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$Lowa Vajolet GTX Mountaineering Boots - Men\'s$

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Lowa Vajolet GTX Mountaineering Boots - Men's

$365.00

(5)

Item # 796218

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With excellent all-around mountain performance, the Lowa Vajolet GTX mountaineering boots are built to ascend, thanks to a lightweight, flexible and stable feel and burly, waterproof construction.

Tough enough for technical ascents, the synthetic leather and Cordura® nylon uppers are lightweight and flexible; rubber randing helps protects uppers
Seam-sealed Gore-Tex® liners with wicking polyester linings deliver complete protection and allow moisture vapor to escape
Boot design faciliates ankle flex and natural movement in the uppers and maintains a stable platform underfoot; tongue stud improves lacing pressure distribution
Durable, shock-absorbent polyurethane midsoles feature a thin upper layer of EVA to supply all-day cushioning and comfort
Rigid, full-length nylon shanks control flex and add the stability needed during use on rough terrain and with crampons
Vibram® Mulaz outsoles offer excellent grip, stability and durability for alpine adventures

Imported.

Item 796218

$73.00

with coupon code ANNV13
May 17-27 Details

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Lowa Vajolet GTX Mountaineering Boots - Men's Customer Reviews

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews

Lowa Vajolet GTX Mountaineering Boots - Men's

4.2

(based on 5 reviews)

80%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Pros

Comfortable (5)
Easy to put on & adjust (3)

Cons

Best Uses

Alpine routes (5)
Mixed routes (4)

- Sizing:
- Feels full size too small
  
  Feels half size too small
  
  Feels true to size
  
  100%
  (5 reviews)
  Feels half size too big
  
  Feels full size too big
- Width:
- Feels too narrow
  
  Feels true to width
  
  100%
  (5 reviews)
  Feels too wide

- Reviewer Profile:
- Avid adventurer (4)
- Was this a gift?:
- No (5)

Reviewed by 5 customers

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Displaying reviews 1-5

May

2012

(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

Very Good boot

By gray matter

from Tacoma, WA

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Comfortable
Easy To Put On & Adjust
Great Grip
Versatile

Cons

Best Uses

Alpine Routes
Mixed Routes

Comments about Lowa Vajolet GTX Mountaineering Boots - Men's:

I've got a goal to summit the top 100 mountains in Washington state in my lifetime. After knocking off many of the most direct, non-technical routes, it was time to upgrade some gear to have the ability to do more high alpine routes. I chose these Lowas after trying on virtually every pair of mountaineering boots that REI carried.

My primary criteria in selecting a new pair of boots were comfort, durability, flexibility (in the sense that I want them to perform in several conditions), and keeping my toes dry. These boots have acquitted themselves well to date. They are stiff enough to hold crampons well and kick steps with ease. They have a surprising amount of A-P flex in the ankle, which I found to be comfortable, while providing a good degree of torsional stability.

I broke the boots in with a few training hikes, and recently took them out on one of Washington's volcanic peaks. No hot spots, no moisture issues whatsoever while spending 12+ hours on a snow route.

I feel like these boots can best be described as a hybrid between your full leather backpacking boots and a highly technical mountaineering boot. This means that the approach is bearable and the climbing is confident. Hopefully, I will put a thousand miles or so on this pair.

Comment on this review

Jun

2011

(8 of 8 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

Decent mountaineering boot

By xylemnut

from Mid-East, USA

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Comfortable
Warm comfy

Cons

Best Uses

Alpine Routes
Mixed Routes

Comments about Lowa Vajolet GTX Mountaineering Boots - Men's:

I'm a moldy old lifelong backpacker and mountaineer for numerous years, too many to say to here. I've owned and wore out many pairs of boots, hiked countless miles, and forget how many nights spent out and about. I bought these boots in 2010 in Seattle after trying on every mountaineering boot in the store several times. I wound up picking these for a three week trip in Olympic National Park because they fit well, look pretty spiffy, and thought they might be ideal for the trip. After buying them I took the boots out for a few 15 mile day hikes before the trip to break in both the boots and my feet. The break in wasn't really all that necessary because the boots fit very well and did not produce any hot spots or blisters but it's better to know on a day hike than part way into a long journey.

