Lotto Raptor EVO Men's Shoe Review

Comfort - Score: 4.2

Our playtesters liked the fit of the Raptor EVOs, and they also felt connected to the court. Mark had no issues, stating, "It's as though Lotto made them for me personally. These shoes are very comfortable no matter which direction I'm moving on the tennis court."

Chris also enjoyed the cushioning and has been a fan of this model for some time. He said, "I was really looking forward to testing these shoes since the previous version remains one of my all time favorites. While I found the fit to be similar, the feel of these shoes was fairly different. The width, length and general fit were very Raptor like, but when it came to moving in the shoes, the feel was different. These shoes did not transition from heel to toe as well and had a clunkier feel. My main issue was the feel of the chassis. The shoes just never felt like they were moving as one with me. It also took longer for the shoes to mold to the shape of my feet, and I was constantly aware of them on my feet -- unlike the previous version, which felt great and never took a second thought. Here the uppers required a little more break-in as well. Once broken in I found them comfortable and supportive. I also liked the level of cushioning. I felt protected from the hard courts and never suffered any discomfort on hard landings. There was less cushioning in the forefoot. I felt more connected to the court in the forefoot than in the heel, yet I still had plenty of cushioning for comfort."

The comfortable, locked-in feel these shoes provided was a winner for Granville, who explained, "These Raptor EVOs are very comfortable shoes right out of the box. Good cushioning underneath and a low profile fit make these shoes a great choice for players looking for performance. The adequate collar lining seems to lock my feet into my shoes."

Sebastian typically enjoys softer, more plush cushioning in his shoes, and these Raptor EVOs could've done a bit more for him in that department. He said, "In terms of cushioning and comfort, I wished for a softer feel throughout the shoes. I found the lateral sides to be somewhat stiff, especially in the early stages of my playtest. I also felt the cushioning of this model was rather minimalistic. After long hours on the court my feet, and especially the lateral toe areas, were aching."

Ventilation - Score: 4.3

These shoes provided ample ventilation, which kept our playtesters feet cool for long periods of time. There was more than enough ventilation for Sebastian, who liked the combination of materials in the uppers. He said, "I felt the ventilation was superb in the Raptor EVO. The microfiber upper and nylon mesh offered exceptional breathability and ventilation. My feet stayed cool and comfortable even after long hours on the court."

Similarly, Mark had no trouble wearing his shoes for long periods of time without his feet running hot. He explained, "I have worn shoes that let me feel the wind on my feet, and it's always an indicator that the shoes are going to keep my feet cool, but also that their level of durability is not going to be exceptional. You can tell that the folks at Lotto took some time to configure the mesh in all the right spots to keep your feet cool, while not diminishing support."

Chris found these shoes to vent better than their predecessor. He said, "The level of ventilation was solid for me. My feet never ran too hot, so I felt there was enough hot air escaping to keep me comfortable. While I never felt cool air flowing through them like I have in the past with ultra ventilated shoes, my socks never got too sweaty in these shoes, and that helped prevent blisters, etc. These also had better venting than previous versions."

There was enough breathability for Granville as well. He explained, "Ventilation is adequate. They appear more ventilated than they are, as the area above the toe box doesn't breathe as much as an open mesh would. However, ventilation was in line with other comparably priced shoes."

Arch Support - Score: 4.0

Our playtesters had varying needs when it came to arch support, but the support in the Raptor EVOs seemed to find its niche with each of them. Chris felt secure and comfortable with the arches, saying, "These shoes are very stiff through the arch and midfoot area, so my arches felt very protected. I liked the fit in the arch area, too. My high arch/narrow foot combo felt very happy in these shoes."

Sebastian likes a low to medium arch fit, and these shoes delivered. He added, "I am usually looking for average to low arch support, and I felt the arch support to be rather low. I even noticed the arch support getting lower throughout the playtest. Players who enjoy a medium to low arch support should enjoy the arch support of the Lotto Raptor EVO."

Granville prefers to take his arch support into his own hands. He said, "As with just about every tennis shoe, there is little to no support for my arches. The insole does nothing for arch support, so BYOI -- bring your own insoles."

Mark also preferred to use his own insoles, saying, "I have to use a custom insert for all my tennis shoes, so I am not too concerned with the stock arch height of the shoes. I can say that the Raptor EVO does offer enough vertical clearance for me to use the insert and not feel like my feet are too high off the ground."

Foot Support/Stability - Score: 4.6

Foot support and stability were definitely standout features of the Raptor EVO. These shoes cinched up nicely for an incredibly supportive ride. Chris applauded the way these shoes locked his feet in place, saying, "While the uppers supported my feet, the stiff chassis in these shoes boosted stability, and the result was a very locked in and safe feeling ride. I had zero issues or complaints in this category, and I felt very secure and confident moving in these shoes. The shoes resisted lateral twisting very well and just felt rock solid. The uppers wrapped my feet very well, so I never felt like I was sliding around inside them. When it came to support and stability, these shoes performed just as well as previous versions, which is high praise indeed!"

Granville had 100 percent confidence in the stability of these shoes. He said, "Once I re-laced these shoes, cinching them to the bottom of the eyelets, I was locked in. I found ample forefoot roominess and a nice snug fit around my heel. All in all, very stable. I never wore ankle braces with these - even when I played in a tournament with them. I found a very stable and comfortable fit."

Mark gave these shoes a perfect score in this category, explaining, "I am fortunate to have the chance to wear many of the tennis shoes available here at Tennis Warehouse, and the Raptor EVOs rank among the best shoes I have ever tested/worn. The support of the Lotto Raptor EVOs is top notch for lateral movements and quick changes of direction."

