La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II Mid GTX

Lightweight hiking boot.

Watched an Alaskan adventure race on TV and noticed the winners wore these boots. I know that is a shallow reason to try but couldn't shake the impulse. I love Oboz hiking boots and shoes so my only justification in getting these La Sportivas are they look good and are light.

Am pleasantly surprised they do everything well and so far are holding up. I got them in a 46 wide (Europe) and a 47 wide  which according to online fitting guides is a 12.5 wide (USA) and a 13 wide (respectively). The inner sole is removable and I compared to an Oboz 12 wide inner sole and they are very close in width and length. I will include a picture eventually.  So...a 12.5 La Sportiva wide is equivalent to a 12 Oboz wide in length but...they are both size 46 Euro.  Also bought a pair of 47 wide La Sportiva to compare innersoles with a 46 wide Oboz. The width is the same, but the 47 La Sportiva (13 USA) insole is slightly longer. 

My suspicion is that La Sportiva runs  narrow. If you want the same width as your Oboz wide in a La Sportiva wide then go up one size in Euro measurement, so a 46 wide in Oboz width = 47 wide in La Sportiva width.  OTOH length is equivalent so a 46 wide Oboz length is = to a 46 wide La Sportiva length.

Practically speaking, my La Sportiva 46 wide fits well with a thin sock, my La Sportiva 47 wide fits well with a thicker hiking sock, similar to my 46 wide Oboz with a thicker sock.

Fit is good, as is support, water resistance, ease of use, and it is well made. Traction is superb. EZ to break in. To sum up, my Oboz Bridger in 46 wide is most similar to my La Sportiva Raptor in 47 wide. 

Background

55 years of hiking and backpacking. Fascinated by shoe fit. I have an EE forefoot and a C heel.