The Lowa Innox Pro is a relatively new boot that Lowa bills as a "game changer" for the brand because it blends the comfort and weight savings of a sneaker with the support of a hiking boot. This light hiking boot or "fast-packing" boot is a big departure for Lowa, a good brand for brawny hiking and backpacking boots. Is the Innox Pro an option for lightweight fans who normally would not buy Lowa? Will Lowa fans like this new hiking boot-sneaker hybrid? Is it legit? Is it worth the cost? My Lowa Innox Pro GTX Mid review dives into the support, weight, comfort, fit, waterproofing, traction, and more to help hikers figure out if it's a good choice for their feet, their budget, and their hikes.
Lowa Innox Pro GTX Mid
men's Innox Pro
women's Innox Pro
By all accounts, the Innox Pro is Lowa's best lightweight hiking boot. Lowa also offers the Innox Pro in a waterproof GORE-TEX (GTX") version and a non-waterproof version and as a low-cut hiking shoe. My review covers the most popular style, the Innox Pro GTX Mid. As of spring 2023, the manufacturer's suggested retail price is $240. That means you may want to search for the Innox Pro's best price or time sales or promotions at Backcountry or REI (see current prices below):
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Lowa Innox Pro GTX Mid Review
My Lowa Innox Pro GTX review focuses on the mid-cut, GORE-TEX (GTX) version of Lowa's best lightweight hiking boot. I received a complementary pair of Innox Pros as part of my prize package for winning top hiker in the 2023 Backcountry Summer Adventure Challenge. This is an independent review (not sponsored or influenced by Lowa) based on a series of day hikes that I hand-picked to evaluate the support, weight, fit, comfort, weather protection, traction, and value of this hybrid sneaker-hiker.
Support
GOOD ANKLE SUPPORT FOR A LIGHTWEIGHT
One of the best selling points for the Lowa Innox Pro GTX Mid is that it's a lightweight hiking boot with solid, mid-cut ankle support. That's a rarity— and a big plus for hikers who want to cut some ounces without losing all the support of a hiking boot.
Overall, the Innox Pro has moderate support— it's more of a cross between a high-top basketball shoe and mid-weight hiking boot than a true hiking boot. Even so, it's capable on tougher trails, even if it's better for faster hikes on moderate terrain. I tested its support on a 12-mile hike along the Allegheny Front with plenty of rocks, roots, and dodgy sidehill traverses without any problems, My feet finished the hike relatively fresh, and my ankles felt locked down in spite of the soggy, icy, and often tricky terrain. The Innox Pro has thinner soles than typical Lowas, but it's still supportive through the forefoot, has decent torsional rigidity (which may prevent some twisted ankles), and true, mid-cut ankle support.
Weight
LIGHTWEIGHT/MIDWEIGHT (2lb 7oz Size 13 Men)
The Lowa Innox Pro GTX Mid weighs a little less than the average hiking boot in my size. My pair of the Innox Pro weighs 5-6 ounces less than my mid-weight Oboz hiking boots and 10 ounces less than my pair of Lowa Renegades—the brand's best seller. At the same time, they're 3-4 ounces heavier than my current lightweight hiking boots, the Hoka Anacapa Mid and Topo Trailventure 2. It's best to classify the Innox Pro as a hybrid lightweight/midweight hiking boot since its weight slots in between the best lightweight hiking boots and best midweight hiking boots.
Comfort
Depends on fit and personal preference
Comfort depends a lot on fit, use, and personal preference. In terms of feel, my favorite part of the Innox Pro is the way its uppers wrap around and over the top of my feet—much like the Sensifit uppers of Salomon hiking boots. For me, that's a snug and comfortable fit. Like all Lowas, the Innox Pro is firm underfoot, due to the brand's durable (and more expensive) PU midsoles.
Some hikers will love the moderate flex and lighter build of the Innox Pro while some men and women will want sturdier or softer soles to feel less of the trail, especially when walking on rocks or roads. I can see why some people find this boot super comfortable—and why some people wish it was thicker underfoot. I found it comfortable on softer, forest hikes but wanted more "float" and less "feel" on some gravely trails and hard-packed forest service roads. Moving forward, I'll be replacing this boot's stock insoles with Superfeet insoles to add some thickness and cushioning underfoot.
