LOWA: an age-old pioneer in mountain footwear
A success story: In 1923, in the small Alpine town of Jetzendorf, Lorenz Wagner, a Bavarian shoemaker, founded LOWA, making safety work shoes for his neighbours. Since then, and throughout its more than 90-year history, the brand has built an excellent reputation for its comfortable and durable footwear, taking great care over every single detail in the design and manufacturing stages – their footwear is handmade using only materials of European origin – and constantly integrating technical innovations into their design.
Over the past decade, LOWA products have been at the pinnacle of the outdoor activities market, highly acclaimed by climbers, mountaineers, and hikers.
The brand also has a rich history: In 1963, Jim Whittaker became the first American to reach the summit of Mount Everest, wearing a pair of LOWA mountain boots; in 1970, LOWA released the first vulcanized rubber soles on the market; in 1972, the brand introduced the ‘Air’ ski boots, which use an inner boot with air cushioning; in 1986, IOWA was one of the first brands to use the new GoreTex® membrane; up until 2000, the Slovene Davo Karnicar became the first man to complete an uninterrupted ski descent of Everest, in LOWA Struktura AT boots; in 2001, German LOWA athlete Inés Papert won the first of her four world ice-climbing championship titles; and in 2011, the Austrian LOWA athlete Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner reached the summit of K2 and became the first woman to successfully climb the 14 eight-thousanders without supplemental oxygen or high-altitude porters.
But what is behind this success?
Greater comfort, more technology and a clear commitment to the environment and society.
Comfort
Many people believe that technical characteristics come at the expense of comfort in mountain footwear. But LOWA has managed to reverse this deep-rooted and widespread belief among many users, especially among beginners.
The brand is structured according to the type of activity, the level of difficulty, the time of year, the natural environment and the shape of the foot, which is reflected in its various collections: MOUNTAINEERING, ROCK CLIMBING, BACKPACKING, HIKING, ALL TERRAIN, EVERYDAY, ALL TASK FORCE-TACTICAL, COLD WEATHER and NARROW/WIDE WIDTHS.
Whichever model you chose, LOWA guarantees a good fit for a wide range of mountain activities, from technical mountaineering routes to vie ferrate; long days of hiking through high-mountain terrain, grassy, snowy or muddy trails; slopes of varying inclines, including those with small technical bumps; or less demanding days of hiking in medium- or low-mountain terrain.
Technology
– Vibram® soles are renowned for their adherence and robustness, providing good grip. They are also extremely reliable, even in adverse weather conditions. Featuring transverse grooved ribs on the heel and toe, these soles are designed to improve contact during both the initial phase of support and take-off of each stride. They also come with a cleat design, making it easier to remove mud.
Vibram® Arctic Grip soles are used in the COLD WEATHER line. These are essentially a sticky rubber grip inserted into the traditional sole, providing incomparable grip on wet ice. This is the most advanced piece of winter footwear technology on the market.
– DynaPU® and DuraPU® outsoles are created using an injection process, where the structure is filled with several layers of foamed plastic polyurethane with thousands of bubbles that provide optimal cushioning and added durability.
– LOWA MONOWRAP® lateral supports and stabilizers are three-dimensional design frameworks intended to provide support and stability to parts of the foot under great strain.
– GORE-TEX® membrane, which guarantees waterproofing without sacrificing necessary breathability. This fabric is located both in the upper part and lower part of the shoe. INVISIBLE FIT™ and PERFECT FIT™ are also SEAMLESS, MINIMALISTIC and COMFORTABLE. Likewise, the use of a single layer of membrane attached directly to the upper lining and insole reduces and minimizes the amount of material used; eliminates seams in order to avoid friction and irritation; prevents creases and crimples to provide greater comfort; and reduces the overall weight of the product for greater breathability.
– Climatic comfort is guaranteed thanks to GORE-TEX® SURROUND, because most of our sweat glands are found on the soles of our feet. The sole of the shoe is designed in such a way that hot air and sweat can flow down through a membrane and into an open-cell spacer. From there, they can both escape out of the side of the shoe, ensuring all-round climatic comfort for your feet.
– The brand has also made modifications to the shape of its women’s shoes, as well as to the functional details and technology used: padded tongue and hem, softer and more flexible cuffs, padding around the calf area, more flexible midsole, etc.
Objectives and CSR
The brand is also strongly committed to the environment, reflected in its careful management of resources; the use of renewable energies; its production processes, obtaining the necessary materials for manufacturing through environmentally friendly procedures; and the various social and humanitarian causes in which it is actively engaged.
