The new LOWA Delago GTX Lo is a niche hiking shoe that's built for tough slogs through the mountains. It's technically a low-cut trekking boot. That makes it stiffer and heavier than the average day hiker wants or needs. But it's potentially a baller for alpine hikers who need a sturdy shoe to stand up to tough terrain and shrug off the elements at high elevations. My LOWA Delago review digs into the support, weight, fit, comfort, weather protection, traction, and overall value of this German-made trekking shoe, which currently retails for $235.
LOWA Delago GTX Lo Review
As always, my hiking shoe reviews are based on personal experience and supplemented with my professional experience in the outdoor gear industry. From the Fall of 2023 to the Spring of 2024, I wore the LOWA Delago GTX Lo on a serious of test hikes to evaluate its features, fit, and most appropriate uses. Since this is technically a low-cut trekking boot—not an all-around hiking shoe—I prioritized rocky Pennsylvania trails and sometimes waited for snowy weather in order to guage its support, comfort, weather protection, and tread. When I move out West later this year, I'll tackle more high-elevation trails and some Colorado 14ers to judge this sturdy hiking shoe on the type of terrain it's designed to tackle. For now, this is my preliminary review of the LOWA Delago GTX Lo (which I'll continue to update in 2024):
testing the LOWA Delago in Pennsylvania's Rothrock State Forest
LOWA Delago Support
HIGHLY PROTECTIVE
LOWA classifies the Delago Lo as a low-cut trekking boot that's designed for technical trails and light packs. That means it's moderately stiff by trekking standards and significantly stiffer and sturdier than the average hiking shoe. There's a little give in the Delago's sturdy outsole with LOWA's DynaPU midsole making it firm but slightly more flexible than a traditional trekking boot. A rubber toe cap protects againsts stubs and tripping hazards on the trail. Even though this is a low-cut, the support and lateral stability stand out. It's missing mid- or high-cut ankle protection—to shave weight—but provides more protection than any other hiking shoe in my arsenal.
LOWA Delago Weight
LOWA markets the Delago Lo as a lightweight shoe. It may be "lightweight" by trekking boot standards—thanks to its low cut—but not by hiking shoe standards. My men's size 13 weighs approximately 2lbs 13oz per pair. That's similar to my mid-weight Oboz Bridger hiking boots. So, the low-cut Delago lets a few hikers shave about a pound off their high-cut trekking boots or costs the average hiker 9-12 ounces relative to most hiking shoes on the market. Weight is all about perspective here.
Delagos seem to run true-to-size length-wise with a narrower fit
LOWA Delago Fit
Like most European brands, LOWA can run narrow by US standards—or not. That makes them tricky to order online. My LOWA size varies by model—from a 12 regular (Fortux) to 12.5 wide (Renegade) to 13 (Innox Pro). Given my moderately wide feet, I ordered a 13 (1.5 sizes larger than my everyday size) for more width. That barely gave me enough width in the forefoot while running too long in the toes. This suggests the Delago runs true to size length-wise with a narrower fit (which is typical for European trekking boots). Narrow-footed hikers probably should size up a 1/2 size while most hikers with standard-width feet should size up a full size for adequate width.
Women's Delago GTX Lo
LOWA Delago Comfort
At Hiking Feet, I preach that comfort has a lot to do with fit, your hiking style, and your personal preferences. If you're looking for a snug fit and a stiff-soled hiking shoe that can spare your feet some punishment on tough treks, you'll probably find the Delago comfortable. If you're a newbie or prefer highly cushioned hiking shoes, you will find the Delago's PU midsoles and stiff outsoles too stiff and heavy. Keep in mind this shoe isn't made for a walk in the park. It's made for serious hikers in mountainous environments. Most hardcore hikers know that a stiffer shoe is often the more comfortable option on steep and rocky terrain because that rock-solid base can take a pounding and prevent feet from over-flexing on every rock, root, and uneven step. That same build doesn't make much sense on flat terrain or well-travelled trails. Personally, my feet felt fresh in the Delago on 11-12 mile slogs up and down the steepest trails in Rothrock State Forest that led to rocky ridgelines with tricky footing that put extra pressure on my feet and ankles.
GORE-TEX waterproofing supports all-weather hiking
LOWA Delago Weather Protection
GORE-TEX WATERPROOFING
The "GTX" in the Delago GTX Lo stands for "GORE TEX," which is still the industry standard for reliable and breathable waterproofing. The "Lo" cut doesn't give hikers as much weather protection as a mid- or high-cut hiking boot. However, the split leather uppers and GORE-TEX membrane do provide premium weather protection. My pair performed as expected on several snowy test hikes and an early spring slog through 11 miles of snow melt and icy puddles on the Tussey Mountain ridgeline. The little bit of water that entered my right shoe came from an unfortunate splash and water wicking in from a wet pant leg—not from a weakness in the waterproofing. My feet stayed dry over several hours in wet conditions.
LOWA Delago Traction
EXCELLENT
Traction is one of the LOWA Delago's best features. The Delago combines approach shoe elements with Vibram Rock Trac Sense outsoles for outstanding grip on rocky surfaces. You'll see climb-oriented lugs in the heel and toes, lugging out to the edge of the shoe for lateral support, and wide triangular lugs in the middle with plenty of contact area to generate friction on rock. Mostly testing the LOWA Delago on snowy, rocky trails, I was impressed with the way this shoe stuck to snow covered rocks on steep ascents and descents and how I could scramble and rock hop across talus fields without worrying too much about my footing. The depth between the triangular lugs also provides some purchase in snow and mud. This is a good outsole for the mountains.
LOWA Delago Overall value
LOWA is a premium brand known for its quality materials and construction. (See my LOWA Brand Review.) The Delago GTX Lo is made in Germany under strict EU guidelines. That means you can feel confident about this shoe's quality—and not be suprised by its premium price. With a MSRP of $235, this low cut trekking shoe has a similar price to several backpacking boots I recommend. At the same time, that's $100-150 less than most mid-cut and high-cut trekking boots—providing significant cost savings and weight savings for men and women who want a lightweight trekking option. It's similar in price to the Salewa Mountain Trainer (MSRP $230), which is a pretty good comp for this sturdy mountain hiking shoe.
LOWA Delago GTX Lo: Pros vs. Cons
Here's a quick overview of the pros and cons of the new LOWA Delago:
Conclusion:
The LOWA Delago GTX Lo isn't made for casual hikers or the average day hiker. It's a low-cut trekking boot that's built for all-day and multi-day trips in big mountains for serious hikers and backpackers with lightweight gear. If that's you—and you want a low-cut for either weight savings or cost savings—this new LOWA offering may make a ton of sense for you! Keep in mind that it seems to run snug and narrow (like most trekking boots), so you may need to size up more if you have more standard-sized feet. Based on this first-hand review, I've added the Delago to my recommendations for the best alpine hiking shoes and plan on wearing my pair more regularly this summer when I tackle my first Colorado 14ers.
