Lowa Ticam II GTX

Update following backpacking trip. July 2021.

Initial impressions only so will update later in the year following some backcountry hiking. (July 2021 Update at bottom of review.)

Buying this boot online was risky for me. I needed to know I would have the 10-15mm at the front of the boot for trekking. I am a tight US 13 in all shoes in my right foot. Left foot is fine. The sizing chart at Lowa.com indicated I would be pushing my luck (5mm to spare). Interestingly, Altitude Sports(online) had a 5mm increased difference on their sizing chart and it was more accurate. My foot measures 29.5 cms on paper, medium arch, average instep and D width (average). I pulled out the footbed and discovered immediately I would have the room. I had 12mm on the right tight US 13 side and 14mm on the left.

The Lowa site says you can buy your actual size with this boot and you will be fine. It's true they do appear to design their last for trekking! The lacing system aids in holding your heel in place. Some reviewers online claimed you need to go up a size. I am not so sure about that. There is plenty of room in the fore-foot for width as many other reviewers further claim. And above the toes!

The heel pocket as well has more room than I am accustomed to. As a skier you always notice the heel pocket. There is a feeling of space everywhere in the boot and yet the boot feels light and precise when you walk even with that space. I have very bony feet with very long toes and no fat so...people with meatier feet may enjoy the feeling of precision even more so?

I am looking forward to seeing if the boot is cooler in summer heat because of the room inside the boot. The walking motion rolls you gently forward with a subtle rocker affect somewhat like the Meindl Island I have tried on in a shop. The lacing system is superb for precision cinching. The best I have experienced ever.

I own an older pair of Lowa Banff Pros and the tongue on that boot never ceased to frustrate me by untying my laces. Seems Lowa got the memo a few years back. The tongue on this boot will no doubt please most if not all feet. Anyway, more later. The true test will be long days of over 14K's and at least 700m of elevation to see how my feet feel.

I don't find the boot overly stiff at all and yet I cannot bend the boot at all with my hands. Some reviewers likened the boot to a slightly softer mountaineering boot which is accurate and the crampon capability is nice even if only for snow in passes during June.

July 2021 Update: Initial impressions remain firm following a hiking trip in the Rockies. We won the Lake O'Hara lottery and were able to do the Alpine circuit. One warning I must offer is never over tie these boots! The lacing system is so effective you can cause a stress injury if you are not careful. I managed to create stress related inflammation on the top of one foot after over tightening the lower section of the boot and then climbing a very steep switch back for over 1200 feet. Lesson learned.

As stated earlier the heel pocket is quite large in this boot so will accommodate many feet. My feet were never overly stressed or tired on longer 10-14 K hikes with significant elevation gain. I felt energetic at the end of hikes even when hot-which is a great indicator of a boot running hot or cool. I also smashed my toes quite hard against some unforgiving rocks and never felt a thing. I wore light to mid-weight ski compression socks the entire trip. A bit of a new discovery for me. They worked fantastic.

Background

Plenty with other boots but minimally with this product. Oh, life experience? Never mind.