Sebastian pushes his shoes pretty hard and requires a high level of support to keep his feet stable. He found the support he is looking for in these shoes, saying, "I really enjoyed the foot support and stability. I enjoyed that locked-in feel, which gave me the confidence and stability necessary to aggressively step into my shots. I consider myself an aggressive mover on the court and therefore in need of exceptional support and stability. In that regard, these Raptor EVOs definitely didn't disappoint."

Overall Sole Durability - Score: 4.7

Durability was also a strong point of these shoes. Our playtesters noticed that the outsoles held up remarkably well even through tough wear. Mark put in plenty of hours in these shoes and was impressed by the way they held up, saying, "The Raptor EVOs are very durable. After a solid 35 hours of hard court play I have about half the toe area left, and rest of the sole is intact. A high level junior player may wear through the soles in a little less time than I do, but for the older player the Raptor EVOs are exceptionally durable."

Similarly, Sebastian noted the good condition his Raptor EVOs were in after his playtest. He said, "I was surprised by the excellent sole durability of the Lotto Raptor EVOs. After 25 hours of aggressive movement the outsoles still look great and don't show too much wear. The only area that did show a little wear was the lateral side of my forefoot, a result of aggressive movements and sliding."

Chris was more than satisfied with how this Raptor model held up. He elaborated, "I have found a solid level of durability from every version of the Raptor, and these Raptor EVOs continue that trend. Even in my high wear areas these shoes held up well. I usually get some premature wear under the big toe of my right foot, but these shoes are holding up better than expected, and I was expecting a lot."

Granville was impressed by the makeup of the outsoles. He said, "The outsole rubber compound is excellent. It's not too sticky and not too hard, and it is tough. After many matches on hard and clay courts there is still ample tread across the entire outsole."

Toe Durability - Score: 4.4

The toe area came through with high scores from our toe draggers. Chris didn't notice any significant damage to the front end of his shoes. He said, "Again, I was impressed by the durability of these shoes. I have some scuffing on the uppers at the toes, but the shoes are holding up very well. Just as with the outsole durability, I scored the Raptor EVOs highly here."

Mark also noted how the Raptor EVOs held up well in the toe area, saying, "I almost always wear through the toe area of a tennis shoe, but not nearly as quickly as when I was a kid. As far as durability, the Lotto Raptor EVO is on par with the likes of the adidas Barricade, Asics Gel Resolution and the previous Lotto Raptor IV."

Traction - Score: 4.6

The Raptor EVO offered a perfect amount of traction and court feel for our playtesters. Chris said, "These shoes offered a really nice level of grip on the court. I was able to sprint around in them and trust that I'd find the grip I needed to come to a quick stop, make an aggressive lateral cut or sprint quickly to the next ball. When I did slide out of a shot I found a consistent response from the outsole, and it was easy to control my slide."

Sebastian, who likes shoes that give a little, found a great balance of grip and give, saying, "I thought that the traction of these shoes was ideal for my aggressive movements on the court. Since I enjoy sliding on hard courts, having the right amount of give and grip is essential for me, especially when I'm moving quickly from side to side or aggressively sliding into the ball. The traction of the Raptor EVOs gave me just enough give to maintain a good feel on the court."

There wasn't room for improvement in Granville's book. He said, "I just don't think there is another shoe with better traction than these Raptor EVOs. I felt like I could stop on a dime, pivot and bolt again without any thought. These shoes react as I react."

Mark tested these shoes out on various surfaces and said, "I played in the Raptor EVO on four different hard courts and one session on the clay. With the exception of playing on the clay court, I was supremely confident during all the quick start and stops required in tennis. If the tread compound were any harder I would have slipped on the court, and if the tread was much softer I would not have been able to give it such high marks for durability."

Weight - Score: 4.3

For all the comfort features these shoes offered, the weight was well managed and didn't prove to be a big issue for our playtesters. Sebastian requires some weight in his shoes to support his fast, dynamic style on court, and the Raptor EVO did just that. He explained, "Despite the 15.8 ounce weight, I enjoyed the Raptor EVOs' lightweight and fast feel. These shoes were light enough for me to chase down balls quickly and move efficiently from side to side. I never felt the weight to be an issue, and I was able to benefit from their speedy feel even after long hours on the court."

Granville likes his shoes to be under a certain weight limit. He offered, "This Raptor EVO is beefy. There's a lot of material needed to offer the stable fit, yet it remains under my 16 ounce per shoe threshold! Got to like it!"

There was a lot to like in these shoes for Mark, and the weight added another dimension. He explained, "I would consider the Raptor EVO a lighter sole warranty shoe since I have been comfortable in many warrantied shoes that weighed closer to the 18-ounce mark. This model feels very stable, and I generally get this feeling from shoes that are heavier than 16 ounces. The Raptor EVOs feel very fast, especially for shoes with a sole warranty. They're not fast and light like the Vapor Tour 9.5, but they will last longer and hold their original shape better than lighter performance tennis shoes."

Chris had mixed feelings on the weight, saying, "These shoes felt light enough on my feet; I just wish they transitioned better from heel to toe. Rather than a smooth and fast transition, the feel was almost like a step down from the heel to the forefoot. I was more aware than normal of their weight and feel because I was cognizant of the transition. It was definitely harder to just forget about these shoes and play. With that said, I was still moving quickly in them and gave them a score of 4."

Overall - Score: 4.5