LOWA has a legendary hiking boot—the Renegade—but not a signature hiking shoe. I wondered if the new Maddox Pro might finally change that? New for 2025, the LOWA Maddox Pro is a "fully featured modern trail shoe" that LOWA calls "ultralightweight yet supportive" and recommends for "fast hiking on technical terrain." Sounds promising. To test these claims, I picked up a pair and put it through several test hikes that I use to evaluate hiking shoes' support, weight, comfort, fit, weather protection, traction, and overall value. My LOWA Maddox Pro review lets you know why this may be LOWA's best hiking shoe . . . but still nothing special.
Testing the new LOWA Maddox Pro hiking shoe in Embudito Canyon
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LOWA Maddox Pro Review
In the summer of 2025, I tested and reviewed the new LOWA Maddox Pro hiking shoe. I broke in my test pair on a casual hike at Petroglyph National Monument before tackling moderately difficult trails outside of Albuquerque, New Mexico, including the Embudito and La Luz Trails. These trails span a wide range of hiking conditions, providing a solid testing ground to reveal the pros and cons of the hiking footwear I review and recommend.
As always, this is an independent review based on my first-hand experience evaluating the LOWA Maddox Pro. LOWA's PR partner provided me with a test pair but did not influence this honest, in-depth review.
Testing the Maddox Pro's traction and support in Embudito Canyon
Support
The LOWA Maddox Pro is not as stiff as a traditional hiking shoe—which is probably why it's marketed it as a "modern trail shoe." On my test hikes, I noticed my feet bending over rocks and feeling fatigued faster than they would be in sturdier, more supportive hiking shoes like the low-cut LOWA Renegade.
Without a stability shank or chassis, the Maddox Pro bends fairly easily at the mid-foot. This build—coupled with LOWA's less rigid Dyna PU midsoles— prioritizes flexibility over support. For comparison, the Maddox Pro feels less supportive than the casual, comfort-oriented adidas TERREX Free Hiker 2 and budget-oriented Merrell Moab.
At the same time, LOWA's Monowrap support frame (the polyurethane zig-zag around the shoe) adds some stability around the heel. I felt a little lateral support kicking in as my ankles teered a bit on treacherous footing on the La Luz trail. Still, support is not the Maddox Pro's strong suit.
At 2lb 4 oz/pair the Maddox Pro is one of the heavier hiking shoes I've tested
Weight
Neither is weight savings. The Maddox Pro is heavier than expected for a shoe specifically made for "fast hiking over technical terrain." My pair weighs 2 lbs 4 oz (men's size 13). This is average for a traditional men's hiking shoe, tied for the third heaviest hiking shoe in my gear closet, and several ounces heavier than the lightweight hiking shoes I recommend. In other words, it's a stretch to call this an "ultralight" or "fast hiking" shoe.
Overall, this shoe doesn't have a good support: weight ratio. The other hiking shoes I own that weigh around 2 lbs 4 oz—the La Sportiva Spire and Salewa Mountain Trainer Lite—are much more athletic and supportive than the LOWA Maddox Pro. Likewise, my "fast hiking" or "lightweight" hiking shoes, such as the Oboz Katabatic Wind, all weigh 4-6 ounces less.
For a lighter LOWA—and more support—go with the LOWA Fortux trail running shoe.
Weight on the feet doesn't matter as much as many people think. However'
Casual hike at Petroglyph National Monument outside Albuquerque
Fit
The LOWA Maddox Pro is a better fit for men and women with narrow to standard-sized feet. Size up. It runs a little small by US standards.
For me to get enough width for my moderately wide feet, I sized up more than one full size. My everyday shoe size is 11.5, and I needed these in size 13. Even then, they're just barely wide enough for comfort.
Comfort
The Maddox Pro's unusual mix of features makes comfort recommendations difficult.
The LOWA Maddox Pro is more flexible than most hiking shoes I've tested but also has a firmer feel. LOWA's DynaPU midsoles are more dynamic ("Dyna")—that is, bendable—than most LOWA hikers. At the same time, they're still made with polyurethane ("PU")—which is not as soft as the (cheaper and less durable) EVA foam in most hiking shoes. Plus, its upside-down weight-to-support ratio makes it tough to pinpoint who will prefer this shoe's surprising mix of (mediocre) support and (slightly heavy) weight.
