La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II Mid GTX £180

+ Structured and supportive, high ankle cuff, superb traction

- Sole can wear quickly, narrower fit may not suit everyone

La Sportiva’s Ultra Raptor shoe is a legend in the mountain running world, much loved for its near-optimal balance of cushioning, support, protection and traction. When it first appeared, it was also impressively light, but as other brands have caught up it has moved towards the back of the pack in weight terms. It’s still no clodhopper though, and even this mid-height boot version, which has a waterproof Gore-Tex liner, tips the scales at under a kilo per pair. On test we found the fit to be slightly narrow, so it’s worth noting that the Ultra Raptors also come in a wide fit, which might be worth trying even if you normally take a regular size. It’s pretty much the only thing we didn’t get on with though. In all other respects, this is a superb boot. It has a higher ankle cuff than most, with plenty of padding plus an elasticated rear panel that reduces pressure on the Achilles. The uppers are lightweight yet durable, with a chunky toecap and heel counter. The boot feels structured and supportive, inspiring confidence when moving fast on technical terrain, and the Frixion rubber outsole grips brilliantly. It’s the same stuff La Sportiva uses for its climbing shoes, although this is also its drawback, in that it is so soft and tacky that it tends to wear quickly.

Weight 500g Men’s sizes EU 36-47.5 (inc half sizes) Women’s sizes EU 36-43 (inc half sizes)