Our Verdict
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Lowa Locarno GTX Lo - Women's | |||||
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Awards | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |
Price | $210 List | $109.50 at Amazon Compare at 2 sellers | Check Price at Backcountry Compare at 3 sellers | $55.38 at Amazon Compare at 3 sellers | $104.96 at Backcountry Compare at 3 sellers |
Overall Score ![]() |
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Star Rating | |||||
Pros | Waterproof, durable, understated styling | Great traction, highly cushioned, stable, waterproof, well-priced | Excellent cushioning, roomy toe box, great traction, stable, supportive | Spacious toe box, great traction, waterproof, durable, stable | Fast, nimble, excellent traction, waterproof, supportive midfoot |
Cons | Expensive, not comfortable for long days, poor traction | Bulky design, no additional runner’s loop eyelet | Hard footbed, a little heavy | Heavy, hard footbed, not the most breathable | Limited adjustability, average durability, runs narrow and long |
Bottom Line | A hiking shoe that is durable and waterproof that can go from trail to street | Supportive, affordable, and highly durable, this tried-and-true design is well-suited to every type of foot, hiker, and hiking experience | The perfect balance between strength and softness, with exceptional cushioning, deep tread, and a roomy yet supportive base | A burly, reliable trail partner with a wide base and sticky traction for when trips run long, and durability, stability, and waterproofing are important | This high-performing modern hiker is impressively stable, supportive, and responsive, well-suited to narrow feet on hard-charging missions across versatile terrain |
Rating Categories | Lowa Locarno GTX Lo... | Merrell Moab 3 WP -... | Oboz Sawtooth X Low... | Keen Targhee III Low | Salomon X Ultra 4 G... |
Comfort (25%) | |||||
Support (20%) | |||||
Traction (15%) | |||||
Weight (15%) | |||||
Water Resistance (15%) | |||||
Durability (10%) | |||||
Specs | Lowa Locarno GTX Lo... | Merrell Moab 3 WP -... | Oboz Sawtooth X Low... | Keen Targhee III Low | Salomon X Ultra 4 G... |
Weight (per pair) | 1.6 lbs (size 7) | 1.8 lbs (size 10) | 2.0 lbs (size 10) | 2.1 lbs (size 10) | 1.7 lbs (size 10) |
Width Options | Regular | Regular | Regular, Wide | Regular | Regular |
Upper | Nubuck leather/fabric | Leather, mesh | Oiled nubuck leather, Cordura fabric mesh | Oiled nubuck leather, mesh | Synthetic textile |
Midsole | Low profile Dura-polyurethane | EVA | Rubber-blended Adaptive Cushioning Technology foam EVA | Dual density EVA | EVA |
Lining | Gore-Tex | Recycled mesh/waterproof, breathable membrane | B-DRY waterproof/breathable membrane | KEEN.Dry waterproof, breathable membrane | Gore-Tex |
Outsole | LOWA Hybrid Trac rubber | Vibram TC5+ rubber | True Tread rubber | KEEN All-Terrain Rubber | Rubber Contagrip |
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Lowa Locarno is a durable and waterproof leather hiking shoe with a Gore-Tex membrane and classic styling.
Performance Comparison
Comfort
As your means of getting across trails, up mountains, and out into the wild, your feet need to be comfortable, or the hike will be a short one. Materials that make up the sole of a shoe have a spectrum from cushioned to durable, and more durable soles tend to be less bouncy and responsive. Having some cushion (which EVA soles tend to provide) makes for less foot fatigue. The midsole of this pair is constructed from a hybrid PU, making for a very solid feel underfoot. The insole is relatively thin and provides minimal cushion. Our feet were tired after wearing the Locarno for a long day hike with a moderately heavy pack.
It is equipped with padding on the collar and tongue, and the leather flexes well. In terms of fit, this model is a bit narrow, especially in the toe box, and may not be a good fit if you like to wear a thick sock or need more room for your toes to splay and wiggle.
Support
The durable materials that make up the sole may not be the most comfortable, but they feel pretty solid and protective. The laces worked perfectly fine to secure a snug fit. The insole is molded to provide some arch support, and overall, this shoe felt adequately supportive.
Traction
Sporting "Lowa Hybrid Trac" rubber on the outsoles, we were not particularly impressed with the traction on the Locarno compared to other top-ranked women's hiking shoes. While it was adequate on rolling, non-technical terrain, the shoes slipped considerably on loose rock and icy conditions. It also did not perform well in muddy conditions with relatively shallow lugs. The traction will suffice if you hike on predictable tread in mild weather, but we would hesitate before taking these into steep and varied terrain.
Weight
Weighing in at 1.56 pounds per pair for a size 7, the Locarno is almost in the middle of the pack in terms of weight. Considering the nubuck leather upper, this is surprising, as leather tends to be heavier than other technical materials. It's one of the lightest leather hiking shoes we've ever tested, forging a nice niche for those looking to drop weight without dropping the leather upper.
Water Resistance
Even when fitted with a waterproof liner, leather hiking boots often absorb water while keeping the foot dry inside the shoe. As part of our bucket test, we weigh shoes before and after a ten-minute dunk to see if they are absorbing water. The Locarno GTXshowed, no difference in weight, absorbing no water at all and visibly beading water effectively. Even the laces stayed dry, though they looked like t-shirt material. Lined with an effective Gore-Tex waterproof membrane, if your feet get wet from this shoe, it is likely splashing in over the top.
Durability
As expected from a leather shoe, the Locarno shows little sign of wear after our testing period. The upper is double-stitched around the toe and heel for extra strength. We did notice some snagging in the exposed midsole but overall would anticipate this model to be quite durable over time.
Should You Buy the Lowa Locarno GTX Lo?
If you are looking for one shoe to go from trail to street with excellent waterproofness, this is a great choice. If you plan on tackling more technical terrain or multi-day adventures, there are better options available. Falling at the top end of the price range of the shoes in our test while performing only adequately in technical terrain, we feel that this pair is not a great value. However, it goes from trail to street more successfully than some other hiking shoes in our test, and that crossover trait may add additional value for some hikers.
What Other Hiking Shoes Should You Consider?
With one of the highest prices in the group and a lower overall score, multiple other options offer a better value. The Merrell Moab 3 WP is a top-performing shoe on all counts, yet it's significantly cheaper and versatile enough to serve well on any kind of trail adventure. If speed and technical terrain lie ahead, the La Sportiva Spire GTX is a high-scoring shoe that provides comfort, support, and traction — the three critical metrics for successful all-day hiking. If you want to feel good on the trail and look good over drinks at the end of the day, consider the Arc'teryx Aerios FL 2 GTX, which does a stellar job at bridging that gap.
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