Gun Reviews >
Find a Dealer >
Find a Club >
Competitions >
videos >
Lowa Hunter GTX Extreme Boots
- By Chris Parkin
-
0
Comments
- Last updated: 20/01/2017
Comments
As winter approaches I’m getting kitted out with a new set of Lowa Hunter GTX Extreme boots for the oncoming wet cold months. This boot has been around a few years and boasts a good record of customer satisfaction, so I was keen to see how a pair stood up for me. I ordered my usual size 11 and given the seasonal weather requirements, was very pleased to find a snug supportive fit from the 2.5mm heavy waxed Nubuck leather build.
A Vibram Tsavo sole blends well with a tall rubber rand to protect booth heel and toes with a high wrap over to avoid water ingress and separation over longterm use. The boots are visually bulky after the long summer with required Primaloft insulation but after the first few hours of wear, they merely ‘softened’ a little in the width, this just made them feel better still. You gain a little in stature from the sole of this boot, with a 10½-inch overall height for nine-inches internally supporting your lower leg. My size 11s weighed in at 2396g on the scales yet felt fairly light footed in most situations.
The sole exterior is designed for the heavier mud of winter and I found it shed dirt well from its open pattern. It was a little slippery on very mossy rocks, but what isn’t? I have been supporting a broken foot as it has healed for several months now and was advised to wear stiffer soled shoes to avoid the toes bending too much. The stiff sole of the Hunter’s felt amazingly comfortable, spreading the load evenly and of course for uninjured users, erasing the worst of the bad conditions underfoot when on rocky ground. The heavier build with insulation and rubberised protection of the rand surrounding my foot also protected me exceptionally well, as I was particularly susceptible to further injury from which the boot spared me. Wales has the joy of plenty of water and mud to coat boots in any season to regularly defeat poorly built footwear, allowing moisture to soak through. The Lowa’s leather kept it 100% out and when crawling or kneeling to shoot, was equally solid and supportive. A softer cuff on the high back allows a little more movement and prevents the sore bruising a high, tight boot can apply to the rear of your calf, especially for those with fuller calves that get overly squeezed when the thinner ankle shank is satisfactorily firm.
Speed hooks retain the top five loops of lacing with a tight base that locks each wrap in place and allows you to apply tension specifically to your preferences from the ankle upward. The four permanent sets have been set to tension the foot width low down. Handcrafted in Germany looks well said, as not a single thread was out of place or fault where it could have been.
No gaps have appeared and other than light scratching from brambles and undergrowth, the Hunters remain unmarked.
Mud has washed off but I will definitely be keeping up to date with the leather, the very first day out in these boots was acceptable and with further wear
click on image to enlarge
click on image to enlarge
click on image to enlarge
Comments
As winter approaches I’m getting kitted out with a new set of Lowa Hunter GTX Extreme boots for the oncoming wet cold months. This boot has been around a few years and boasts a good record of customer satisfaction, so I was keen to see how a pair stood up for me. I ordered my usual size 11 and given the seasonal weather requirements, was very pleased to find a snug supportive fit from the 2.5mm heavy waxed Nubuck leather build.
A Vibram Tsavo sole blends well with a tall rubber rand to protect booth heel and toes with a high wrap over to avoid water ingress and separation over longterm use. The boots are visually bulky after the long summer with required Primaloft insulation but after the first few hours of wear, they merely ‘softened’ a little in the width, this just made them feel better still. You gain a little in stature from the sole of this boot, with a 10½-inch overall height for nine-inches internally supporting your lower leg. My size 11s weighed in at 2396g on the scales yet felt fairly light footed in most situations.
The sole exterior is designed for the heavier mud of winter and I found it shed dirt well from its open pattern. It was a little slippery on very mossy rocks, but what isn’t? I have been supporting a broken foot as it has healed for several months now and was advised to wear stiffer soled shoes to avoid the toes bending too much. The stiff sole of the Hunter’s felt amazingly comfortable, spreading the load evenly and of course for uninjured users, erasing the worst of the bad conditions underfoot when on rocky ground. The heavier build with insulation and rubberised protection of the rand surrounding my foot also protected me exceptionally well, as I was particularly susceptible to further injury from which the boot spared me. Wales has the joy of plenty of water and mud to coat boots in any season to regularly defeat poorly built footwear, allowing moisture to soak through. The Lowa’s leather kept it 100% out and when crawling or kneeling to shoot, was equally solid and supportive. A softer cuff on the high back allows a little more movement and prevents the sore bruising a high, tight boot can apply to the rear of your calf, especially for those with fuller calves that get overly squeezed when the thinner ankle shank is satisfactorily firm.
Speed hooks retain the top five loops of lacing with a tight base that locks each wrap in place and allows you to apply tension specifically to your preferences from the ankle upward. The four permanent sets have been set to tension the foot width low down. Handcrafted in Germany looks well said, as not a single thread was out of place or fault where it could have been.
No gaps have appeared and other than light scratching from brambles and undergrowth, the Hunters remain unmarked.
Mud has washed off but I will definitely be keeping up to date with the leather, the very first day out in these boots was acceptable and with further wear
click on image to enlarge
click on image to enlarge
click on image to enlarge
0 Comments