Lowa Hunter GTX EVO Extreme boots

[Gravey]

I've been wearing Mucks for quite a while and feet do ok for the most part in the cold with the woody max and a merino wool sock. Contemplating going to a leather boot and saw these on sale (still expensive). They are goretex and have 200 grams insulation. All of the reviews are great but most seem to be using out west doing spot and stalk as opposed to sitting in a tree for hours at a time. Anybody use these and vouch for the feet staying warm? Lot of coin to drop if I see no difference.

 

[REN]

I cant speak to those boots specifically BUT I made the switch to boots like those a few years ago instead of the heavy insulated "hunting" boots. Paired with a good pair of socks I personally found they keep my feet warmer for longer. Yes in 20 degrees they still get cold (so do my feet no matter the boots). However they are much much easier to walk around in due to the lighter weight and I can use them in far more temperature ranges.

If Im hunting in taller grass or wetter areas I just use a pair of gaiters with it. Again thats just my opinion but at this point I will never go back to the super heavy, thick insulation style boots

 

[Bucket]

No experience with these boots but 200 grams of insulation isn't very much.

 

[Hduke86]

I think @AT Hiker uses those maybe. I use to wear mucks but also made the switch to leather boots. I personally wear Crispi boots and found I like them for any kind of hunting. Yes good boots are NOT CHEAP.

 

[AT Hiker]

I have the Lowa Tibet GTX. Similar boot but the ones your looking at are a bit heavier and taller than mine.
These are stiff boots. Great for crazy terrain and heavy loads. Little bulky so climbing a ladder stand or using a climber is going to be a slight learning curve.
Add some leg gaiters and you'll be waterproof up to your gaiter tops.

They will not keep your feet warm, in the general sense. However, I use mine in sub freezing temps (just spent a couple days in the smokies during that last snow storm). With a quality merino sock my feet are ok. The caveat is I just cannot sit still, even sitting on stand during extreme weather I'm usually shuffling around.
Quality leather boots need to be taken care of. Kennetrek boot wax is a must, clean and apply multiple times a year.

Lowa also has a excellent coobler program. For $110 you ship your boots to the makers in Germany and they will re sole them, fix any stitches, give you new strings and insoles and new rubber rand. You pay to ship to MA and they ship it to Germany and back to you.
Mine are approx 10 years old and just had them reconditioned, they are better than new now. I'm confident they have thousands of miles on them, even after all that they are still extremely supportive.

 

[Hduke86]

Yes one important thing is these types of boots are STIFF.

 

[Gravey]

@AT Hiker thanks for the info. Don't think I can stomach dropping $3-400 if my feet don't stay warm so I'll keep looking.

 

[BDS05]

I've also got the Lowa Tibet GTX. Before this, my down fall was cold feet. My prior last resort was Muck WoodyMax. Since switching to Lowa, my feet haven't froze (I suspect due to sweat in the Mucks) but will get chilly on a long COLD sit. Liners and quality socks have made a difference for me.
I haven't really thought about getting a warmer boot since wearing these the last four or five years.
They are stiff but I've grown to like it. They are bulky but I've grown accustom to that.

 

[AT Hiker]

@AT Hiker thanks for the info. Don't think I can stomach dropping $3-400 if my feet don't stay warm so I'll keep looking.

To be honest, I don't know what "keep your feet warm" actually means. I have some Muck Arctic boots, and like BDS05, my feet will get cold due to sweating and sitting still for a long period of time.
When I say my Lowas will not keep my feet warm in the general sense is that I don't think the boots themselves actually keep them warm (mine are not insulated) but my feet breath better, the leather knocks the wind away pretty well and a quality merino wool sock (you can get a heavy winter weight) keep them fine enough for me not to worry most of the time. I've been in a MT blizzard and recently tromping through wet sloppy snow in the Appalachian Mountains, I don't think anything can keep your feet warm...just have to keep them dry.

I suspect you might not like the stiffness if you have never worn a mountaineer type boot, some love them and some hate them. I love a stiff heavy boot, knock on wood Ive never had to deal with a twisted ankle.

