![]() ![]() ![]() The upper is made from a flexible GORE-Flex nylon mesh that’s designed to enhance the breathability of the underlying GORE-TEX Extended Comfort. The lace-up mids cover the ankle with a collar for comfort. The boots obviously differ in protection from the mountain running shoes. ![]() The Raptor’s chassis and sole have the same build as its predecessor. To keep that functionality beyond dry conditions, the Raptor II Mid boots are built with rain, mud, and routine trail hazards in mind. In fact, Andrew Skurka praised them for his fast mountain exploits 5 years ago. Shop Raptor II Mid GTX Hiking Bootsįor years, La Sportiva’s Ultra Raptor trail shoes served as a favorite for section-hikers and backpackers during the summer months. However, when the weather and trail conditions vary, the Ultra Raptor II Mid boots are a midheight, all-weather alternative to hiking in the original Raptors. When covering distance is a major part of the sightseeing goal, such as a thru-hike, trail stompers reach for shoes that can do both. In dry climates with groomed trails, running shoes are a common choice. That DNA carries over into the Raptor II boots, which add a higher mesh upper and waterproofing, among other features.Īdditionally, the Raptor II Midboots come in wide sizes to fit a broader range of hikers. The Ultra Raptor II Mid GTX boots are a hybrid hiker follow-up to the brand’s popular running shoe. The Ultra Raptor gained popularity for its stability and function as a lightweight hiker. Just dig around a bit.La Sportiva builds on the hiking reputation of its Ultra Raptor mountain run shoes by adding the protection of a hiking boot. You're sure to find some sweet hiking boots somewhere on Hiking Feet. To learn more about the brand, you can also read my La Sportiva brand review or check out Hiking Feet's brand recommendations for recreational hikers and backpackers. Feel free to scroll down my home page for curated lists of recommended hiking boots and hiking shoes, particularly my picks for best lightweight hiking boots, best women's hiking boots, best hiking boots, and best backpacking boots. If you're not feeling the La Sportiva Nucleo High II GTX, no problem. If this site hooked you up, please consider hooking me up, too. But they keep this site afloat and let me continue to create free and independent content. Hiking Feet may receive a small commission from the retailer (at no cost to you). Has my La Sportiva Nucleo High II GTX review convinced you to pick up a pair of this standout lightweight hiking boot? If so, please consider purchasing them through the affiliate links above. This also seems to be a weak spot with my waterproof membrane, which doesn't work as well as expected after moderate use. However, rocks beat up that area, causing the protective TPU overlay to peel away. These are apparently there to increase breathability. My other wear area is the ventilated mesh (Nano Cell) that runs between the boot's uppers and outsoles. The other boot's lace snapped just a few steps into the famed Franconia Ridge day hike in New Hampshire's White Mountains-which would have ruined my trip had I not packed extra laces. One lace frayed on a steep uphill slog just 20 miles into my first backpacking trip in them. Sportiva's thin shoe laces didn't stand up to hard hikes. The Vibram outsoles showed normal wear until the lugs wore out underneath the balls of my feet.The boots did present some durability issues along the way. The Nubuck leather uppers and rubber rand proved to be very durable. I retired my pair of the La Sportiva Nucleo High II GTX around 500 miles, which is pretty typical for a hiking boot. I've had no issues hiking and backpacking on some of Pennsylvania's harder trails, including the Black Forest loop, which many consider PA's toughest backpacking trip. Still, the torsional rigidity is pretty good, which may prevent some rolled ankles. Overall, my messed up feet and ankles feel pretty confident in the Nucleo High II GTX. Likewise, its soles are moderately sturdy with some flex in the forefoot-not as stiff as traditional backpacking boots. Just keep in mind that the soft, nubuck leather won't provide bomb-proof ankle support because it's not particularly stiff. That's a plus in the ankle support department. The Nucleo's high-cut ankle collars are taller than most mid-cut hiking boots, including the Salomon X Ultra Mid, which is one of the best lightweight hiking boots. The Nucleo II stands out for offering hikers and backpackers moderate support at a relatively light weight. Cutting ounces generally means cutting support. It's hard to make a hiking boot that's both supportive and lightweight. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |