Lowa  Lady Light GTX Hiking Boots - Women's

Comfort: I had a pair of hiking boots from another brand that I received as a gift years 3-4 years ago that have been my trusty hiking/trekking/backpacking companions until recently they started giving me blisters on my heel after only a few miles of use due to wear-down. I was really sad to part ways with them but was looking for an upgrade. I had a trekking trip planned to Peru and it was either bring the boots that I know give me blisters or get new ones without a break-in period that potentially might give blisters. I wore these right out of the box for 22 miles (as well as wearing them during off hike days around town casually) and they were so comfortable, no blisters, and provided comfort and stability for long-term wearing. I even wore them on the plane home because I wasn't sick of them. Stability, Durability, and Traction: I haven't taken them on any super technical hikes yet but I am confident they will perform well given the stability in the ankle and comfort wearing for long periods of time. There are rock plates built into not only the toe but the heel too which is great. I love the cheese-grater look-like bottom for traction. Waterproof: I'm looking forward to using these in the winter too. It didn't rain a lot in Peru so I wanted to give these the ultimate waterproof test and I stood in the tub for 10 minutes submerged in water. My feet completely dry after, I would be confident wearing these through water crossings and winter hikes. What I was looking for in a boot: Unfortunately these are on the pricier end of the market for women's backpacking boots, but I tried a few brands and unfortunately several major brands do not carry boots below a size 6 so that also limited me. I landed on these and they are my first pair of Lowas. I tried the Lowa Renegade (their "flagship" boot I guess you could say) but I didn't feel they were right for my needs - needed versatile boot for shorter backpacking trips with heavier packs, longer trekking trips while traveling (to use for normal use too in traveling situations), as well as more technical hikes like 14ers, and more casual full day hikes because I tend to roll my ankle a lot if I wear trail runners for too long as I'm clumsy. The Renegade fit differently than these as well, they felt larger in the 5.5 and I was sliding around more. Size: I typically wear a 5.5, one foot measures in at a 5.5 and the other at a 5 and the 5.5 fit perfectly with lighter merino socks as well as heavier merino socks, with room for swelling without shifting around going downhill or on rocks. These are a great options for people who have a hard time finding smaller rugged boots below size 6! Style: This certainly matters the least out of all the categories but I want to call out that they look timeless, are not overly bulky but definitely durable, and I love the green/brown as it's a nice neutral color- Some other major boot brands to have a ridiculous amount of branding on them (some boots these days have a logo on every inch, bottom of the foot, and lace grommets on their boots these days), less ideal colors (why do they always make women's outdoors equipment in baby blue??), and look too plastic-y or too bulky for more petite legs/feet (without compromising the durability and ruggedness). I look forward to using these for years to come on many adventures!

I do a lot of steep hiking and off trail routes in the southern sierra nevada. I've started to roll my ankles and I wanted boots with more ankle support. I have very high arches so immediately bought inserts with better arch support as the ones they come with have no arch support at all. The good: I didn't have great hikes to break these in and one of my first hikes was 20 miles with approx 5000 foot elevation change. Not one blister! I rolled my ankles several times but the boots stopped it from being anything damaging or too painful. Cushy interior and laces hold tight. They are indeed light weight. The bad: They are really hot. I'm still rolling my ankles in spite of the extra support. They push hard on my heels with the assents. For steep descents, even with the extra inserts, the sole of these shoes are breath-taking painful. I thought it was the inserts I bought so I put in the original inserts and I can feel exactly where the soles are hitting the pads of my feet and making them hurt and that's just walking around at work. It feels like rocks in my shoes. Overall I am deeply disappointed that I paid so much for back country boots and they are this painful. While the inserts I bought help these just won't work for the steep hiking that I do.