Fit
STANDARD TO SLIGHTLY NARROW
In theory, Lowas aren't as narrow as most European brands. However, I had to size up more than normal to fit my moderately wide feet in the Innox Pro. Let's call its fit standard to slightly narrow. Hikers with wide feet (like me) may be able to wear them by sizing up a full size from their normal hiking size. My street size is usually 11.5, and most of my hiking boots are size 12 wide or 12. The Lowa Innox Pro GTX fits me pretty comfortably in a size 13. The narrower heel cup and cradling uppers prevent heel slippage and do a nice job of holding my feet in place.
Weather Protection
PLUS
The "GTX" in the Lowa Innox Pro GTX Mid stands for GORE-TEX. GORE remains the most reliable waterproofing in the outdoor industry. GORE-TEX membranes are sewn inside hiking boots to keep out rain and snow. They also breathe evaporated moisture vapor when your feet get warm. That's a plus. My pair performed as expected on two longer hikes in shallow snow and snow melt—a soggy, slushy, and sometimes icy 12-mile loop through Moshannon State Forest and an 11-mile hike through light snow and mud on the Golden Eagle and Dragon's Back trails in Pine Creek Canyon, Pennsylvania.
Traction
Premium Vibram outsoles
Lowa stocked the Innox Pro GTX Mid with premium Vibram outsoles. This Vibram rubber is soft enough to gain traction on rock while featuring triangular lugs that dig into soft and loose surfaces. That's a high performance mix. I've had no surprise slips or falls in my pair in spite of testing them in crappy late winter/early spring trail conditions. They've worked for me while scrambling up a rocky mountain side, bush-whacking my way up a gnarly bluff, rock-hopping across a talus field, and hiking sketchy sidehill trails that were soft and muddy due to thawing, rain, and snow melt. Traction-wise, the Innox Pro should provide dependable footing in most hiking conditions.
Value
EXPENSIVE
Lowa hiking boots are expensive, and that's also true of the Innox Pro GTX Mid. With a MSRP of $240, this lightweight "fast packing" boot costs as much as many backpacking boots. That seems steep to me, even though you're getting GTX waterproofing, Vibram traction, and Lowa durability. That being said, that's the same price as the On Cloudrock, which is a similar, mid-cut fast-packing boot in the same weight class. The Cloudrock may be more cushioned than the Innox Pro, but the Innox Pro clearly beats the Cloudrock's waterproofing, traction, and durability. That price may be worth it for hikers who love the fit or want a lighter hiking boot that hasn't compromised ankle support by shaving ounces.
Lowa Innox Pro GTX Mid: Pros vs. Cons
The Lowa Innox Pro GTX Mid is more of a niche boot than a conventional hiking boot. That means it's especially important to consider the boot's pros and cons:
Conclusion:
My Lowa Innox Pro GTX Mid review is mostly positive. This boot is an interesting hybrid—a cross between a sneaker and a hiker. A fastpacking boot that's somewhere in between a lightweight hiking boot and midweight hiking boot. It's not the best Lowa boot for hard day hikes or backpacking. But the Innox Pro is a potential match for fast hikers with light packs, casual hikers, and dedicated hikers who want a lighter hiking boot without losing the ankle support of a traditional hiking boot.
If that's not you, feel free to browse my brand recommendations, my Lowa brand review, or my recommendations for the best hiking boots, best women's hiking boots, or best lightweight hiking boots to find alternatives.
If you ARE feeling these boots after reading my Lowa Innox Pro Mid review, please consider purchasing your pair through the affiliate links above. Hiking Feet may receive a small commission from the retailer (at no cost to you) if you click one of these links and make a qualifying purchase. Those commissions aren't much. But they cover my expenses and compensate me for all the unpaid hours I've devoted to creating free content that helps men and women find the best hiking boots, hiking shoes, and trail running shoes for them. If this site hooked you up, please consider hooking me up, too!
Cheers! And happy hiking!
