How to Choose the Right LOWA Hiking Boot

Here at LOWA, we’ve been building the world’s best outdoor footwear for nearly 200 years! Over the years, our expert designers and craftsmen have created a wide range of boots, each with unique properties that make them the perfect choice for a particular walker.

If you’re looking for your first hiking boots or simply some better outdoor footwear, you’ll want to ensure that you purchase the perfect pair! We’ve put together this short guide to help you make the right choice with your next outdoor footwear.

What Do You Need from Your Walking Boot?

One of the first things to consider when looking for a new pair of boots is the task that they’ll be expected to accomplish. Here at LOWA, we design all our boots with a specific discipline in mind, be it alpine mountaineering, field sports or trekking.

If you’re looking for a boot for UK mountain trips, then something from our hiking range, designed for long-distance tours, will be perfect. On the other hand, if you need a boot that can take you on hill walks but also be useful for everyday local walks, our all-terrain models are the perfect fit. Understand what you want to do with your new outdoor boots and use this to guide your decision.

Materials & Features

Here, you may also consider what kinds of materials and features you would like your boot to include. All our footwear is designed to offer excellent protection while also being breathable, but if waterproofing is vital to you, look for our boots containing Gore-Tex linings.

Many of our boots use a range of leathers to offer unbeatable protection and durability. However, we do also have some synthetic models available.

Which Cut is Right for You?

Sometimes referred to as heights, the cut of a boot relates to how high it goes up the ankle or calf. Many of the boots in our range are available in multiple cuts, while others are designed to be at a specific height.

Mid-Cut

The mid-cut is the standard size for many boots, usually ending above the ankle. This boot style is, in the majority of cases, the best choice for walking boots. A mid-cut offers a great balance between protection and freedom of movement, making it suitable for a range of light and heavy treks.

Lo-Cut

A lo-cut is similar to that of the standard running shoe, leaving the ankle exposed. Many of our popular all-terrain hiking boots are also available in a lo-cut design.

Lo-cut boots offer more freedom of movement for the ankle, at the expense of foot support and protection. If you need a hiking boot, then this cut is not recommended. However, it can be a good option for everyday or light travel footwear.

Hi-Cut

The hi-cut refers to any boot that’s taller than the standard mid-cut. How much taller can vary depending on the purpose of the boot.

Hi-cut footwear is often a good choice for those engaging in field sports, where extra protection can be important, or for speciality winter footwear. For the general walker, a mid-cut boot offers enough support.

Find the Perfect Size

A crucial part of any good hiking boot is how well it fits. While you may know your size, it helps to understand how a walking boot should fit.

The first thing is to ensure that there’s wiggle room for your toes. When you walk, your feet can move forward a little (especially coming downhill), so having extra space when first putting them on is essential. Ideally, you want an index finger’s width (about 10mm) spare space inside the boot.

On the other hand, your heel should feel secure in place when trying on your hiking boots. If you notice that your heel lifts from the insole quite considerably while walking, this could be a sign that you have the wrong size boot.

Know Your Widths

At LOWA, we offer many of our models in half sizes to ensure you can find the perfect fit. For our most popular boots, we also provide a selection of widths, to further ensure you find the right one for you.

If you find that you have enough room for your toes, but the rest of your foot feels constrained, try one of our hiking boots for wide feet. If you feel like your outdoor footwear is loose despite choosing the right size, check out our narrow models.

We hope that this guide will help you find the ideal outdoor boot for your needs! If you have any more questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us here or on social media, where our experienced team will be happy to help. #LOWAUK