 

[Gravey]

To be honest, I don't know what "keep your feet warm" actually means. I have some Muck Arctic boots, and like BDS05, my feet will get cold due to sweating and sitting still for a long period of time.
When I say my Lowas will not keep my feet warm in the general sense is that I don't think the boots themselves actually keep them warm (mine are not insulated) but my feet breath better, the leather knocks the wind away pretty well and a quality merino wool sock (you can get a heavy winter weight) keep them fine enough for me not to worry most of the time. I've been in a MT blizzard and recently tromping through wet sloppy snow in the Appalachian Mountains, I don't think anything can keep your feet warm...just have to keep them dry.

I suspect you might not like the stiffness if you have never worn a mountaineer type boot, some love them and some hate them. I love a stiff heavy boot, knock on wood Ive never had to deal with a twisted ankle.

Keeping them warm for me means I'm not fidgety on the stand and don't head back to camp. If my hands or feet get cold I'm done. Camofire has the Tibet GTX Hi Hunting Boot on their site today for $318.75, Tibet GTX for $296.25, and the Hunter GTX EVO extreme for $345. I tore my right ankle up in high school and again in college. Ever since then my right foot stays cold whether it's 40 degrees or 90. The stiffness might be good for my ankle but not looking for big and bulky. Maybe what I'm after doesn't exist.

 

[TNTreeman]

Off subject a bit. I loved my Keen work boots but they only lasted 7 months. Just bought Thorogoods from Wisconsin I think. Made in USA. Haven't worn them outside yet but they appear good quality but as you said big and bulky. I have great pair of Danners that are waterproof and warm I hunt with some but the key to warm feet is Merino wool socks and those artic shield boot covers if it's bitter.

 

[BDS05]

Off subject a bit. I loved my Keen work boots but they only lasted 7 months. Just bought Thorogoods from Wisconsin I think. Made in USA. Haven't worn them outside yet but they appear good quality but as you said big and bulky. I have great pair of Danners that are waterproof and warm I hunt with some but the key to warm feet is Merino wool socks and those artic shield boot covers if it's bitter.

I wear a pair of Thorogoods at work. They took forever to break in and hurt like hell until they did but are now my favorite pair of work boots I've had. Comfort, leather and stitching exceeds all my prior work boots. I don't think I would hesitate trying another one of their lines if I were in the market.

Gravey, PM sent.

 

[Gravey]

Off subject a bit. I loved my Keen work boots but they only lasted 7 months. Just bought Thorogoods from Wisconsin I think. Made in USA. Haven't worn them outside yet but they appear good quality but as you said big and bulky. I have great pair of Danners that are waterproof and warm I hunt with some but the key to warm feet is Merino wool socks and those artic shield boot covers if it's bitter.

I use smartwool merino wool socks and just ordered a couple pair from darn tough to try. Also have the arctic shield boot covers when it gets in the 20's.

 

[TNTreeman]

I wear a pair of Thorogoods at work. They took forever to break in and hurt like hell until they did but are now my favorite pair of work boots I've had. Comfort, leather and stitching exceeds all my prior work boots. I don't think I would hesitate trying another one of their lines if I were in the market.

Gravey, PM sent.

Great. I was hoping someone would chime in about the Thorogoods . They do hurt at first. Wore them around the house last night in my underwear before bed to my brides delight trying break em in. .

 

[BDS05]

Great. I was hoping someone would chime in about the Thorogoods . They do hurt at first. Wore them around the house last night in my underwear before bed to my brides delight trying break em in. .

much more glamorous than my method of wearing them to work to break them in. I may have to try your approach next time.

 

[TNTreeman]

much more glamorous than my method of wearing them to work to break them in. I may have to try your approach next time.

It got plenty of laughs, not much romance.

 

[Maude]

I haven't tried the Lowa's but my feet get cold, period. I have found that if I wear a comfortable boot into my stand and slip the boots into a pair of Arctic Shield boot blankets, I'm good to go. If it's in the single digits, I slip a hot-pocket inside the boot blankets just on top of my toes. This has been the only thing that works for me. Also, I've worn Muck Woody-Max's for years and the last 2 pairs I've bought just have not held up. The soles have been coming off and I never had that problem with my older ones.

 

[Willysman]

This past deer season I did not have a pair of hunting boots on. I wore hiking boots with a toe warmer. If it was really cold I put on a pair of Artic Shield boot covers. Feet stayed warmer than they ever have with hunting boots. Much easier to walk in also.

