I received a pair of Lowa Uplander GTX boots a few weeks back and thought I’d give a few initial impressions. Keep in mind that I haven’t really had the opportunity to put them through any truly serious paces, nor did I do anything to break them in. I just pulled them on and started wearing them.
Comfort: they’re as comfortable as any new pair of boots could be expected, if somewhat more rigid around the top than I’m used to – then again, I’ve been wearing Oakley Assault Boots for a while, so I’m used to something more more like a sneaker/tennis shoe than a boot. Inside they are well padded and don’t pinch or bind.
Support: Excellent. Great ankle support, solid construction without seeming clunky, though at just under 3lb for the pair they’re at the limit of the weight as I’d want to wear.
Fit: Spot on. I’ve gone through several different brands in the past and it seems like every one fits a little differently. I’ve literally worn everything from a 9.5W to an 11R depending on the manufacturer. I received these in 10.5 (which is what my feet are supposed to be) and they fit perfectly.
Durability: Still too early to tell. I wore them while helping a friend dig a ditch (which sucked: one of Durin’s Folk I’m not), working my uncle’s pecan orchard and on the range. Mud and rot rinse right off, the tread still looks brand new and I haven’t marred the exterior yet.
Water Resistance: So far so good. I’ve waded in them, stood in a rain-filled ditch (not quite to the top) and worn them while working in a water-soaked field. No wet socks yet.
Sole/tread/tracking: The sole is Vibram with a midsole LOWA developed along with Vibram. The tread pattern is different enough from typical military patterns that spoor won’t scream “Tactical guy!”, nor is the tread pattern as sharp and distinct as some other manufacturers (which I prefer) but it is distinctive enough that a good tracker is going to be able to distinguish it once he’s familiar with it and knows what to watch for. The build of the heel is relatively innocuous too, so heel strikes won’t be as overt as some boots.
One thing I didn’t realize going in is that these LOWA boots are hand made in Slovakia; this definitely shows in the quality of the boot.
That’s it for now; sorry there’s not more to it, but I just haven’t had the opportunity to do more. If I’m unable to evaluate them any more stringently I’ve got another evaluator on the hook. He’s going to wear them on some trails in the Adirondacks on leave and during some field work at Lejeune. I’ll keep you up to speed.
For my current evaluation: definitely worth the price (they run around $299), especially given LOWA’s reputation for boots that last a long time (my budget doesn’t allow for a new pair of boots every year, and certainly not a couple of times a year).
http://www.lowaboots.com/catalog/catalog.cfm?Category=8&Type=M
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Love my Lowa boots. 2 seasons hiking in Shenandoah and they are still going strong
Im just curious, do you pay for the samples you “test” ? This is not a dig on LOWA by any means. I’m just wondering how you operate in regards to your procedures for test, evaluation and reviews.
It depends on the the item in question. Some stuff I purchase, some stuff is sent to me. The LOWA boots were shipped to me specifically to test, I did not pay for them. That’s one of the reasons I often farm out the stuff sent to me for review to other people, or send it on after I take a look at it – obviously any positive result can be skewed by the perception that you’re doing them a solid in return for free kit. That’s one of the reasons I pushed the new HSP Thorntail to another reviewer, and why I’m sending these boots on to another reviewer after I finish my test drive.
(Conversely, you also have to be aware of someone thinking you unfairly give something a bad review if they didn’t give you something in the past.) I try to pay for what I can, but some things are just impractical (for instance; I couldn’t buy 3 or 4 different pair of expensive boots to review, it’d be cost prohibitive). Much of what I write here is meant to be an informational “Hey this is out there” vs. “Hey I tried these out”.
Another thing I try to do when reviewing something like these is keep in mind the possible end user. In this case, if there is some E-1 or E-2 out there thinking about buying a pair of this style boot, with what is no doubt a very limited amount of expendable income, I want to be absolutely certain my review either covers what they might use it for. I can’t expose boots long ruck marches and lots of time in the field or do flash resistance evaluations – what am I gonna do, throw it on a grill and set fire to it? That’s why I try to make it clear the limitations with which I conducted my review, so my results are viewed through that filter. The bottom line is I can’t replicate the conditions that a true, completely thorough scientific T&E would involve, and in my opinion a good review would involve multiple perspectives anyway.
Sorry, didn’t mean to go off on a tangent there. Some things I pay for, some I don’t, some I pay for, a very few things I purchase and Military.com reimburses me. I try to be clear about the source if I’m reviewing it, but if I wasn’t clear enough here I apologize (that’s why I put “I received” instead of “I purchased”, but I’ll be more careful next time).
I would say this to anyone reading an on-line review of any piece of kit they might be wearing into harm’s way. Understand the limitations of the reviewer, and if they don’t make those limitations clear, ASK. It’s all well and good to say you like a particular weapon if you’ve only shot it in the daytime on a square range without any sand or grit, just as it’s easy to make a big deal about how comfortable a pair of boots are if you haven’t worn them for 20 miles at a stretch with ruck on, in the rain.
Clear as mud I hope?!
Lowa makes nice boots, although I’ve had less luck with their durability. Found more luck with Meindl and Hanwag. (The former is available through Cabela’s, as their high end hunting boots are made by Meindl. The latter is available through Lathrop and Sons, but is a LOT less expensive if you purchase them while you are abroad.) You might want to consider getting a hold of Hanwag Alaska GTXs. They run $300 in Europe ($600 in the US, due to the importer), but they are fantastic boots with barely any break-in time, with a high quality Vibram lug sole, and is completely handmade. The boot is built around the footbed, not the other way around. Durability is excellent.