At the heel of the boot is a molded TPU stability piece that’s integrated with a mudguard that runs down to the toe box on both sides of the boot. The La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II Mid GTX hiking boots came in a recycled cardboard box, plainly decorated with La Sportiva’s black, yellow, and light green color scheme and mountain logo. According to La Sportiva's own figures for a single shoe (size not specified) the unlined Ultra Raptor is 350g, and the waterproof low-cut Ultra Raptor GTX is 400g, while the Ultra Raptor Mid weighs 470g. The soft "Comfort Collar" protects the ankle against penetration by stones or mud and integrates the easy-fit spoiler for maximum ease of donning.

Weight: When I threw these boots on my kitchen scale, I was stoked to discover that they are the lightest pair of hiking boots I’ve demoed to date — weighing in at a scant 1035 grams or 2 pounds 4. Like most lightweight designs, the Ultra Raptor II doesn’t have any locking eyelets, which I prefer for keeping the forefoot loose while cinching the ankle. Featuring GORE-TEX Extended Comfort product technology, the shoes are designed for indoor and outdoor use in moderate and warmer conditions or at higher activity levels. The sole has injection-molded EVA for comfort and shock absorption, and a TPU shank under the arch for stability and torsion control.

Versatility: The Ultra Raptor II is a versatile boot best suited for fastpacking, light backpacking, and general day hiking. However, I think that adding a bit of height to the ankle cuff changes things, and in a boot such as this, on the sort of terrain I might want to wear a boot, a lining makes sense. Enhanced durability thanks to the anti-compression technology which keeps material compression down to less than 5% over time.

Ultra Raptor II Mid Leather GTX is also available in a wide-fit comfort version dedicated to hikers with wide feet. In particular, the sole has plenty of lateral stability, reducing torsional twisting that can stress or fatigue the foot.But while that high heel can feel a little more cumbersome and divorced from the terrain underfoot than a flatter soled trail shoe, it's not particularly deep by walking boot standards, and I don't find the Ultra Raptor Mid imprecise or clumpy on more fiddly ground. He is a backcountry expert, long-distance backpacker, rock climber, kayaker, cyclist, wannabe mountaineer, and the world’s OK-est guitar player. My traverse began with some casual driftwood hopping and rapidly turned into wave-dodging and climbing over sizable flotsam and jetsam.