LOWA TIAGO GTX MID BOOTS
TEST SERIES BY BRIAN HARTMAN
LONG-TERM REPORT
November 19, 2016
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TESTER INFORMATION
NAME:
|
Brian Hartman
|
EMAIL:
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bhart1426ATyahooDOT com |
AGE:
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48
|
LOCATION:
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Central
Indiana |
GENDER:
|
M
|
HEIGHT:
|
5' 9" (1.75
m) |
WEIGHT:
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150 lb (68.00
kg) |
I have been backpacking for over
20 years throughout Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and most recently in Western USA. In
addition to backpacking I enjoy family camping with my wife and kids and being
outdoors in general. I would describe myself as a mid weight backpacker. I use
fairly light weight equipment and gear but still like to bring more than the
bare essentials with me while on the trail.
INITIAL REPORT
PRODUCT INFORMATION &
SPECIFICATIONS
Manufacturer: Lowa Year of Manufacture: 2016 Manufacturer's
Website: http://www.lowaboots.com/ MSRP: US
$175.00 Listed Weight: 34.6 oz (980 g) per pair Measured Weight: 36 oz
(1020 g) per pair Available Colors: Anthracite/Lime, Black/Gray,
Espresso/Rust Available Sizes: 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 10.5, 11, 11.5, 12,
13, 14 Available Widths: Medium, Wide (Anthracite/Lime and Espresso/Rust
only) Size Tested: 10 Wide, Anthracite/Lime
Upper: Split Leather,
Fabric Lining: Waterproof Gore-Tex Footbed: Climate Control Midsole:
DuraPU (polyurethane) with Monowrap Frame Outsole: Lowa Multicross rubber
sole Stabilizer: Full-length, Medium
Lowa describes the new Tiago GTX
Mids (hereafter called Tiagos or boots) as All Terrain boots that are
"phenomenally comfortable, supportive and cushioned. Super lightweight
footwear, designed to take active people anywhere they'd like to go." The Tiago
GTX Mids are, in fact, replacements for the Lowa Tempest GTX Mid boots, but with
a fresh athletic design and a focus on comfort and versatile fit.
The
Tiagos have nubuck leather uppers and a Gore-Tex liner that allows water vapor
to escape from inside the boots without letting water in. In addition, they
have several other features including a removable Climate Control footbed,
Monowrap frame technology for lateral stability, a full-length stabilizer, and a
PU midsole for increased durability and shock absorption. Finally, they have
Lowa's exclusive rubber outsoles with aggressive 4mm (0.2 in) lugs for improved
traction on any surface. Lowa boots are 100% designed and handcrafted in
Europe.
INITIAL IMPRESSIONS
The Tiago GTXs arrived at my
doorstep in a gray cardboard shoe box with Lowa's logo on the top and sides.
Inside, the boots were neatly wrapped in tissue paper with cardboard inserts in
the toes. I assume the inserts were there to keep the toes from getting
compressed during shipping. Upon looking at the boots, I was immediately
impressed with their styling; the dark, almost black leather uppers give them a
sophisticated appearance while the lime green stitching on the sides and back
provides a small splash of color for an overall great look. I was also struck
by how lightweight they feel. I later confirmed that the combined weight of
both boots is 36 oz (1020 g). I own several pair of low cut hikers that weigh
the same or more than these boots! When backpacking with a heavy load or when I
know I'll be traveling off-trail or through creeks and streams, I much prefer
mid cut boots, especially when there's no weight penalty associated with
them.
The Tiagos are 7 in (17.8 cm) tall, as
measured to the top of the tongue, and 6 in (15.2 cm) from the bottom of the
heel to the ankle collar. Their construction appears to be solid throughout with
no loose stitching, frays, or material imperfections. They have leather uppers
and a synthetic tongue that is fully gusseted to keep water and debris from
getting inside the boots. The lacing system consists of one pair of traditional
metal eyelets at the base of the tongue followed by three pair of webbing
eyelets and finally three pair of riveted lace locks at the top. The lace locks
are a nice addition as they keep the laces tight while tying them up and they
also prevent the laces from coming loose if they happen to get untied while
trampling through brush. Surprisingly there are no pull loops at the heels of
the boots to help get them on and off. I will see if this presents any issues
for me during field testing. The boots have a nice thick rubber heel guard
while the toe guard consists of an extra piece of leather sewn on the front of
the boots. I prefer rubber toe guards because they are so durable but I guess
the advantage to Lowa's design is that sewn-on leather will never peel
off.
The rubber outsoles for these boots are exclusive to Lowa and
feature an aggressive tread that appears durable and quite 'sticky'. As they
are proclaimed to provide superb performance, comfort and durability, I will be
sure to evaluate them thoroughly and report my findings. I'm anxious to see how
well they perform on wet rocks and slippery mud. I'll also be watching to see if
they can remain clog-free in clay, which is a nemesis to most
outsoles.
The Tiagos have a PU Monowrap Frame midsole
for lateral stability and integrated PU midsole for shock absorption. According
to Lowa the PU material not only provides better shock absorption than EVO but
is also more durable. After further testing I will report how well it cushions
my steps and absorbs large impacts. The true test of course will be how my feet
feel after a long day on the trail.
