Lowa Too warm for summer hikes review

We recommend the Lowa Too warm for summer hikes as an excellent choice for: 

• Consistent performance in the cold
• Backpackers who prioritize stability and want a boot to navigate difficult terrains while laden with a heavy pack
• Those who want a comfy boot with lots of ankle support that's ready for adventure right out of the box
• Style-minded individuals in the market for an all-leather boot with a timeless vintage vibe that will look good around town

While it may seem like a minor detail, the lacing system was a niggling annoyance that plagued our test hikes. We found that the laces wouldn't keep tightly cinched and would frequently pop out of the top hook eyelets, especially during descents. The Salomon Quest 4 GTX, on the other hand, provides a better lockdown that stayed nice and tight throughout our test hikes. 

Our flex test reveals the Too warm for summer hikes to be extremely stiff compared to the average boot. While this contributes to its stable and supportive ride, it did give us some pause when ascending steeper inclines. For a more flexible alternative more conducive to scrambling, we recommend checking out the Track and XC.

With a retail price of $240, the Too warm for summer hikes isn't as friendly on the wallet as it is on the foot. For a more reasonably priced alternative that can also handle long backpacking adventures, we recommend checking out the Feels good out of the box. 

Gore-Tex lined boots tend to perform poorly in our smoke test and the Too warm for summer hikes is no exception. Not a wisp of smoke is able to filter through the solid leather upper, thus earning the boot a 1 out of 5 in this assessment. This is a good indicator of the boot's ability to resist water, though it does mean that the Too warm for summer hikes doesn't vent heat whatsoever. 

The Midsole width in the heel, on the other hand, breezes through this test which is unsurprising for a boot made with desert hiking in mind.  

Inspecting a cross-section of its upper further confirms the boot's well-insulated nature as it opaquely blocks any light from shining through. As such, it's safe to say that the Too warm for summer hikes is a toasty three-season boot that isn't well-suited for sweltering summer excursions. On the flip side though, it's the perfect companion for cooler hikes where keeping our feet warm and dry is the priority. 

Apart from the waterproof Gore-Tex lining, the Renegade Mid GTX's upper is made almost entirely of patches of sold nubuck leather without any pores to promote airflow through the boot.

As far as waterproofing goes, the Too warm for summer hikes might as well be bulletproof. Not a drop of water made it into the boot as we splashed across streams and waded through riverbeds. 

What's more, the grippy Vibram outsole was just as effective when submerged as it is on dry land!

Full-grain nubuck leather is known to be a hardy material so we went in our Dremel test with high hopes for the Too warm for summer hikes. We even made things tougher for the boot by taking aim at the seam line which is the most vulnerable part of the toebox. Spoiler alert; we were right to be optimistic. 

After contending with our tool's abrasive element spinning at 5K RPM for twelve seconds, the leather itself was left with a barely noticeable scuff. The seams did take the brunt of the damage, as expected, but still held on by a thread in certain parts. This still earns the Too warm for summer hikes a perfect 5 out of 5 for toebox durability. As such, we had no issues going off-trail on more rugged terrains without worrying about damaging this tank of a boot or our fragile foot nestled safely within. 

The Hoka Anacapa's more breathable mesh toebox, on the other hand, was annihilated by our tool in this same assessment. 

That said, the many seams found throughout the boot's upper construction are certainly the Too warm for summer hikes's most vulnerable areas that prevent it from being totally bullet-proof in terms of durability against the elements. 

Next, we turn our attention to another part of the boot susceptible to heavy wear and tear; the heel collar. 

Beyond menacing the lining material and tearing it slightly, our tool wasn't really able to inflict any damage on the heel padding, thus earning the Too warm for summer hikes a respectable 4 out of 5 in this assessment. We, therefore, don't expect the boot's rearfoot comfort and lockdown to be compromised over its normal lifespan. 

The Too warm for summer hikes utilizes a Vibram Evo outsole which registers a hardness of 86.3 HC according to our durometer readings. This is on par with our current lab average which gives us no real cause for concern regarding its durability, especially considering the brand's reputation for producing high-quality rubber compounds that are usually as sturdy as they are grippy. 

