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Imported.
Item 779947
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REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviewsPros
Cons
Best Uses
Feels too small | ||
Feels true to size | 91% (10 reviews) | |
Feels too large |
Feels too narrow | ||
Feels true to width | 100% (8 reviews) | |
Feels too wide |
Reviewed by 12 customers
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Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Lowa Bora GTX QC Hiking Boots - Women's:
I was looking for a somewhat light-weight pair of shoes with ankle support for a backpacking trip. This brand was recommended to me by a friend who is a lifelong Lowa consumer. I have narrow feet and had tried Merrell, Vasque, and Keen shoes before slipping into this bed of comfort.
The shoes felt terrific right out of the box. There was no break in period, although I did wear it around the neighborhood a few times before taking it hiking.
I've taken it on a day hike and backpacking. Lots of support for the backcountry and waterproof for our creek crossings (if you manage not to have water spill over the top and into your shoes). My muscles ached a bit after our trip, but my feet felt like they never left the bed at home. I hope these shoes last forever.
My favorite feature of these shoes are... the shoelaces!! I've had so many shoes where the laces would come undone and I'd have to double knot them. I just tighten these shoes at the beginning of the day (single knot).. and they stayed nice and tight until I took them off.
I normally wear size 7 but bought a 7.5 in these for wiggle room on downhill slopes.
Pros
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Best Uses
Comments about Lowa Bora GTX QC Hiking Boots - Women's:
My Merrell Sirens are wearing down (after two years) so I decided it was time to get a real hiking shoe. I'd been eyeing the German made Lowa Bora for awhile but thought they were too expensive. I tried on at least a dozen other brands. Keens are too wide and stubby for my feet. I tried the Merrell Chameleons (Gortex) but they felt heavy after a 4 mile hike. A fellow hiker suggested I go for the stability of a boot so I splurged and got the Bora's.
At first I thought the outside brace was a little weird, but after wearing them I found they provided great lateral support and kept my feet from over pronating. They're comfortable enough to wear without a break in period. I tested them on a six mile hike (Burrough's Trail - Mount Rainier)and never got a single blister. This is a hefty looking boot that is surprisely lightweight and kept my feet cool. Unlike Merrell's, they don't stuff the shoe with excessive padding. I was also happy with the tread which gripped the trail well. Those Germans know how to make quality product.
My foot's narrow at the heel and wider at the toes and these fit me well. If you have wide feet and are tempted to buy them, go into the store and try them on first.
I've still got a few hikes left this summer and I'm hoping these boots will keep me happy. I can't wait to cross a few streams in them.
Pros
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Best Uses
Comments about Lowa Bora GTX QC Hiking Boots - Women's:
I absolutely love these boots. I had a pair of Vasque's but they were feeling too tight. Took them back to REI and they exchanged them for the Lowa's - no hassle. I couldn't be happier. I had only a week to wear them before backpacking down to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and back up again. So, I had basically no "break in period". The boots were amazing. My feet never bothered me - no blisters. Very comfortable. I will recommend them to everyone.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Lowa Bora GTX QC Hiking Boots - Women's:
Lowa's last for women is well known for its fit and comfort. Like many other buyers, I slip my feet into the boots and am ready to hike 20 miles! Really! No break in and no hot spot! They feel light weight and breathable; super comfortable.
This being said, they are not built for rugged terrain (lots of broken rocks, etc.) and/or if you are over weight or carrying a heavy pack (over 15% of your body weight; backpacking you should not carry more than 25% of your body weight). This happened to me and the boots became unsupportive/unresponsive to the weight and the trail condition. The sole start to feel too thin. I can feel every rock's jagged edges.
The key is to know what kind of footwear to go with what kind of demand. For example, I am getting a pair of Lowa Vivione for 10 to 20-mile day backpacking (25lb to 30lb backpack, 22%/25% of my body weight). Same applies to trail running or fast-paced cardio hikes, Bora will be a bit too cumbersome for this purpose. It's best to go for a pair of low top trail running shoes.
If you are doing a day hike (5 to 10 miles) with a light weight backpack and on rather smooth hard packed dirt terrain, you will be happy with them.
Lowa also carry many models in wide and narrow. Make sure you order the right width.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Lowa Bora GTX QC Hiking Boots - Women's:
I over-pronate and am beginning to develop bunions so I'm always in the hunt for excellent lateral stability, a roomy toe box and decent arch support. I do a lot of heavy gardening on a steep hillside and my Keen's just got too sloppy. The Lowa's external frame is awesome. While these were very comfy, I ended up buying the men's Zephyr GTX Lowa to get a little more room in the toe box as the Lowa's are narrower than the Keen's. Usually, men's shoes are way too roomy all over so it was great to have that option. I also tried the women's all-leather Renegade but it was just too stiff in the toebox compared to the nylon mesh upper of the other style. There is a gap in the external frame for your big toe :-) I thought the mid-rise of the men's Zephyr would bug me, but it's very comfy and provides even more lateral support while I dig on a 30 degree slope. Lowa's are incredibly light. For the first time in years I spent two 8 hour days digging in the dirt and my feet weren't screaming for me to stop. So happy to have discovered Lowa.
Pros
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Best Uses
Comments about Lowa Bora GTX QC Hiking Boots - Women's:
Finally comfortable boots - after trying a pair of Keen(leaked!) and a pair of Zamberlans (stiff!)I went back and literally tried on ever pair of boots in the REI store. [...] They are very comfortable - no break in - and provide a lot of ankle support and are light.
Pros
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Comments about Lowa Bora GTX QC Hiking Boots - Women's:
I needed to replace my Lowa Renegades, which I loved, but had worn out, and thought I would try the lighter Boras. I have narrow heels and most boots give me blisters, but Lowa's boots fit me well. These Boras fit right out of the box--I wore them on an 8-mile hike the first day--no blisters or sore spots!
Pros
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Best Uses
Comments about Lowa Bora GTX QC Hiking Boots - Women's:
Love the fit of these boots, as I have a narrow heel and Lowa's in general seem to hug my heel and midfoot extremely well, preventing me from sliding all the way to the end of the shoe during downhill stretches.
The Vento QC's fit great in all aspects and I had hoped the GTX waterproof ones would work as well. The one major problem I have with the GTX is the way this shoe creases when I rock my back foot forward. The toe protector on the end of the shoe causes the top of the shoe to press down on both my big toenails with every step, which is a very bad thing during a long hike.
Pros
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Best Uses
Comments about Lowa Bora GTX QC Hiking Boots - Women's:
After reading the reviews on these boots I decided to go to my nearby REI and try them for myself. They are heads above all the other boots I tried on in terms of comfort and stability... however, they run really big. I take a 7.5 and when I first tried them on I thought they were a men's 7.5! really! After trying on a few sizes I settled on the 6.5 which feel great. I can't wait to take them out on the trails!
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Lowa Bora GTX QC Hiking Boots - Women's:
I tried on every pair of hiking boots, and these were by far the most comfortable. Although I am only a recreational hiker/walker, these boots required no break in period. Fantastic hiking boot!
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