Product Review: Lowa Men’s Uplander GTX Boots
Whether you’re a mountainclimber, a soldier, an LE officer or security guard, boots are always interesting. That’s why we’ve tested the Lowa Men’s Uplander GTX boot, according to Lowa a “Task Force Boot” that was “designed to answer
the need for faster, lighter footwear that can handle the most punishing conditions.”
Well. That might be, and it all sounds very good, but when it comes to the “real world”, there’s a few other criteria that applies. Let’s look at the specs first, as we usually do.
- UPPER: Full grain leather/Cordura®.
- MIDSOLE: PU for cushioning and comfortable distance walking.
- LINING: Seamless, waterproof GORE-TEX® lining reduces hot spots. A LOWA patented design.
- OUTSOLE: Vibram® Vialta.
- STABILIZER: Full length, medium flex, nylon.
- FOOTBED: Climate control footbed with comfort perforations to improve breathability.
- C4 TONGUE: Anatomically contoured to cradle the foot in comfort.
- Men’s medium ‘D’ width.
The soles being leather and Cordura makes sure that the boot is easy to clean, and repels water nicely. Initially, the leather feels a little dry, but anyone who has ever owned a pair of boots knows that a good rubbing with a high quality leather treatment product such as Mink Oil is necessary to make sure the leather stays soft in tough weather, after being wet and after cleaning.
The Lowa boot’s lining is soft, and the Gore-Tex makes sure it keeps breathing, seeing to it that your feet don’t get damp if you’re sweating or if the weather is warm. These boots are fine to use in all kinds of weather, but if the temperature drops too low, make sure you have some thick wool socks on hand – the boots aren’t the warmest out there.
There is one “but” to these boots, and that is the shape of the “C4 Tongue”. Unless your foot is perfectly shaped, this may cause you some discomfort before the boot is worn in, and walked some distance in. This issue is however minor, because the comfort that the boot offers when wearing it for longer periods (tested up to 36 hours continuous wear) is top of the line.
The outer sole of the boot is soft enough to grip the surface nicely, and at the same time be comfortable when it comes to support. It is not so soft as to be susceptible to wear from hard surfaces, and that makes sure the boot will last a lot longer than for example Magnum’s boots.
Those looking for new duty boots this winter should absolutely check out the Lowa Uplander GTX model. Not for the coldest areas, but for everywhere else, they’re good as gold.
About Author
