Published on February 22nd, 2013 | by Greg
0LOWA Gorgon GTX: Tough, Rough Hiking Shoes
You might recognize LOWA’s name from one of our earlier reviews- they make some well-regarded boots for both men and women, mostly handcrafted in Europe. We’ve been using their Renegade GTX throughout the winter and they’ve held up well. But boots aren’t the best footwear for everyday use, especially when you’re trying to move pretty fast, running through Central Park or rough trails. You want something a little more flexible, with a bit less weight and protection.
You want a hiking sneaker. It sounds a bit contradictory, but that’s exactly how we’d describe the LOWA Gorgon GTX men’s shoes. Available in two fairly similar color schemes, brown and grey (pictured) or black and anthracite, and have been wearing it around when the snow wasn’t deep enough to require a larger boot.
Weighing a fairly svelte 1.6 pounds in a size 9, you wouldn’t be likely to confuse these for a tennis shoe. Instead, you get a well-balanced and extremely comfortable set, with plenty of cushioning and good performance even in soggy conditions. Waterproofing is good enough to handle rain and puddles, and we felt warm in these despite the chilly wintry New York City air. Fit was true to size, and there wasn’t much break-in necessary. Below are some construction details:
- UPPER: Lightweight microfiber and Cordura®.
- LINING: waterproof and breathable GORE-TEX®.
- MIDSOLE: Sleek, stabilizing Monowrap® construction with STG® Bi-density PU.* Facilitates the natural roll-through motion of the foot.
- OUTSOLE: LOWA ‘Speedhiking’ provides for the utmost in comfort.
We had a couple of small qualms- namely, the lack of reflective parts, which would especially help for anyone out camping at night. Trail runners and fitness buffs who like to go off the beating track will appreciate the extremely good stability and decent traction, but we found it a bit too slippery on icy surfaces though. Also, ventilation was decent, but it’s always a trade-off between weather resistance and climate control.
Bottom line: if you need a great all-around hiking shoe, and you’re not planning for the sort of terrain where a boot’s support is necessary, then you’ll love LOWA. A wide range of options are available for both men and women, but this season’s gear is definitely a little nicer looking than some of the previous models. Available now, online and in stores, for $200 or so.
Tags: boots, footwear, hiking, outdoors, review, shoes
About the Author
Greg Greg dreamed up the idea for the Truly Network while living in Hawaii, which began with a single site called TrulyObscure. In 2010, when advertisers and readers were requesting coverage beyond the scope of that site, TrulyNet was launched, reaching a broader audience over a variety of niche sites. Formerly the head technology correspondent for the Des Moines Register at age 16, he has since lived and worked in five states and two countries, helping a list of organizations and companies that includes the United States Census Bureau, TripAdvisor, Events Photo Group, Berlitz, and Computer Geeks. He also served as the Content Strategy Manager for HearPlanet, a multi-platform app that has reached over a million users and has been featured in the New York Times, Hemispheres Magazine, National Geographic Adventure, Fox Business News, PC Magazine, and even Apple’s own iPhone ads. Greg has written as a restaurant critic and feature journalist for a number of national and international publications, including City Weekend Magazine, Red Egg Magazine, the Newton Daily News, Capital Change Magazine, and an arm of China Daily, Beijing Weekend. In addition, he has served as a consulting editor for the Foreign Language Press of Beijing, as well as a writer and editor for the George Washington University Hatchet, the school newspaper of his alma mater. Originally from Iowa, Greg is currently living in the West Village of Manhattan.
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