La Sportiva Raptor - Unisex

The Raptor is an excellent choice for neutral runners looking for a very sturdy, stable shoe in a lightweight package. The Raptor starts with the same basic platform as the über-popular Wildcat: both shoes feature the same medium/wide Tempo last, the same basic midsole specs, and the same TPU heel stabilizer clip. The Raptor differs from the Wildcat in three significant ways: 1. Instead of a very airy (and somewhat delicate) mesh upper, the Raptor's upper is made of a more rugged mesh, plus synthetic leather overlays. This adds protection and durability. The overlays also provide an anchor for the TPU lace cage. 2. The Raptor does not have the 2.4mm EVA footbed cushion of the Wildcat, which is one of the main sources of the plush ride of the latter shoe. The result is a significantly firmer, and slightly lower, ride. 3. The outsole of the Raptor is made of Frixon XF, whereas the Wildcat -- and all the rest of Sportiva's mountain running lineup -- features Frixion AT. What's the difference? The XF compound is even stickier. (It is the same compound Sportiva uses in their approach shoes, and just one category short of what they use on their all-out climbing shoes.) Bottom line, the Raptor is a surprising shoe. In most respects, it behaves much like shoes in the "tank" category: it has a very firm, stable ride, and offers enough protection for even the nastiest trail conditions. The medium-wide fit provides plenty of room for orthotics or swelling feet; the TPU lace cage balances this out by enabling a very snug fit around the mid-foot. There's just one thing: unlike most tanks, the Raptor is a very, very light shoe, weighing, as it does, nearly the same as the Wildcat (roughly the same as the racy Fireblade and only slightly more than the Crosslite). The Raptor also happens to be the stickiest trail running shoe I've ever laced up -- an absolute joy on slickrock or other trail surfaces where grip is at a premium. Other Resources Review (Text) Size Conversion Chart Specifications Claimed Weight: 12.28 oz/ 348 g Last: Tempo 2 Fit: Medium/Wide Upper: AirMesh/ Synthetic Leather/ TPU Lacing Harness/ TPU Transkinetic Heel Stabilizer Lining: Mesh (back half and tongue only) Midsole: MeMlex/ Nylon Molded Flex Transfer shank Midsole Height (MM): Heel: 28 mm Toe: 16mm Delta: 12mm Sole: FriXion®XF/ Impact Brake System™ X-Axis™