These boots also feature a
full-length stabilizer (shank) for added foot protection and boot control. Of
course the stabilizer also makes the boots stiffer and less flexible, which in
my opinion is a trade-off.
Moving to the inside of the boot, the top
portions of the tongue and ankle collar are lined with soft nylon. The Gore-Tex
lining encases the rest of the inside of the boot. From my previous experience,
this type of lining is exceptionally breathable yet waterproof so it should keep
my feet both comfortable and dry.
The Climate Control footbed (inserts)
are surprisingly thin and don't appear to provide much padding or arch support.
They consist of two materials sandwiched together and are designed to wick
moisture and allow air to circulate around the foot. They do appear to be
washable which is a bonus.
READING THE INSTRUCTIONS
Two hang tags were attached to
the Tiago boots, one from Gore-Tex and one from Lowa. The hang tags provided
general information on Gore-Tex, as well as simple care and cleaning
instructions for the boots. I found more detailed boot care instructions on the
manufacturer's website.
Lowa recommends the following procedures once
the boots become wet or full of mud: 1. Remove the laces and insoles. Open
the boots up fully and allow them to dry for 24 hours. 2. If the boots are
muddy, put them in lukewarm water and brush them off completely. 3. Apply a
wax or cream to impregnate the leather. 4. Apply a silicone based liquid or
spray to the leather
TRYING THEM OUT
The Tiagos came pre-laced, so all
I had to do was slip them on and tie the laces. While walking around the house
the boots were very comfortable and I felt no pressure points or tight spots.
They also seemed to provide great support based on the short time I wore them
indoors.
SUMMARY
The Tiagos are well designed
boots with top quality materials and workmanship. With the Tiagos, Lowa has
created a lightweight boot that feels both comfortable and sturdy while
incorporating lots of neat features. I am anxious to put some miles on these
boots during the next few months while testing their capabilities.
This
concludes my Initial Report for the Tiagos. Please check back in two months for
my Field Report. In the meantime thanks to Lowa and BackpackGearTest.org for
allowing me to test these boots.
FIELD
REPORT
FIELD LOCATIONS AND CONDITIONS
I wore the Tiagos for nine days and approximately 40 mi
(64 km) during Field Testing. I was able to test the boots while backpacking in
both wet and dry conditions and in temperatures that ranged from 69 to 88 F (21
to 31 C). My pack weight during these trips ranged from 34 to 39 lbs (15 to 18
kg) as I brought a few luxury items with me that I wouldn't normally carry while
backpacking. My hiking was both on and off-trail and included two stream walks
and several large ridge climbs.
MacGregor Park, Indiana: I went on two
day hikes in this park for the sole purpose of getting a few miles on these
boots before taking them overnighting. During the course of both days I logged
9 mi (14 km). Temperatures were in the mid to upper 80s F (31 C) and it was
mostly sunny on my first visit but rained on my second visit to the
park.
Hoosier National Forest, Indiana: Daytime temperatures were a
comfortable 76 F (37 C) during this extended backpacking trip through the Deam
Wilderness. I hiked approximately 15 miles (24 km) and crossed several streams
on this outing. The trails were hard packed and the terrain was forested and
hilly with elevations ranging from 530 to 790 ft (161 to 241 m).
Franklin
County, Indiana: My final two trips were to Franklin County in Southeastern
Indiana where I hiked approximately 12 mi (19 km) during the course of three
days. The weather was cool and rainy on the first day but then cleared up
allowing me to enjoy sunny skies and moderate temperatures on days two and
three.
PERFORMANCE IN THE FIELD
The Tiagos performed very well
during Field Testing. Below are the details of my test results after wearing
them for the past two months:
Durability: The Tiagos held up well to
trail abuse with only minor scuffs and no discoloration to speak of despite
muddy conditions on at least one hike and numerous creek and stream crossings on
my other outings. The leather toe caps and uppers are still in good condition
and the rubber soles show only minimal signs of wear. When the boots got dirty
I let them dry out and then brushed them off with a stiff brush and that seemed
to work fine. If there was any remaining dirt I ran them under water and then
let them dry out once again. Finally, I didn't have any issues with the boot
laces or eyelets while backpacking; in fact the laces are in relatively good
condition despite getting caught on numerous briars.
Comfort and Fit: The
Tiagos fit very well. I ordered size 10W and had plenty of room in the toe box
with no heel slip or rubbing of the collars against my ankles. I also
experienced no hot spots, blisters or pinch points during Field Testing. The
Tiagos were easy to slip on each morning and the laces stayed snug throughout
the day. They also provided good arch support and a stable base that was much
appreciated, given my 39 lbs (18 kg) pack weight on at least one trip. The
boots were stiff when I first started wearing them but they broke in within a
few days and several miles of hiking.
While going up and down steep
terrain I was thankful that the Tiagos were lightweight, comfortable and
provided great foot support. Most boots deliver on two of these three things
but not all three. Usually they are comfortable and provide great support but
aren't lightweight or they are lightweight and comfortable but don't provide
good support. The fact that the boots did all three things well allowed me to
hike for hours on the trail without feeling fatigued.
