RIGHT NOW UNTIL THE END OF MARCH 2018 20% OFF ANY LOWA PURCHASE.  COUPON CODE: SPOTTER20 GO TO USE GEAR

I don’t think you’ll be disappointed by the Lowa INNOX GTX LO TF Shoe. This is a multi-use shoe that will give you your money’s worth. Let’s get some background on the Lowa. First I want to mention that Spotter Up received the boots from our friends at US Elite Gear for the review. As part of our Material Disclosure I received this product as a courtesy from USE so I could test it and give my honest feedback. I am not bound by any written, verbal, or implied contract to give this product a good review. All opinions are my own and are based off my personal experience with the product. Also, the views and opinions expressed on this website are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Spotter Up Magazine, the administrative staff, and/or any/all contributors to this site.

That being said I am truly enjoying this shoe. They fit my feet perfectly right out of the box. They fit true to size. If you order a 10.5 then you will have ample room in the toe box beyond your toe. If you are between sizes I recommend that you go up to the next size. The Lowa INNOX GTX LO TF is an ultra-light shoe that can be thought of as a tactical shoe; it can be used for hiking, rucking, short runs and long walks on most terrain. I noticed how light they were when I took them out of the box. The shoes only come in the color black however the boot version (INNOX GTX Mid TF)  comes in black and coyote color. The boot prices right around $200.00

The upper is made of a synthetic material and includes waterproof GORE-TEX. The shoe upper is supple and flexes in line with your foot when it twists during running or walking movements. The eyelets are metal instead of fabric and are adequate for holding your laces in and won’t tear out. There is a rectangular eyelet stay near the top of the shoe vamp. This will keep you lace stable and in place. The shoes use standard boot laces that are strong and supple.

The outsole is burly and uses well-positioned multi-directional lugs to ensure it grips surfaces and gives you traction and balance. You will get good ground contact and sufficient traction. The outsole sheds sand and dirt easily. One unfortunate event was trekking in the December snow and coming back to my house to find that I had dog crap all over the bottom of the new shoes. A good water hose, rinsing and a brushing took away the problem. The lug spacing wasn’t so narrow as to make it an issue.

The midsole utilizes what they call their PU with Monowrap Construction for Stability. Polyurethanes allow the shoe to feel comfortable when walking. Polyurethanes are found in a wide range of footwear types yet it is not as durable a material as what is used in most military boots. If you want hard wear do consider that although most PU is highly abrasion-resistant it will break down over a quick period of time. Most boots and running shoes get 1-2 years out of them (usually 500-1000 miles or more). Shoes like the INNOX are great for hiking in the outdoors. If you are considering carrying very heavy loads like the military does for long periods of time than it might be best to go with footwear with a more durable outsole. The PU gets softer because it breaks down. These shoes are excellent for short quick missions and long hikes with a go bag or fast pack.

The shoes forgo rubber toe caps and side protection in order to reduce the weight and to increase the responsive of the shoe. If you are not using the boots in really rocky terrain or around hard debris than this is the model for you. I like the fact that the GORE-TEX provides a sufficient level of water-proofing for rainy hikes and stepping in a puddle but don’t expect it to stay dry all day if your trudging through water. it is good in a downpour. I’ve talked to users and I’ve read reviews by bloggers and I believe a few people get confused into believing the shoe is going to prevent your feet from getting wet when crossing rivers and streams. The combination of rubber, and mesh fabric is meant to give the boot flexibility, breath-ability, protection and comfort but it is not suitable enough for complete immersion in water.

The shoe utilizes a PU frame that works as a sort of exoskeleton gives the foot lateral support when it torques. This is good for you when shuttling up and down trails. If you prefer more support for your ankles then I recommend that you purchase the Lowa boot. That is another good choice! The Lows shoe tongue is thick and soft. The toebox is ample and the foot sits nicely in the heel cup and boot insert without the foot feeling choked. The boots worked well with my standard cotton socks. When I used my thick Thorlos it reduced the roominess in the toebox. The boot front has a generous mudguard/toe bumper that wraps nicely over the toe to shield your toes from impact if you strike an object. The saddle, or the middle of the boot upper, has a nicely lain expanse of material to protect the flanks of your foot. Pound for pound this is a good shoe. It looks good when paired with jeans, doesn’t look tactical, blends in nicely and is responsive. I don’t see a lot of people wearing Lowas and so I prefer to wear something less common than Salomon or Keens.

Overall: Very Good

Pros

Good ankle support. Go with the boots if you are doing hard trekking and want more support.

Protective toe cap

Excellent traction

The shoes are light weight-16.9 oz

Breathable upper and waterproof Gore-Tex

Well cushioned. Go up a size and add your own shoe-inserts

Excellent use of eyelets, eyestay and laces to give the shoe a good fit.

PU mid-sole exoskeleton

Cons

Price point is $200.00 however if it is on sale make sure you get it! Worth the price.

Functionality: 4/5

Weight: 5/5

Durability: 4/5 I don’t believe synthetics uppers will last as long as leather.

Cost: 4/5 A bit on the pricey side at $200.00. This is a good shoe to get when it’s on sale.

Comfort: 5/5

Overall Total: 23/25

Material Disclosure

The Innox GTX Lo from Lowa is a ultra-light tactical shoe that mixes dynamic movement with excellent support. The proprietary PU Monowrap® frame and ample cushioning gives enough stability to keep moving under heavy loads. The NXT outsoles provides maximum traction and ground contact, and the waterproof GORE-TEX® lining keeps feet dry.

• UPPER: Synthetic
• LINING: Waterproof GORE-TEX®
• MIDSOLE: PU with Monowrap Construction for Stability
• OUTSOLE: LOWA NXT
• STABILIZER: 3/4 length, medium, nylon
• WEIGHT: 920 grams

I received this product as a courtesy from U.S. Elite Gear via Spotter Up so I could test it and give my honest feedback. I am not bound by any written, verbal, or implied contract to give this product a good review. All opinions are my own and are based off my personal experience with the product.

*The views and opinions expressed on this website are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Spotter Up Magazine, the administrative staff, and/or any/all contributors to this site.