The La Sportiva Extremely Raptor II Mid Huge GTX is a high-top model of the Extremely Raptor II GTX path operating shoe. Whereas some would possibly classify it as a mountain climbing boot, it’s principally 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 mountain climbing boot just like the La Sportiva Nucleo Excessive II GTX.
I just like the Extremely Raptor II Mid Huge GTX to be used in mud season or late autumn the place the waterproof membrane and the excessive ankle cuff assist hold my socks dry in chilly and moist climate. The large sizing can also be a giant win if you happen to favor more room in your toes to splay out whenever you hike.
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Specs at a Look
- Gender: Males’s (ladies’s additionally obtainable)
- Drop: 12mm
- Stack: Heel: 27mm / Toe: 15mm
- Lug depth: 4.5 mm
- Cushion: average
- Closure: lace-up
- Higher: mesh
- Huge 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 Huge GTX has the identical core options because the low model of the Extremely Raptor II Huge GTX Path Working shoe together with a brilliant sticky rubber sole, an arched sole, a beefy entrance toe kick, nice heel and aspect safety and a water-proof/breathable membrane. Actually, the most important distinction between the mids and the lows is the added padded ankle cuff.
Huge Width and Spacious Toe Field
The Extremely Raptor II Mid Huge GTX is significantly wider than the common Extremely Raptor II Mid GTX and comes with a spacious toe field that’s large sufficient to splay out your toes. I switched from regular-sized Extremely Raptors IIs this yr 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 mountain climbing boots that have been too slim for a lot of a few years. A large toe field fully alleviates the situation, nonetheless.
The heel portion of those Extremely Raptor II Mid Huge GTXs continues to be a bit of large for me, nonetheless, however I’ve discovered that the match works nicely if I simply put on a considerably heavier sock. That’s high-quality with me as a result of I’ve gone by 20-some pairs of Extremely Raptors and Extremely Raptor IIs through the years and so they’re nonetheless my all-time favorites regardless that I’ve tried nearly each path runner ever made….or no less than 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 mountain climbing on rugged mountain trails. It has a rubber sole that’s delicate and really sticky on rock, together with moist rock, which you’d anticipate from an organization that lower its enamel on making climbing footwear. The only real has an arch that’s designed to reduce affect to the mid-foot and encourages touchdown in your forefoot leading to higher traction by the entrance lugs. It additionally incorporates a function 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 onerous surfaces, it offers much less traction in muddy situations as a result of modest lug top.
Arched Sole
The articulated arch within the Extremely Raptor II Mid Huge GTX additionally makes them suitable with extra conventional mountain climbing and mountaineering gaiters which is invaluable throughout mud season or in late autumn whenever you want much less foot insulation however preserving your socks dry continues to be paramount. That’s after I like utilizing these footwear, myself.
The arch permits the usage of the heavy-duty gaiter straps discovered on excessive waterproof gaiters, one thing you simply can’t do with flat-bottomed mids or mountain climbing boots. Having an arch would possibly sound like an apparent function to incorporate on a mountain climbing mid for chilly and moist climate, however store round: arches are an more and more uncommon function on path runners and mids.
Beefy Toe Kick
The Extremely Raptor II Mid Huge GTX is nicely protected up entrance with a really beefy toe kick. It’s nice for mountain climbing throughout scree, gravel, and rocky trails. I don’t have 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, Facet, and Midsole Safety
These mids even have a TPU heel counter and TPU strips alongside the edges that anchor into the midsole for added safety and stability. As well as, an injection-molded EVA midsole with a TPU shank offers anti-torsional stability within the arch sole.
Ankle Cuff
The ankle cuff is roofed with a easy delicate shell material and frivolously padded. with a delicate consolation collar in again to eradicate painful rubbing alongside the again of the leg simply above the ankle. There are 7 inches of clearance from the only real to the highest of the ankle cuff, so you’ll be able to 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 Huge GTX which makes them a pleasure to make use of in moist climate.
Drop
With a drop of 12mm, the Extremely Raptor II Mid Huge GTX is nowhere close to a zero-drop shoe and so they’re decidedly not trendy in that respect. On the flip aspect, it signifies that they’re very straightforward to transition to if you happen to’ve been carrying mountain climbing boots or mids and wish to attempt them, particularly as a result of no break-in time is required. You’ll be able to actually put them on and begin mountain climbing with out having to be taught or prepare your toes and calves within the biomechanics of mountain climbing in zero-drop footwear. It additionally makes switching again to boots a lot simpler when winter rolls round and that you must put on insulated footwear.
Sizing
The Extremely Raptor II Mid Huge GTX is offered in EU sizes, each full and half sizes which I discover is perfect for dialing in a exact match. I believe the footwear are true to measurement, however you would possibly want to purchase just a few pairs in adjoining sizes to dial in a exact match if you happen to 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 assist. 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 assist to stop plantar fasciitis.
Advice
The La Sportiva’s Extremely Raptor II Mid Huge GTX excels in mountain terrain as a result of its soles have sticky rubber which adheres nicely to rock, together with moist rock, with a stage of stability and safety that has no equal. Their large toe field and sizing make them comfy to put on by individuals with bigger toes or individuals who need a bigger toe field and are keen to shim out the additional mid-foot area with thicker socks. I additionally suppose they’re a superb choice for spring mud-season and late autumn mountain climbing as a result of they’ve arches which might be suitable with waterproof gaiter straps. In case you’re able to ditch your winter boots for spring mountain climbing season, however nonetheless need waterproof safety, I’d suggest making an attempt these La Sportiva’s Extremely Raptor II Huge GTX Mids.
Disclosure: The creator owns this product
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Final up to date: 2023-05-02 23:19:24
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