I carried a 40 pound pack along the coast for about 70 miles round trip on various terrain from fine sand to huge boulders and muddy trails in pouring rain. Overall, traction is pretty good but I've experienced better. These boots are a little above average on rocks and in mud but I thought they were not so good on wet logs. Wet boardwalks and logs without bark were not fun to walk on with these boots; lots of slipping and uncertainty, especially without trekking poles. My feet never got wet and at the end of each day the old dogs were tired but not sore or wounded. I was surprised how comfortable these boots were while hiking along the rugged coastline despite being designed more for alpine routes. No blisters, hot spots, or owies of any kind.

While on the same trip, it made sense to go inland and upward so climbing Mt Olympus seemed appropriate. The 17 mile trudge to Elk Lake on mostly flat, dry trail is not one of the Vajolet GTX strong suits; the sole is pretty stiff for that kind of hiking but the light weight and support offered by the boot while carrying a 50+ pound pack offset the stiffness penalty a little. The boots really shine when put to their intended use - mountaineering. Glacier travel on Mt. Olympus was pleasurable, the boots were excellent with crampons and kept my feet nice and warm. Steep slopes make every step up a chore and the light weight and good fit of these boots helps ease the pain. Kick stepping and flat footing was relatively easy but I don't think they are really stiff enough for spending the whole day on toe points. It's a compromise for a little better hiking comfort during the approach.

The only time the boots let me down a little was on the long trek back to the parking lot. I'm not sure if it was completely the boot's fault but I figured after hiking nearly 90 miles in a week or so my feet would have been toughened up enough to resist blisters. I was wrong and some would say a tad boneheaded because my feet got sweaty, I didn't keep the laces tight enough, failed to use moleskin and ended up with a heel blister on one foot. It's hard to blame a boot for a blister when the wearer doesn't pay attention to detail.

Bottom line: Great general mountaineering boot, less so for long, easy approaches.

Comment on this review

May

2011

(4 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Great Boot!

By Cascade Mountain Hiker

from Bellevue, WA

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Comfortable
Versatile

Cons

Best Uses

Alpine Routes
Heavy Snow
Mixed Routes

Comments about Lowa Vajolet GTX Mountaineering Boots - Men's:

I am very happy with these lightweight and comfortable boots. I wear them mostly on snow. I leave them a little loose on the approach, don't get blisters and my feet don't get beat up. I'm often on my feet for up to 10 hours and my socks have not gotten wet yet. My feet have a smaller volume and they fit well. I would love to find a boot for summer hiking that fit this good. Footing is stable and solid and they take to snowshoes and crampons well. Of the mountaineering boots that I have owned these are by far the best. I would buy them again.

Comment on this review

Apr

2011

(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Great boot

By a reviewer

from Olympia, wa

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Comfortable
Easy To Put On & Adjust

Cons

Best Uses

Alpine Routes

Comments about Lowa Vajolet GTX Mountaineering Boots - Men's:

Great boot
Toasty warm and dry for 24hrs plus in deep snow. Wish my sleeping bag did the same

Comment on this review

Jan

2011

(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

3.0

Question the Goretex

By Boots

from Washington, DC

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Comfortable
Easy To Put On & Adjust
Great Grip

Cons

Leak

Best Uses

Alpine Routes
Mixed Routes
Vertical Ice

Comments about Lowa Vajolet GTX Mountaineering Boots - Men's:

OK, bought them for an ascent, and in the warmup was a bit unsettled to find they are less waterproof than my leather Vasque Sundowners in their multi-resoled state. For a new pair of boots, my feet should not get wet crossing a field with puddles.