Whether it’s snowshoeing in -8 temperatures or navigating snowy, slushy urban streets, the LOWA Alba II GTX ($275) winter boots are designed for anything outdoors in cold-weather.
What I Liked
Easy on, Easy off
The LOWA Alba II GTX is a tall boot with an eleven-inch shaft height. The problem with tall boots is that they require a lot of lacing and unlacing to get in and out of. For comparison, my Sorel Joan of Arctic boots are even taller—nearly a twelve-inch shaft height. They’re an ordeal to put on and take off because all the laces have to be fully loosened.
However, the Alba II’s come with both a lacing system and a functional waterproof zipper. Once I dialed in the laces I could enter and exit the boots with the zipper only. Although they will require the occasional adjustment depending on what you’re wearing for bottoms (e.g. jeans, shells, leggings), they are a breeze to put on and take off with just a tug of the zipper.
Warmth
Warm means something different for everyone. When the weather is cold, staying warm depends as much on staying dry. When you sweat, or if snow or water penetrate, the moisture stays trapped on, or next to, your skin, making it nearly impossible to stay warm. Moisture is the enemy of warmth – if your skin is wet, it’ll be more difficult to stay or get warm.
The LOWA Alba II GTX’s derive their warmth and insulation from a GORE-TEX Partelana® lining that is 80% polyester and 20% wool. Additionally, the Alba’s footbed has a breathable top layer and transports moisture from the foot. So far this winter the coldest day in these boots was -8 on a snowshoe hike and my feet wouldn’t ever have known.
Traction
LOWA named the outsole for this particular boot the “LOWA Winter Trac®”. When I evaluated the Alba II GTX’s traction, I looked for how well the outsole gripped onto snow or terrain, not necessarily if I could sprint across a sheet of ice and stop on a dime. Predictably, the traction is excellent on all terrain from snow-covered winter sidewalks to snow-packed hiking trails.
The Alba II GTXs have a serrated stud arrangement that helps to shed snowpack, which helps to resist and mitigate slips, skids and slides. If you plan to be walking on frozen, icy snow or ice you’ll need to add some trail crampons. Which brings me to…
Snowshoe- and Trail Crampon-Compatible!
The LOWA Alba II GTX’s are ideal for snowshoeing or walking with trail crampon. When comparing them to my Sorel Joan of Arctic boots, there turned out to be no comparison.
Where the Joan of Arctic boots have a soft and wider sole that feel clumsy when walking, the Alba II’s are stiff, contoured and narrow. The Joan of Arctic’s require the jaws of life to fit into snowshoe bindings, the Alba II’s just glide in. Where I feared tearing the silicon harness of my Hillsound Trail Crampons and Kahtoola MicroSpikes on the Joan of Arctic’s, the Alba II’s narrow last were born for them.
Fit
Runs true to size. Since it’s still a boot be sure to always go a half-size up from your normal size. I wear a 7.5 shoe but a size 8 in boots.
Waterproof-ness
“GTX” is code for “Gortex”. The Alba II GTXs, therefore, are waterproof. Allow me to clarify what waterproof means in a hiking boot. Can you walk into a knee-deep lake or river and emerge on the other side with dry feet? No. But if you’re hiking in snow, slush, pouring, sheeting, pelting rain and wading through puddles your feet will stay dry.
Comfort
The LOWA Alba II GTX are plenty flexible for a cold-weather hiking boot. After a day of hiking in snowshoes or on trails hard-packed with snow, kicking them off my feet when I got home wasn’t Priority #1.
Final Thoughts
I, like many, got caught up in the whole Sorel Joan of Arctic craze. The faux fur ruff, how cute they look with tights and a puffy down coat or a down skirt. Warm and waterproof, they are hard to pass up. They’re great for walking in fluffy snow.
But they’re big. Clunky. Wide. Heavy. I have to make a concerted effort to keep their ample width from pressing on the gas and the brake at the same time. They’re tread-less and unpractical for walking on sketchy surfaces. There is no mistaking that I’m wearing big clunky snow boots.
This review wasn’t intended to be a blood match between the Sorel Joan of Arctic’s and the LOWA Alba II GTX but there’s no mistaking that the LOWA Alba II GTX are the antithesis of the Joan of Arctic’s.
In terms of all-around performance, the Alba II’s win. They are a fully functional winter boot that is warm, agile, lightweight, capable, versatile. Instead of feeling like a clunky snow boot, they handle more like a hiking boot. And best of all, they are more compatible with trail crampons, gaiters, snowshoes and gas-and-brake pedals.
