Lowa Khumbu GTX® Mid TC SKU: #7605646

Justin R

from The Gump, Alabama

Initial Review: so far, so good. Sizing: I have a US size 11C foot - low volume, normal arches, and narrow heels. My toes are definitely wider than my heels, and finding a boot that fits has been a challenge. These boots seem true to size, maybe even just a hair longer than expected. Width is "as advertised," which means that my heels are just a bit loose but not too bad. One feature that I like is the fact that the toes aren't too high volume but they are adequately wide. Comfort: I am impressed by the comfort of these "trekking" boots. Made with a sturdy PU midsole, I expected them to feel hard and clunky. But they feel amazingly flexible and quite comfortable. Style/Features: This is my biggest area for concern. I haven't had these boots in the woods yet, but I am an avid backpacker and I know what to look for. Unfortunately, this boot has a few questionable features, especially for its price. - Plastic shoe lace eyelets...Maybe they're better than metal eyelets. But I'm skeptical. - Nylon material used as the lower shoelace eyelets. The material is already bunched up just from normal lacing. I don't know how durable it's going to be. Will it snag on sticks/rocks? - The crazy tongue lacing stud. I'm not really sure if I like it or not. It's tough to use - you have to pull the laces tight, then cross them (without letting them go, or else the boots will loosen up again), then continue lacing. I'm not sure if it improves fit or if this is just a marketing gimmick. Waterproofness: so far, no leaks. However, Lowa could have applied a more durable DWR finish to the leather. The leather soaks through after about 5-10 minutes of being immersed. For comparison, my Asolos take several days of backpacking for the leather to completely wet through. Having said that, the Gore-Tex liner works as advertised. One additional "love/hate" feature is the tongue fairing/flange/gusset/whatever you want to call it. It's basically the piece of material that connects the padded tongue to the upper sides of the boot, and prevents the water from seeping around the tongue and into the boot. The part I like: It's made out of a thin and flexible layer of nylon and Gore-Tex, and it folds neatly into the shoe without creating pressure points. The part I hate: Lowa is onto something, but why couldn't they continue that material all the way to the top of the boot? The tongue seal/flange stops about 1 or 1.5 inches from the top of the boot. Unfortunately, when the material folds down, it creates a fold that is nearly horizontal to the ground. I can imagine water running up the top of my boot, up that fold, and down into the top of my boot. I don't know if I'd trust these boots in water that goes over the first plastic eyelet (about 3 inches deep). Overall - this boot has the potential to be a great boot. But it also has the potential to disappoint. I wish there were more reviews out there. I'm very impressed at the comfort, so I might keep this pair and do some more long term testing.

Brands I'd also recommend: Asolo, Scarpa