The Lowa woman’s Mountain Expert GTX are insulated mountaineering boots built on a woman’s specific last that will
The Lowa women's Mountain Expert GTX mountaineering boots. Photo courtesy of Lowa.
keep your feet warm on technical mountaineering climbs.
Lowa built these boots with waterproof GORE-TEX and Primaloft insulation to keep the climber’s feet warm and dry on wet and cold climbs. For a leather boot, the Mountain Expert performs well keeping the feet warm, though not as warm as a good plastic boots.
The Mountain Expert boots have a sturdy, yet flexible shank. This keeps the boot sturdy enough to provide good stability, but flexible enough to move with the foot while scrambling over rocky terrain or climbing low-class rock.
The fit of the ankle portion of these mountaineering boots runs a bit on the large side, making these boots well-suited for women with larger ankles or wide feet. Women with smaller ankles may find these boots slip some. A solution is to place a tongue depressor, a thick piece of rubber, under the laces to take up that extra volume in the ankle.
The Mountain Expert boots are step-in crampon compatible with both heel and toe grooves. At 2lbs per boot these are fairly lightweight for a 4-season, insulated mountaineering boot.
Favorite Features: Warm and waterproof. Lightweight for a 4-season mountaineering boot. Sturdy, yet flexible.
Areas of Improvement: The ankle width is best suited for women with larger ankles. The Lowa Mountain Expert could be improved by having an ankle size or lacing system that includes a snug fit for women with smaller ankles.
Best Use: Mountaineering. Scrambling. Alpine Climbing. Ice Climbing.
Bottom Line: The Lowa woman’s Mountain Expert GTX is one of the few woman’s specific mountaineering boots that were actually designed on a woman’s last. These boots are a solid, warm , comfortable 4-season mountaineering boot.
Tech Specs:
- Weight: 4lbs per pair
- Upper: Durable mountaineering split leather
- Lining: Waterproof GORE-TEX® with Primaloft® insulation
- Midsole: PU Expert
- Outsole: Vibram® Teton, with full-length TPU stabilizing plate for rigidity to secure crampons
- Footbed: Insulate Pro alu-coated with fleece
- Shank: 6mm nylon/8mm TPU for total support underfoot
- Climate Control: Perforations in the boot’s lining allows air to enter, pumping heat and moisture back out.
Disclaimer: The Lowa woman’s Mountain Expert GTX was provided by Lowa to be tested for this review.
Genevieve Hathaway is the Editor of Alpine Athena. See her bio in the “Editor” section.