 

[TNlandowner]

I use smartwool merino wool socks and just ordered a couple pair from darn tough to try. Also have the arctic shield boot covers when it gets in the 20's.

Smartwool and Darn Tough are good socks. Give FITS a try as well. Made in Chattanooga, they offer discounts for LEO / Military folks.

 

[UCStandSitter]

Have some Lowas. Liked em ok but didn't suit my feet quite right (have a wide right foot because I'm weird). Danner Pronghorns on the other hand... There is a reason they have been making this same model boot for like 30 years. Incredible to walk in and super warm. I'm even wearing them at my desk right now as I type this.

 

[Gravey]

Have some Lowas. Liked em ok but didn't suit my feet quite right (have a wide right foot because I'm weird). Danner Pronghorns on the other hand... There is a reason they have been making this same model boot for like 30 years. Incredible to walk in and super warm. I'm even wearing them at my desk right now as I type this.

I turkey hunt in Danner Pronghorns.

 

[Bell3wv]

I'll wear the rubber boots in warm weather but made the switch a couple of years ago for leather Danner's for colder weather. I pair them with a good light wool sock and no scent powder and I've been using the Arctic over boots. These have been game-changers. My feet don't sweat and freeze once on stand. I've been comfortable in single digits with a handwarmer tossed in overboot.

 

[ttf909]

I wear uninsulated lacrosse year round. Socks that sweat your feet in tennis shoes will amplify in rubber boots so usually I wear under armour or wool blend but try them in tennis shoes first. Then use boot blankets when it's cold along with hot hands foot warmer . The thin one.

 

[UCStandSitter]

I wear uninsulated lacrosse year round. Socks that sweat your feet in tennis shoes will amplify in rubber boots so usually I wear under armour or wool blend but try them in tennis shoes first. Then use boot blankets when it's cold along with hot hands foot warmer . The thin one.

Smartwool liner socks under Darn Toughs are a revelation. If a man isn't using liner socks, he is missin out big time. Zero sweat

 

[Andy S.]

Smartwool liner socks ........

Great suggestion. I use these along with OTC Cabelas Deluxe Cold Weather wool boot socks and my feet are good to go in a deer stand down to 25-30 degrees, depending on the day and wind. I have stand hunted out of Lacrosse Aerohead knee boots for last two years and been extremely satisfied with this combination. If below 25, I'll add some toe warmers.

Cabela's Deluxe Cold Weather Boot Sock

 

[UCStandSitter]

Great suggestion. I use these along with OTC Cabelas Deluxe Cold Weather wool boot socks and my feet are good to go in a deer stand down to 25-30 degrees, depending on the day and wind. I have stand hunted out of Lacrosse Aerohead knee boots for last two years and been extremely satisfied with this combination. If below 25, I'll add some toe warmers.

Cabela's Deluxe Cold Weather Boot Sock

Never had much luck with the toe warmers. Maybe my feet are just old but, those jokers never tend to do much for me

 

[ttf909]

Never had much luck with the toe warmers. Maybe my feet are just old but, those jokers never tend to do much for me

Use the for lack of better explanation maxi pad like warmer . Foot warm up. Sticky on one side flat foot shaped and wrap it around an inch or so the end of toes .

 

[UCStandSitter]

Use the for lack of better explanation maxi pad like warmer . Foot warm up. Sticky on one side flat foot shaped and wrap it around an inch or so the end of toes .

Those are the ones I've tried. Actually used them a whole season. Never noticed a demonstrable difference. Maybe I just get too cold for em to help. lol

 

[Andy S.]

HotHands adhesive toe warmers that are not expired and designed to work in restricted air environments make a difference for me when lows are 20-28 or so. I typically use them 3-5 sits each season, mainly in December.

 

[Daff]

I've been wearing uninsulated Tibet's for about 9 years. 2nd or now for me they are the best boots I've ever owned, but boot fit is highly personal! Can't comment on the insulated models but I'm comfortable tree stand hunting down into the high 20s with good wool Sox , after that I switch to lacrosse ice man packs. Lowa tibets are a little on the warm side in hot weather but breathe well. As for the cold side I've been comfortable hunting single digit weather in 14" of snow with gaiters. That's spot and stalk out west. If you buy them understand they are a tad heavy and stiff which is good for packing out elk. They do require break in time but I use them for all my hunting and they are the most comfortable boots I've ever owned.