed like a great shoe, but was too narrow for my feet. I love the lone peaks for walks around town and gentle/shorter hikes, but I would never try to hike a long trail with them again.

Before I answer, please be aware that you don’t need to spend a fortune. That being said, I work to feed my mountaineering addiction and spend the majority of my spare time outdoors. At the moment, this is what I use. They cover almost every condition you will face in the UK (and below 3000m in Europe). The only thing I don’t do, is climb vertical ice. La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II They do both a low trail runner (more of a fast hike-I wouldn’t run in them) and a mid-boot. Amazingly comfortable and the grip is excellent on both rock and wet grass. La Sportiva TX4 The best scrambling boot you can buy. Grip on rock is outstanding. Rubbish on wet grass in my opinion. They have been replaced with the TX4 EVO which I haven’t tried. La Sportiva Aequilibrium Trek Super comfortable, light leather boot. Grip on all surfaces is good. My go to boot if conditions are bad in the warmer months. La Sportiva Aequilibrium LT Leather winter mountaineering boot for ice and snow. Take crampons and will cope with relatively steep ice. Salomon Speedcross (I have used 3 and 6-both outstanding). I love these. Amazingly comfortable, grip is good but there is limited foot protection. My favourite for trail running over muddy terrain or well worn paths. I wouldn’t take these up a mountain but I have friends that do. All of the footwear I use has a technical fit so they won’t suit everyone. I hope this helps you.

The old La Sportiva TX4 would be my choice. Good fit for most people, comfortable and the grip on rock is outstanding. They occasionally pop up on eBay in virtually unused condition. The TX4 EVO which replaced them might be worth a look if they fit in your budget. They are slightly narrower and stiffer than the old TX4. Reviews seem to be split over whether that is a good or bad thing. Ultra Raptor II are also worth a look. They run narrow but do a wide fit too. I have the wides and they fit slightly wider than average sizing. Definitely not a wide fit as the name suggests. Pretty stable on most surfaces. Not as sticky as the TX4 and they don’t have a climbing zone. Super comfortable and a good compromise though.

I own the Bushido III and Ultra Raptor II. I just bought the Prodigio Pro yesterday! Still breaking them in, so I will let you know my thoughts soon. I'm surprised a couple of responses said they don't like the Bushido, as it is my favourite trail runners.

I blew through a pair of ultra raptors on one mountain hike. Got a full replacement warranty.I did love the traction but the durability against the terrain I was on didn’t hold up. I switched to la Sportiva prodigio pros, by far the best shoe I’ve ever worn.

I have hiking boots for rocks and snow. Trail running shoes for anything else. Hoka was good shoes but it's kinda bulky. Merrel Moab 3 as affordable choice, La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II as expensive one.

Ultra raptors are my shoe of choice (hoarded a bunch of 1s but tried the 2s as well). I was at the la sportiva retail store in Boulder and asked what the deal is, according to the sales rep Ultra Raptor 3s are in the lineup for spring 25, but doesn't necessarily mean they will make it to production or won't change significantly. Personally I'm trying to keep my last 4 pairs going until the spring before I start shopping. From la sportiva, you might give the Bushido 3/3-wide a shot, lower stack height but still decently stiff. Used to run narrow but supposedly corrected in the 3. Their Mutant runs wider but has a lot of comparable attributes I feel their other options take a hit on durability in the uppers

Narrow foot here- Salomon low Ultras or La Sportiva mesh Raptors, I’ve had both.

Argh - This explains why I can't find another pair. Spring of 25 has come and gone, maybe it comes up next season? Surprised by the issues with durability as I have switched from Wide Topo Ultraventures which have not nearly the traction and rigidity of the Raptors and are also much less durable in my experience. I have a summer season including a lot of talus/high rout/off trail miles and the Raptors have held up incredibly well. Maybe due to the fact that they are GTX/Gortex? I could not find a wide non-gortex option in a size 49 currently for sale anywhere in the US or EU. The Raptor's lateral stability for a heavier person (210lb) on slope, scree and talus is incredible. I will have to wrap these in tissue paper until summer 2026. Tried my Ultraventures on a recent high route in wet weather and fell twice on slick rock/moss, they are relegated to cutting the grass now. Maybe I will try out the Terraventures as they are available in wide this year. Any suggestions for a rigid upper/aggressive lug and super WIDE toe box?

Not in a position to compare widely but....... So far I find the lugs on my **La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II** trail running shoes to be reasonably hard and tough. Run near home in Glacial-alluvial till pebbles and rocks of semi-arid interior British Columbia and have run in the Chic Choc mountains of the Gaspe peninsula in Quebec (Appalachian).

I like ultra raptors far more than Bushidos. Lone peaks are the most overrated shoes on the planet.

I love love love ultratrail joggers when hiking. Super lightweight and smooth on trails and rocks alike. Get wet? No worries, they dry fast. Notebly Im on my fifth pair of LaSportvia Mutant. LaSportvia Raptor comes highly recommended if you have slimmer feet. Downsides? Dont do it if youre packing heavy (plus 20kg). Also it takes some getting used to less support around your ancels so be extra careful were you step for the first week or so. Dont take goretex variants, you want breathability and quicker drying.