Traction: The
Tiagos provided great traction on nearly every surface I encountered including
mud, wet rocks, steep uphill climbs and steep declines. The boots were
surefooted and the lugs never lost their grip regardless of where I stepped. A
big plus of course was that because they are mid height boots I was never
concerned about rolling an ankle while traversing hillsides. Only once did I
nearly fall and that was my gaffe for stepping on a downed tree that had rotted
out. Overall I was impressed with Lowa's outsoles.
Waterproofness: The
insides of the Tiagos stayed completely dry on the trail thanks to their
Gore-Tex lining. Not only did no water get inside the boots but just as
importantly the Gore-Tex membrane allowed moisture to escape so that my feet and
socks never felt damp from perspiration even when hiking in 88 F (31 C)
temperatures.
SUMMARY
Lowa hit the nail on the head
with the Tiagos. They are lightweight, comfortable and provide great support
while carrying a heavy pack. They have done a good job of keeping my feet dry
in wet conditions and have plenty of traction on the trail. Overall, I consider
these to be excellent boots.
This concludes my Field Report. Please
check back in two months for my Long Term Report. In the meantime, thanks to
Lowa and BackpackGearTest.org for allowing me to test these boots.
LONG-TERM
REPORT
LONG-TERM TEST LOCATIONS AND
CONDITIONS
Since posting my Field Report in
September I wore the Lowa Tiago GTX boots on two additional backpacking trips
and two day hikes for a total of eight days and 22 mi (35 km). Temperatures
ranged from 42 to 77 F (6 to 25 C) during my outings and the weather was
generally very nice with only a brief period of rain one afternoon. Elevations
in the areas I hiked ranged from 560 to 710 ft (161 to 241 m).
Trip 1:
During this trip I hiked approximately 9 mi (14 km), all off-trail, through
fields and forests.
Location: Southeast Indiana (IN) Type of Trip:
Off-trail hiking Distance: 9 mi (14 km) Length of Trip: Three
days Backpack Weight: 36 lb (16 kg) Sky and Air Conditions: Mild and
sunny Precipitation: None Temperature Range: 54 to 77 F (12 to 25
C)
Trip 2: I hiked approximately 11 mi (19 km) on this trip. The weather
was cool and rainy on the first day but then cleared up allowing me to enjoy
sunny skies and moderate temperatures on days two and three.
Location:
Southeast Indiana (IN) Type of Trip: Off-trail hiking Distance: 11 mi (18
km) Length of Trip: Three days Backpack Weight: 35 lb (15 kg) Sky and
Air Conditions: Rainy the first afternoon but nice afterwards Precipitation:
0.4 in (1.0 cm) Temperature Range: 42 to 66 F (6 to 19 C)
PERFORMANCE IN THE FIELD
The weather was perfect on my
first trip of this test period. Brightly colored autumn leaves lit up the
landscape as I hiked across several miles of gently rolling hillsides before
entering a small forest where I decided to spend the night. It only took a few
minutes to set up camp, so I went out afterwards to gather some firewood for the
evening. After cooking dinner I sat around the fire for an hour or two before
heading off to bed. Temperatures cooled down considerably after sunset so I was
glad to have the fire for warmth. I spent the following day hiking but returned
to the same campsite the following night because the area was so nice.
I
had no problems whatsoever with the Tiago GTX boots on this trip. They were
comfortable to wear over long distances and did a good job supporting my low
arches. Similar to my experience during Field Testing I didn't have any hot
spots or blisters while wearing the boots during the past two months. They were
easy to take off while sitting around the campfire and easy to slip back on
again before retiring for the evening. I hung them next to my hammock where
they were easy to reach when I got out of bed later that night to stoke the
fire.
It rained for several hours on my second trip but that didn't
bother the Tiagos. They performed wonderfully on this trip, keeping my feet
warm and dry in the cool, damp weather. Likewise my feet never felt sweaty or
damp after hiking all day so I felt confident that the Gore-Tex lining was doing
its job of allowing the boots to breathe. The outsoles were plenty aggressive
so my feet never slipped while trail hiking and I was pleased to see that the
treads didn't clog with mud. After the trip was over I simply knocked off any
loose dirt and then hosed the boots off and let them dry out in my
basement.
Before writing this report I pulled out the footbeds and sent
them through the washer and dryer. Upon evaluation they are still in good
condition but I do wish they were more substantial as they are simply too thin
to provide any meaningful cushion.
SUMMARY
The Tiago GTX boots performed
fantastically during the past four months of testing. There are many things to
like about them including: they are supportive, comfortable to wear and provide
excellent traction. They are also easy to lace up and easy to take off after a
long day on the trail. Finally they proved to be quite durable with no
stitching, fabric or outsole issues. In fact, after many miles on the trails
these boots are still in great condition.
This concludes my Long Term
Test Report and this Test Series. I would like to thank Lowa and
BackpackGearTest.org for the opportunity to test these boots.
This report was created with the BackpackGearTest.org
Report Writer Version 1. Copyright 2016. All rights reserved.
Read more reviews of Lowa gear
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|