Lowa Hudson GTX Mid Review
April 15, 2015
87 The Good
- Excellent outsole traction in all terrain
- Solid rigidity and support in the midsole and heel cup
- Fairly lightweight relative to other leather boots
- Great craftsmanship and quality
- Roomier than usual toe box
The Bad
- Warm on summer days
- Insole felt quite hard
- Somewhat difficult to get lacing snug on the ankle
- Longish break-in period required
- Relatively expensive
The Lowa Hudson boots excel at providing everything needed for backpacking adventures with light to moderate backpacking loads up to 40+ pounds. These Lowas are bomber boots and really provide great protection and stability in a rough environment. People with limited finances or those backpacking in hot climates should consider other boots.
The Hudson GTX Mid is a lightweight, waterproof, mid-height, hand-crafted, full leather backpacking boot designed primarily for people carrying loads up to 40 pounds.
Comfort
Like most full leather boots, the Hudsons took a while to break in but were fairly comfortableonce fully broken in (my trail-conditioned feet did 20+ mile days in them with no problems). On sunny warm days (70-90ºF) they were fairly warm, but on colder days were very comfortable. The Lowa Hudson GTX sports a roomier toe box than is common in many other boots, which provides a more natural and more comfortable foot posture. Though heavier and warmer than their non-leather peers, the Hudson GTX came in lighter than many of their leather peers. Out of the box the Hudson boots did not provide any arch support, and the insole felt fairly hard over a long hike despite looking like it might provide more cushioning. The lacing on the Hudson boots is good overall but it can be difficult to pull the ankle lace snug because they have a loop instead of a hook in the ankle (third) grommet position.
Stability & Traction
The Hudson boots have all around good general rigidity and support in the midsole, heel cup, and ankle areas. The sole is fairly rigid but does flex a little, just about right for a backpacking boot. The outsole traction in all terrain was good.
Durability
The Hudson GTX seems likely to be durable in the long term with appropriate leather care, and show excellent craftsmanship, with double stitching in key places.
Protection
The Hudson GTX Mid height boots provided excellent protection from rocks, toe jamming, water, and other trail hazards.
Off Trail & Snow
The Lowa Hudson GTX did better than many other boots in off-trail travel in general, with firm soles and decent ankle support, but they aren’t appropriate for serious rock/snow climbs. That said, the Hudsons provided a good platform for plunge stepping and kick stepping in light snowy patches, and the waterproofing worked well in stream crossings and snow.
Value
At an MSRP of $270, these hand-crafted Lowa boots are more expensive than many of their machine-crafted peers.
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