With hiking footwear, comfort comes down to fit, hiking style, and personal preferences. You're more likely to find the LOWA Maddox Pro comfortable if you have narrower feet. It's probably not agile enough for fast-and-light hikers or sturdy enough for those who crave stability and support on tough trails. Its build is a better match for the average day hiker who doesn't want a sturdy or a cushy hiking shoe. Personally, I added a Superfeet Hike Cushion insole for more cushioning and support.
The non-waterproof LOWA Maddox Pro is good for desert day hikes
Weather Protection
I tested the non-waterproof version of the Maddox Pro—which is also available in a GORE-TEX version. Living in the high desert, I appreciated how the non-waterproof version protected me from rocks and desert vegetation without cooking my feet. (Waterproof hiking shoes generally wear warmer than non-waterproof hiking shoes.) This is one of a small number of hiking shoes that's available in a non-waterproof style.
The GTX (GORE-TEX) version should provide above average weather protection because GORE-TEX remains the most reliable and breathable waterproof membrane on the market. However, I didn't test the Maddox Pro GTX given my desert home in Albuquerque.
V-shaped lugs and a deep heel brake improve traction on steep trails
Traction
Traction is my favorite feature of the new LOWA Maddox Pro hiking shoe. The shoe features aggressive, chevron-shaped lugs and a deep heel brake. That combo adds up to better traction on steep trails with loose sediments, such as gravel, scree, sand, and mud. The traction impressed me on the steep switchbacks and mixed terrain of the popular La Luz trail. In particular, the Maddox Pro handled steep descents well, thanks to the heel brake and braking lugs over the heel.
This tread isn't made for smooth rock, but I found the traction respectable on slick rock sections of Embudito Canyon. I did some easy scrambling and hiking on water-weathered boulders that have given me trouble in other hiking shoes. Overall, this shoe's tread is its biggest plus, performance-wise.
The Maddox Pro is available in several men's & women's colorways
Value
Made in the European Union, the LOWA Maddox Pro has a premium price: $180 for the non-waterproof model I tested and a whopping $240 for the waterproof Maddox Pro GTX. I'm glad I don't need waterproofing in arid New Mexico! However, these prices may be worth it if LOWAS fit you better than other brands. Plus, this IS a good-looking shoe. However, those prices are steep considering the Maddox Pro's mostly average performance.
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Men's LOWA Maddox Pro
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Women's LOWA Maddox Pro
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Pros and Cons of the LOWA Maddox Pro hiking shoe
Outside of its above average traction, the LOWA Maddox Pro didn't stand out during my test hikes. Here's a quick overview of the shoe's pros and cons:
Should you buy the LOWA Maddox Pro hiking shoe?
The Maddox Pro may work for men and women looking for a hiking shoe with modest support yet excellent traction for steeper trails with loose sediments. It's also an option for men and women with narrow feet. You can make the case that it's LOWA's best hiking shoe for the average day hiker since it's lighter and less expensive than the low-cut version of the award-winning LOWA Renegade.
However, the LOWA Maddox Pro is neither lightweight nor supportive compared with other hiking shoes I've tested. I'm much more impressed with the LOWA Fortux—a trail running shoe that's both lighter and more supportive than the Maddox Pro. As for LOWA's recommendations, the Maddox Pro is not an "ultralightweight" hiking shoe. It's virtually the same weight as the sturdiest hiking shoes I've tested and several ounces heavier than the best lightweight hiking shoes. However, I agree that its traction can indeed handle more technical terrain, thanks to its aggressive lugs and heel brake.
In the end, LOWA hiking boots still seem to stack up better to other brands than LOWA hiking shoes.
Conclusion
Thanks for checking out my first-hand and independent review of the LOWA Maddox Pro—a new hiking shoe for 2025. If you're feeling this shoe, please consider purchasing your pair through the affiliate links above. That keeps this site alive, helps me purchase new shoes to test and review, and gives me a little back for the thousands of unpaid hours I've poured into this site.
If you're looking for something different, please browse my other hiking shoe reviews, check out my top 10 hiking shoes for men and women, or peruse my LOWA brand review for more appropriate recommendations for you. Personally, I'm more impressed with the LOWA Fortux and hiking shoes from Salomon, Scarpa, and La Sportiva.
Happy hiking!
