Peter Macfarlane gear tested the Lowa Innox Pro for the September 2022 issue of The Great Outdoors. Here’s his verdict.
The Lowa Innox Pro GTX Mid has a low-volume, snug fit that gives it something of a trail running shoe feel, despite having quite a high ankle, this boot has previously been featured in our guide to the best hiking boots. It is light and comfortable, and the mesh upper has multiple areas of reinforcement around the ankle, heel and toe.
- Price: £175
- Weight: 950g (pair, size 9)
- Materials: Synthetic mesh upper, overlay and reinforcement, injected PU midsole
Features: Vegan construction, Gore-Tex waterproof lining | Sizes: 7-12.5 including half sizes 13-15 | Women’s version: Yes
The tongue is well-padded and is gusseted almost to the top of the ankle cuff, which along with the Gore-Tex lining make the Innox very good for bog hopping on wet days. During my frequent off-trail moorland hikes I found my feet stayed driest in this out of all the boots on test.
The sole has a good amount of flex at the forefoot, and remains fairly flexible towards the heel too. The Innox has quite a shallow midsole but it’s dense enough despite the flexibility to offer decent underfoot protection from rocks or rougher terrain.
The outsole has an aggressive lug pattern that is good on dry trails and open terrain, but in wet and muddy conditions the sole clogs quite readily and loses most of its traction. I also found the outsole quite slippy on most wet surfaces, which undermined my confidence in the boot; and latterly in the test period I only wore the Innox on dry days.
The lacing goes further down towards the toes than any other boot in the review except the Mammut, which lets you tune the fit. The laces are through webbing loops and metal hooks, and these remain smooth-running after months of wear. This is a very light and comfortable boot; it would be excellent with a better outsole.