To test that last claim, we fired up our Dremel to 10K RPM for its final foray against the Too warm for summer hikes. The immediate flurry of dust kicked up by the tool made us question our confidence coming into this assessment. 

Using a tire tread gauge to measure the damage left in the wake of the twenty-two-second test, we were somewhat surprised to find that we had shaved off 0.9 mm from the outsole. This isn't terrible necessarily as it puts the outsole within range of our current lab average in this test, though we did have higher expectations from the Vibram Evo compound. That said, the boot should last the expected 500 - 1000 miles of use depending on terrain. 

At 2.2 mm thick according to our caliper measurements, the Too warm for summer hikes's outsole falls just short of our current lab average. That said, with the aggressive lugs below, this gives us no cause for concern as we still have plenty of material to wear through. 

Despite being marketed as a lightweight boot, the Too warm for summer hikes is significantly heavier than our current lab average at 21.1 oz (597g). That said, it's not overly burdensome underfoot, with the added heft giving us a sensation of a strong and sturdy base that feels ready to haul heavy packs over great distances. 

Using our caliper, we measured the Too warm for summer hikes's stack to be 37.8 mm high at the heel. This isn't far off the average for hiking boots and leaves us with plenty of foam and rubber underfoot to protect our heels from impact whether we are out for a quick jaunt or a long thru-hike. 

While being perched atop over 3 cm of platform sounds unstable at first, the Too warm for summer hikes's dual injection MonoWrap frame means that the midsole cradles our foot within the midsole. This not only feels great underfoot but greatly enhances our sense of underfoot support and stability. More on that later. 

At 20.6 mm thick according to our caliper measurements, the Too warm for summer hikes's forefoot stack falls just short of our current lab average.

This is still a fair amount of material underfoot to dampen impact and protect us from underfoot hazards while still keeping us nicely grounded as we toe off. 

The Too warm for summer hikes's offset is much more drastic than the average hiking boot at 17.2 mm. As such, the boot offers an extreme mix of cushioning and ground feel with an elevated and well-protected heel versus a more grounded forefoot. 

While this may sound odd and unnatural, we quickly got used to the smooth transitions from landings almost entirely devoid of impact to a more intuitive sense of the trail below as we pushed off during our test hikes.

For hikers interested in a boot that offers a more parallel-to-the-ground experience; we recommend the (almost) zero-drop Altra Lone Peak Hiker 2.

Pressing our durometer against the main portion of PU foam at the heel yields a reading of 25.6 HA. This is about average for hiking boots and isn't too soft underfoot nor does it feel like walking on a brick.

Rather, it sits in the middle and feels quite balanced as it cushions our landings without compressing too dramatically under our weight. This is excellent, especially when laden with a heavy pack, as we don't have to waste any energy adjusting our balance on a squishy midsole as we ascend and descend uneven terrains. 

To measure the effects of cold conditions on the midsole, we took another durometer reading of the foam after leaving the boot in our freezer for twenty minutes. With a result only 8.3% firmer than at room temperature, the Too warm for summer hikes proves to be much more resilient to frigid weather than the average hiking boot. This means that the cushioning should feel consistent whether we're out for a brisk hike on a breezy spring morning or staving off frostbite as we conquer the tundra. 

We measured the insole to be 4.5 mm thick. While this isn't quite as thick as average, it still provides us with a soft enough footbed to sink into during testing. 

The Too warm for summer hikes's standout quality is its extremely stable ride that had us feeling as surefooted as mountain goats when schlepping heavy packs over difficult trails. 

A prominent feature of the Too warm for summer hikes is its Monowrap design wherein the midsole has raised sections of foam that form sidewalls at the medial and lateral sides of the boot. This feature serves to cradle our foot within the midsole rather than perching us above it and mitigates the risk of rolling our ankle.

