The La Sportiva Extremely Raptor II Mid Broad GTX is a high-top model of the Extremely Raptor II GTX path working shoe. Whereas some would possibly classify it as a climbing boot, it’s mainly the identical shoe with a excessive ankle cuff for elevated moisture and affect safety. Whereas the ankle cuff does present some added proprioceptive suggestions to provide you with a warning to a possible ankle roll, it’s nowhere as supportive as a a lot heavier leather-based climbing boot just like the La Sportiva Nucleo Excessive II GTX.
I just like the Extremely Raptor II Mid Broad GTX to be used in mud season or late autumn the place the waterproof membrane and the excessive ankle cuff assist preserve my socks dry in chilly and moist climate. The vast sizing can be an enormous win in the event you choose more room in your toes to splay out if you hike.
RELATED: 10 Finest Mountaineering Sneakers and Path Runners
Specs at a Look
- Gender: Males’s (ladies’s additionally out there)
- Drop: 12mm
- Stack: Heel: 27mm / Toe: 15mm
- Lug depth: 4.5 mm
- Cushion: average
- Closure: lace-up
- Higher: mesh
- Broad and Common Width sizes: sure
- Weight: 34 oz/pair in measurement EU 44 (US 10.5+)
- Sturdiness: 300-500 miles
- Waterproofing: Gore-Tex Prolonged Consolation
Options and Building
The Extremely Raptor II Mid Broad GTX has the identical core options because the low model of the Extremely Raptor II Broad GTX Path Working shoe together with an excellent sticky rubber sole, an arched sole, a beefy entrance toe kick, nice heel and facet safety and a water-proof/breathable membrane. Actually, the largest distinction between the mids and the lows is the added padded ankle cuff.
Broad Width and Spacious Toe Field
The Extremely Raptor II Mid Broad GTX is significantly wider than the common Extremely Raptor II Mid GTX and comes with a spacious toe field that’s vast sufficient to splay out your toes. I switched from regular-sized Extremely Raptors IIs this 12 months to the wide-sized model primarily for the elevated toe field area, since I expertise tingling in my toes after I hike, a situation referred to as Morton’s Neuroma, brought on by carrying path runners and climbing boots that had been too slender for a lot of a few years. A large toe field fully alleviates the situation, nevertheless.
The heel portion of those Extremely Raptor II Mid Broad GTXs remains to be just a little vast for me, nevertheless, however I’ve discovered that the match works properly if I simply put on a considerably heavier sock. That’s nice with me as a result of I’ve gone by 20-some pairs of Extremely Raptors and Extremely Raptor IIs through the years they usually’re nonetheless my all-time favorites though I’ve tried nearly each path runner ever made….or at the very least it feels prefer it. As soon as fitted, these carry out precisely the identical by way of traction and safety.
Sticky Ruber Soles
The La Sportiva Extremely Raptor II Mid GTX is designed for climbing on rugged mountain trails. It has a rubber sole that’s tender and really sticky on rock, together with moist rock, which you’d anticipate from an organization that reduce its tooth on making climbing sneakers. The only has an arch that’s designed to attenuate affect to the mid-foot and encourages touchdown in your forefoot leading to higher traction by the entrance lugs. It additionally incorporates a characteristic referred to as the affect brake system, that are merely reversed lugs that help in breaking in steep and slippery terrain. Whereas this lug sample works finest on laborious surfaces, it supplies much less traction in muddy situations as a result of modest lug top.
Arched Sole
The articulated arch within the Extremely Raptor II Mid Broad GTX additionally makes them suitable with extra conventional climbing and mountaineering gaiters which is invaluable throughout mud season or in late autumn if you want much less foot insulation however preserving your socks dry remains to be paramount. That’s after I like utilizing these sneakers, myself.
The arch permits using the heavy-duty gaiter straps discovered on excessive waterproof gaiters, one thing you simply can’t do with flat-bottomed mids or climbing boots. Having an arch would possibly sound like an apparent characteristic to incorporate on a climbing mid for chilly and moist climate, however store round: arches are an more and more uncommon characteristic on path runners and mids.
Beefy Toe Kick
The Extremely Raptor II Mid Broad GTX is properly protected up entrance with a really beefy toe kick. It’s nice for climbing throughout scree, gravel, and rocky trails. I don’t take a look at my toes after I hike throughout such terrain and this added stage of safety lets me hike quick with out worrying about bruising, painful impacts, or damaged toenails.
Heel, Aspect, and Midsole Safety
These mids even have a TPU heel counter and TPU strips alongside the perimeters that anchor into the midsole for added safety and stability. As well as, an injection-molded EVA midsole with a TPU shank supplies anti-torsional stability within the arch sole.
Ankle Cuff
The ankle cuff is roofed with a easy tender shell cloth and calmly padded. with a tender consolation collar in again to get rid of painful rubbing alongside the again of the leg simply above the ankle. There are 7 inches of clearance from the only to the highest of the ankle cuff, so you possibly can simply stroll by puddles or rock jump over partially submerged rocks and never get moist into the shoe. I’ve discovered the waterproofing to be 100% efficient within the Extremely Raptor II Mid Broad GTX which makes them a pleasure to make use of in moist climate.
Drop
With a drop of 12mm, the Extremely Raptor II Mid Broad GTX is nowhere close to a zero-drop shoe they usually’re decidedly not trendy in that respect. On the flip facet, it signifies that they’re very straightforward to transition to in the event you’ve been carrying climbing boots or mids and need to attempt them, particularly as a result of no break-in time is required. You possibly can actually put them on and begin climbing with out having to be taught or prepare your toes and calves within the biomechanics of climbing in zero-drop sneakers. It additionally makes switching again to boots a lot simpler when winter rolls round and it’s essential to put on insulated footwear.
Sizing
The Extremely Raptor II Mid Broad GTX is accessible in EU sizes, each full and half sizes which I discover is perfect for dialing in a exact match. I believe the sneakers are true to measurement, however you would possibly want to purchase a number of pairs in adjoining sizes to dial in a exact match in the event you haven’t used the finer-grained EU sizing earlier than.
The mids embody a hybrid foam insole which is thicker than that discovered within the low model of the Extremely Raptor however has no added heel help. I discover that eradicating it will increase the inside quantity of the shoe and makes it straightforward to switch with a extra sturdy insole that gives extra heel help to stop plantar fasciitis.
Advice
The La Sportiva’s Extremely Raptor II Mid Broad GTX excels in mountain terrain as a result of its soles have sticky rubber which adheres properly to rock, together with moist rock, with a stage of stability and safety that has no equal. Their vast toe field and sizing make them snug to put on by folks with bigger toes or individuals who desire a bigger toe field and are keen to shim out the additional mid-foot area with thicker socks. I additionally assume they’re a wonderful choice for spring mud-season and late autumn climbing as a result of they’ve arches which are suitable with waterproof gaiter straps. In case you’re able to ditch your winter boots for spring climbing season, however nonetheless need waterproof safety, I’d suggest attempting these La Sportiva’s Extremely Raptor II Broad GTX Mids.
Disclosure: The creator owns this product
SectionHiker is reader-supported. We independently analysis, take a look at, and price one of the best merchandise. We solely earn cash if you are going to buy a product by our affiliate hyperlinks. Assist us proceed to check and write unsponsored and impartial gear opinions, newbie FAQs, and free climbing guides.
