The LOWA Trekker was recently put to a grueling, 100-day, hard duty test and it passed with flying colors. The Trekker was chosen as “the best of the stuff we used.” An expedition-worthy boot that will perform like a workhorse all year long, in any climate, and keep kicking for years to come.

Following is the complete review from Backpacker Magazine:

MOUNTAIN TOUGH BOOTS

Sometimes it takes only one critical moment to know that something works. One wintery day last year, I faced a daunting obstacle on an icy trail in Pennsylvania’s Rickets Glen State Park – a short, sheer cliff with no easy end-around. If I wanted to get back to camp before dark, the only option was to go straight up. So up I went, thanks to the LOWA Trekkers I was wearing. Their superb traction and just-enough forefoot flexibility gave me enough purchase and stability to clamber up the 8-foot wall.

Better over time…

After several more months of use, I remained impressed with the Trekkers’ on-trail performance. Due to shallow, toothlike lugs, traction was just as good on slippery, leaf-laden paths in New York’s Catskill Mountains and on snowy Wisconsin trails as it was on slick rocks. The Trekker leans toward the heavy end of the midweight spectrum and proved plenty substantial for off-trail hiking as well.

The stiff, all-leather uppers are cut high, extending 3 inches above my ankles; they provided ample support for my weak joints, even with loads of 45 pounds.

Out of the box, the 2.4-millimeter nubuk requires modest break-in time. I wore them around the house and work for a few days before their first trail mile, and on several subsequent backpacking trips carrying moderate loads, I had no problems with blisters. Perforations in the leather linking moved blister-causing moisture out of the boots and made them more comfortable in warm conditions.

The medium-volume last fit my skinny heels and long, narrow toes perfectly. A lace hook on the gusseted tongue keeps it centered and secure, and the boots kept trail debris and water at bay (treat the leather for waterproofness.)

The Trekker’s overall construction is impressive: tough leather, solid stitching that showed no wear over the course of testing (despite an exposed toe seam,) and a rubber rand that wraps the whole boot for added protection and durability. Sturdy on the outside and gentle on the inside, these boots are ideal if you’re looking for an all-purpose shoe for most year-round hiking conditions.

See the Trekker in the LOWA Boot Catalog.

The Lady Sport is an identical model of the Trekker - built on a women’s last.

See the Lady Sport in the LOWA Boot Clearance Room.