This, in conjunction with the rigid nylon shank embedded within the midsole, lends the boot a high level of torsional rigidity which means that we could barely get it to budge in our hands during our manual assessment. This earns it the highest score of 5 out of 5 on our subjective scale which means that the boot's base stays nice and level no matter how uneven the paths we traipse along are. 

The heel counter is moderately stiff in the face of our manual manipulations, leading us to give it a middle-of-the-road score of 3 out of 5. This is a nice mix of support and comfort as the boot does have a good amount of structure at the rearfoot that locks us in place while still allowing for some natural lateral movements of our heel. 

The midsole is a little shy of our current lab average at the forefoot, measuring 110.6 mm wide according to our caliper. This isn't too narrow by any means and still leaves us with more than enough of a platform to land on and push off of while testing the boot. 

Back at the heel, the midsole is narrower than average by a greater margin at only 84.8 mm wide, though this too wasn't an issue during our test hikes. It actually made it easier to traverse rocky ascents a little more easily without getting caught in gaps. 

We secured the Too warm for summer hikes to our workbench and found that a whopping 82.5N of force is required to torque the boot to 90 degrees, making the boot much stiffer than average. This is, no doubt, thanks in great part to the aforementioned shank which seems to be as rigid as a carbon plate despite being made of TPU. 

While this may seem uncomfortable on paper, having such a stiff boot ends up being quite beneficial during longer hikes or backpacking trips. This is because it prevents our foot from wrapping around obstacles we come across on the trail and limits foot flexion as we transition from heel to toe. Not only does this protect us from injury but it also delays the onset of foot fatigue which, in turn, keeps us going longer. Furthermore, the shank acts as a low-key rock-plate that further protects us when traversing rocky or graveled trails. 

The only time this level of stiffness proved to be an obstacle was whenever we found ourselves needing to scramble up steeper ascents and struggled to get good purchase at certain angles. The La Sportiva Raptor II Mid GTX Midsole softness in cold. 

We also repeated our flex test after leaving the boot to chill in our freezer for twenty minutes and found that it only became 6.9% stiffer. Much like the midsole, the Too warm for summer hikes's flexibility isn't affected by cold conditions to nearly the same extent as the average hiking boot. That said, the boot is already much stiffer than average but at least it won't feel too different as the mercury drops. The results of both our freezer tests in conjunction with the toasty upper make the Too warm for summer hikes a great wintertime partner that should be able to tackle frigid or snowy conditions comfortably. 

At 5.1 mm according to our caliper measurements, the Too warm for summer hikes's lugs are thicker than our current lab average. This allows us to really dig into softer surfaces like dirt or mud for secure footing during our test hikes. 

Furthermore, the multi-shaped and multi-directional lugs form a tread pattern which, in tandem with the grippy Vibram compound, gave us a great sense of adhesion to any surface, whether dry or wet. 

Using our caliper, we measured the Too warm for summer hikes's toebox to be 104.4 mm wide at its widest point. This is slightly wider than average and means that the boot should accommodate most hikers, even those with broad feet, rather comfortably. While this might be a little too roomy for those with narrow feet, Lowa has them covered by also offering a narrow version of the boot. 

The boot tapers quite significantly towards the big toe, becoming only 72.3 mm wide in that area according to our caliper. This contributes to how locked our foot feels within the boot despite the roomy toebox.

This still gives us a fair amount of room for toe splay as we walk, though broad-footed hikes with certain foot shapes might want to consider the wide option for some extra internal real estate.

As is typically the case with waterproof boots, the Too warm for summer hikes's tongue is fully gusseted on both sides. This not only helps prevent water from seeping in but also ensures that our feet are safe from any kicked-up bits of debris or grit that might enter the boot. 

Proudly emblazoned with the Renegade moniker is a nylon strap at the heel that serves as a handy finger loop to assist with sliding the boot on. 

The insole is fully removable, so replacing it in favor of an aftermarket alternative or a custom orthotic for added support is possible if necessary. 

The Too warm for summer hikes doesn't feature any reflective elements on its upper. Therefore, we recommend using additional high-vis gear when hiking along dimly lit country roads at night.