Lowa and Salomon are two of the brands from our hiking boots brands selection that we did a few weeks ago.
We also compared Salomon to La Sportiva in a previous article and, today, we will compare it to Lowa, a German brand that we like very much.
We will talk about what we think are the differences and the things that these two brands have in common, and at the end we will “reveal” which of them, in our opinion, would be the better choice.
Both offer a wide selection of hiking shoes (not surprisingly, we have placed them among our favorite brands in the selection we mentioned above).
Both boast a success story that goes way back in time. And both have specific programs regarding environmental sustainability, which we believe is a plus.
Choosing the right hiking shoe is fundamental in our opinion, just like with other outdoor gear, of course: many of us have had at least one episode in our adventures where we have found ourselves, perhaps in the middle of a mountain path, with shoes pressing on the feet, or who were not comfortable enough.
So, to choose the most comfortable boots for our specific situation, also with some attention to the design and price, we do these comparisons between brands to better understand the options that the market has to offer.
We will start with Lowa.
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1. Lowa
A Short History Of the Brand
As usual, we will start with a discussion of the main points in the history of the brand.
Lowa is a German company founded in 1923 by Lorenz Wagner. Their headquarters are located today near the city of Munich, Germany. Their production is essentially based on outdoor boots and on the strength and durability of the materials of their shoes and boots.
The focus of the company is: perfect fit, functionality, design and technical innovation. The combination of tradition and innovation are a synthesis of their vision. Today Lowa is one of the market leaders in the German-speaking countries, and continues expanding.
In addition, Lowa is very attentive to sustainability and the environment, and for this reason their production is based on a specific commitment in this direction.
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Materials and Manufacture
The company offers a large number of hiking shoes. Most of these are made using Gore-Tex and are based on different technologies for the different sports and activities to which they are dedicated.
The soles of the boots are in Vibram®, for optimal traction and resistance on various types of terrain.
Lowa uses different types of Vibram technologies for the soles (for example LOWA® Cross II is a line designed for hiking, to better withstand slips and for optimal grip).
The peculiarity of the brand is that for years they have dealt with finding the perfect fit that could be functional for women, when it comes to shoes and boots.
For this reason, they have carried out numerous studies specifically on women’s feet, creating products and materials specifically for them.
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Popular Designs
Now let’s see two pairs of hiking boots that we have picked among Lowa’s most popular products:
Lowa Men’s Renegade GTX Mid Hiking Boot
Image: lowaboots.com
The Renegade GTX Mid is an example of a Lowa cult boot. Available in numerous colors, this boot is composed of a Vibram sole while the fabrics are 100% leather and synthetic.
It is a comfortable and versatile shoe, which also resists humidity and guarantees extra stability on the most difficult terrains.
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Lowa Men’s Zephyr Mid TF Hiking Boot
Image: lowaboots.com
Another example of a classic boot by Lowa, the Zephyr Mid TF comes with a rubber sole that guarantees perfect stability in most terrains and on the toughest trails.
It is also breathable and moisture-wicking, and provides insulation, comfort and the right balance of heat to the feet.
Prices
The prices of Lowa’s hiking shoes in general start from around $200 and can go up to $250. Not very expensive, but not very cheap also, when compared to those of other brands.
Are Lowa’s hiking boots worth the price?
We think that despite the prices being quite high compared to the average, they are still worth buying.
In fact, Lowa has a very wide variety of shoes, and for this reason a wide choice among which you can choose the product that best suits your needs. And this without mentioning their quality which is indisputable in our opinion.
2. Salomon
A Short History Of the Brand
Salomon is an outdoor brand founded in France in 1947. Initially they manufactured ski bindings and have also invented the first ski binding with automatic release heel.
Since then, their history has been studded with successes, up to the present day when the brand is renowned not only for boots, ski bindings, but also for a wide selection of outdoor clothing and accessories.
Read also: Salomon vs Merrell: Which Brand is Better for Hiking Shoes and Boots?
Their commitment is mainly aimed at environmental sustainability. They follow a specific program and aim to offer the knowledge necessary to live the environment responsibly, while having fun and enjoying it at the same time.
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Materials and Manufacture
Salomon hiking boots utilize mainly Gore-Tex®, the membrane that keeps the foot protected from the rain and humidity. This technology is used in combination with many others, including SensiFit™ – which guarantees a personalized fit.
As for traction, Salomon boots are equipped with the Contagrip® TD sole, which guarantees extreme resistance on terrains of varying difficulty and various characteristics.
In addition, most hiking boots are protected at the toe, and have different other protections, such as waterproof insulation, protective mudguard which protects the sides of the feet, etc.
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Popular Designs
By Salomon we have picked:
Salomon X Ultra 3 Mid GORE-TEX Men’s Wide Hiking Boots
Image: salomon.com
The X Ultra 3 hiking boot is one of the bestsellers of the brand, available in several colors. It has a water resistant structure which makes it suitable for many types of outdoor activities, thanks also to the high traction they provide on all types of terrain.
It is designed to be long lasting and uses the Descent Control Technology.
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Salomon Quest 4D 3 GORE-TEX Men’s Backpacking Boots
Image: salomon.com
Another popular design by Salomon, the Quest 4D 3 GTX boot is designed to have maximum traction and is also available in different colors.
Among the main technologies that it uses we can mention: Gore-Tex, Sensifit™, 4D Advanced Chassis™, EnergyCell™ and Contagrip® TD.
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Prices
Salomon’s hiking boots prices range from a minimum of around $90 up to around $200: prices vary depending on the technologies used, the design and the end use.
Are Salomon’s hiking boots worth the price?
Yes. Considering the solidity and consistency, both of the Salomon brand with its long history of successes, and also of their shoes and boots, we think they are definitely worth trying.
They are durable, comfortable, versatile for different types of activities and come in various designs for all tastes.
3. Which Brand is Better?
Ok, now that we have a complete view of each of these brands, let’s see which of the two would be the better choice.
The first, Lowa, is more focused and specialized in the production of shoes and boots, so it is very experienced and qualified in this industry.
On the other hand, we have a brand, Salomon, which produces not only shoes, but also numerous clothing items and other outdoor gear.
This, of course, doesn’t mean they are not specialized in shoes, because as we saw they have created numerous technologies themselves and also collaborated with important outdoor companies that provide other technologies, for example Gore-Tex.
As for the price, Salomon costs slightly less while still offering a remarkable product quality. However, Lowa offers a very wide selection of products where you can find the right price for your budget.
Which one is better? Which brand to choose?
If you need an almost “tailor-made” hiking shoe, we think we’d choose Lowa, while for a versatile, quality product at a slightly lower price, we would go with Salomon.
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