Alex Roddie awards the Lowa Ranger GTX boots his glowing recommendation. Find out why.
The Lowa Ranger GTX is not particularly surprising, but it does the basics really well and is a fantastic choice if you’re looking for a classic and supportive leather mountain boot.
Alex Roddie highly recommends
Overall, there are few faults with the Lowa Ranger GTX. I think they’re a fine choice for typical British mountain walking outside the winter months.- comfort and support
- grippy sole
- lacing adjustment
- large sizes available
- a bit warm for summer
- lots of stitching on uppers
- high ankles can feel restrictive
| Quick specs |
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| Price: $350 | £265 (available from Tiso) Weight: 1794g/pair, UK 11 Materials: Nubuck oiled uppers, Vibram Apptrail Divo outsole, tailored rubber rand Features: independently adjustable lacing zones, anatomically shaped tongue, dual layer cushioning, resoleable in UK Waterproof: Gore-Tex Sizes: UK 7–15 (EU 40–48) Women’s version: the Lady GTX www.lowa.co.uk |
It’s a three-season leather boot with oiled Nubuck uppers, an aggressive Vibram sole, rubber rand at toe and heel cup, a moderate level of stiffness, and a high ankle cuff. I found it instantly comfortable (partly thanks to the really adjustable lacing system), and the boot feels reassuring on a wide range of mountain terrain. Although these boots are not lightweight, the out-of-box comfort means they feel less heavy in use than you might expect.
Fit is personal, but Lowa’s “X-Lacing” system, featuring lacing hardware on the tongue, really does work to help dial in a precise fit. They perform well on paths as well as off-path rough ground and thanks to a good sole edge, work well on easy scrambles. Performance on wet rock is great.
I found them the most comfortable and supportive of all the boots in this test – although the high uppers can feel a bit restrictive. They required no breaking in and I never experienced rubbing or blisters, even on very long hikes with a heavy pack. They also keep water out and are very breathable.
Like all lined leather boots, they can feel warm in hot conditions, though (they’re the warmest boots I tested). They should prove durable, but there’s a lot of stitching on the uppers – a possible weak point long term. Overall, there are few faults with the Lowa Ranger GTX. I think they’re a fine choice for typical British mountain walking outside the winter months.
Testing conditions
Alex tested his boots on a variety of autumn mountain walks as well as lower-level winter walks, including multi-day hikes over challenging terrain in the Lake District and Scottish Highlands. This review was first published in the May 2025 issue of The Great Outdoors.
