TREKKING
Product 2026
Woman, Man
Despite a name that strongly suggests a trail running heritage, the La Sportiva Ultra Raptor 3 is 100% dedicated to hiking. Weighing 380 grams in size 43 on our scale, it clearly reflects the presence of its numerous protective reinforcements.
From the very first use, its qualities become immediately apparent and highly appreciated. The La Sportiva Ultra Raptor 3 is a robust shoe that provides excellent protection for the forefoot, sides, and heel. As a result, hikers can confidently move through scree fields and other technical terrain without hesitation.
Highly reassuring, the La Sportiva Ultra Raptor 3 is also impressively precise. Foot hold is excellent, and the metatarsal area avoids the overly spacious forefoot volume commonly found in many hiking shoes. Slim and agile, the La Sportiva Ultra Raptor 3 places itself exactly where the hiker intends to step. The fit adjustment is excellent, and the brand has wisely shortened the lace length to avoid excessive leftover lace that usually requires multiple knots.
The La Sportiva Ultra Raptor 3 is designed for hikers who want to retain a certain level of underfoot stiffness without sacrificing smooth heel-to-toe transition or a minimum amount of torsional flexibility. In short, it is an excellent shoe for long-distance walking on all types of terrain, whether carrying a backpack or not.
Although the outsole is not made by Vibram, it still delivers excellent grip, especially on wet terrain. The La Sportiva Ultra Raptor 3 features an 8 mm drop, with 27 mm at the forefoot and 35 mm at the heel. The rocker effect at the front of the shoe is efficient and promotes smooth stride transition. Lateral stability is very good, and heel support is secure.
The only criticism raised by our testers concerns the small gaiter located around the outer edge of the shoe: it allows tiny debris to enter and does not fit tightly enough around the ankle.
The recycled mesh upper is of very high quality. The large pull loop at the top of the heel is also excellent and makes the shoe easier to put on.
A robust, protective, and grippy hiking shoe designed for technical terrain. Build quality and overall design are excellent. Only the ineffective mini gaiter prevented it from receiving a TEST4OUTSIDE award.
We used this equipment over a long period of time
These are our thoughts after intensive use:
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