LOWA Skyterra Trail Runner
LOWA has come out with the new Skyterra Trail Runners and I am very excited to try them out. I, and many people, know LOWA more for their boot lines, which include hiking, hunting, work, and military boots, and I have had a lot of luck with their hiking boots. The move to more trail runners seems to be on the company has put a new emphasis on and I was glad to test out the new line. While I admit, I don’t do much trail running, but so many people are using trail runners as their hiking shoes, I think it is important to look at the shoes from a hiking perspective. With that being said, here is my review of the LOWA Skyterra Trail Runners.
As a disclaimer I would like to mention that I was sent this product so that I could write this review. All opinions on this page are my own and based on my own experiences with this product. I am not compensated for the opinions on this review. Your experience with the product may be different. This site uses affiliate marketing links. If you click on a button or link and make a purchase I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.
From LOWA about the Skyterra
Before I tell you about my thoughts on the LOWA Skyterra Trail Runners, I like to see what LOWA is saying about their shoes. From their website they say in part, “Recommended for: Medium to long distance trail runs on gravel, single track, and alpine terrain. The SKYTERRA is designed for more miles and more fun.”
Here is more about the specs of the Skyterra.
Specs
Price*
$190.00
Sizes*
7.5-11.5 in half sizes. Then moving up in full sizes for 12, 13, and 14.
Colors*
Men’s – Navy Marine/Blue, Orange/Black
Women’s – Burgundy/Clay, Lilac/Plum
Weight*
680 grams (pair) 23.98 Ounces
Technical Specs*
| Upper | Mesh, Synthetic |
|---|---|
| Lining | Moisture-Wicking Textile |
| Insole | ATR |
| Midsole | Rocker-Shaped High Rebound DYNATYPE® |
| Outsole | VIBRAM TRAC® ULTRA 2 w/Megagrip Rubber |
| Weight | 340g / Single Shoe |
| Heel Drop | 6mm |
| Stack Height | Heel 33mm; Ball 27mm |
| Country of Origin | Vietnam |
| Other | No intentionally added PFAS |
All information from LOWA.com.  Check the website for full details and options.
What I liked
There is a lot to like with the LOWA Skyterra trail runners. Some of my favorite features are the lugs and traction, the support of the shoe and the foam that is really springy and reactive. Here is a bit more of what I liked about the Skyterra.
Cushion
The first thing I noticed when I put on the LOWA Skyterra was the cushioning and how much impact was being absorbed. These are some of the softest landings I have had while hiking. Plus, the thick foam helped to protect me from the rocky surface of hiking on the Colorado Trails.
The second thing I noticed was how reactive the shoes were. Not only did they absorb each step but the foam actually sprung back up and helped to keep me moving forward. It was enough that I actually noticed my foot wanting to come off the ground after each step. The midsole is Rocker Shaped High Rebound Dynatype and I have to say it really impressed me. I wouldn’t say it propelled me forward but it did give that spring loaded feel to my feet. The recovery from absorbing the step to springing back was almost instantaneous and it really had me wanting to go the extra miles.
Weight
I wouldn’t put the LOWA into the ultralight category but they are light weight. The men’s shoes weigh in at about 340 grams or just under 12 ounces each. While this is a little heavier than a competition, it is a good number when you factor in the deeper lugs needed for the traction of a trail runner.
As someone who hikes more than runs, I appreciate the lighter feel on my feet. I hike in a lot of heavier boots, especially through the winter and spring melt seasons, so going from the heavy boots to the Skyterra really made these feel like feathers.
Support
One thing that I have found in some trail runners is that when used as a hiking shoe, the support isn’t as good but I didn’t feel that at all with the Skyterra. I was really impressed with the heel capture which plays a big factor when hiking with a lot of elevation changes. Uphill or downhill my foot was exactly where it needed to be without having to fight the shoe.
I was also really impressed when I got into the rockier terrains with how much support I was feeling. I think the addition of the cushioning from the midsole and insole locked my foot in and allowed me to handle all of the rocky terrain with ease.
The Look
I am definitely a function over style person, but I was impressed with how the LOWA Skyterra trail runners looked. Sometimes, boot companies can get caught in that in-between are when it comes to making trail runners. Their runners still look like boots but function as trail runners. That was not the case with LOWA.
The Skyterra has really sleek lines and incorporates multiple colors into their shoe. The darker mesh looks really good and I liked the small details like the color splashes across the mesh and around the toe. They had another accent color around the lace guards that just gave a little extra flare. Most importantly, the Skyterra looks like a running shoe with no references back to the boots that made LOWA famous.
Traction
Traction is where the Skyterra really shined in my opinion. They do it with 4.5mm lugs and VIBRAM TRAC® ULTRA 2 w/Megagrip Rubber. I was really impressed especially with how well these shoes gripped the hard, dusty dirt on the downhills. When gravity is working against you heading down a steep trail is always the ultimate test for outdoor traction and these shoes passed with flying colors.
I hiked in a lot of terrain, which was made even harsher with the Colorado drought this year, and I felt confident in every scenario with these shoes. The lugs held firm on big rocks and hard dirt with really little difference in grip. Here is a bit more of how these shoes handled each condition I tested them in.
Slip Scale
On a slip scale from worst to best of: Oh-HOLY COW–NO NO NO, Woah, Not Bad, I Got This, No Worries!
- Flat Dry ground that is dirt or rock:Â No Worries
- Flat ground that is a little damp or muddy:Â No Worries
- Loose dirt:Â No Worries
- Walking across rock boulders:Â No Worries
- Declining down a flat rock:Â No Worries
- Scree: Not Attempted
- When bottom of shoes are wet:Â No Worries
Overall Grip
Overall grip was very strong. I have yet to slip at all, on any terrain in the first 40 or so miles that I have hiked in these.
Bouldering and Rock Walking
The Skyterra handled rocks very well. I didn’t get into climbing at all but walking across large rocks and rocky had no issues at all.
Snow, Slush, Ice
I tested these shoes in summer and was not able to review them in winter conditions.
Damp Tread
When I did get the bottoms of the shoes damp from small creek crossings, they didn’t lose any of the grip. They were fine moving forward.
Dry Trail
Perfect, no complaints.
What I Didn’t Like
There is so much to like about the LOWA Skyterra but they will take away my blogger card if I don’t find something I don’t like. For me, the only thing I didn’t like was more about my anatomy than the shoes. I have a very high arch and found the shoe a little small across the top of my foot. I didn’t really notice it on shorter hikes but when I went over 10 miles, I did have some discomfort on the top of foot.
Now, if I was buying these shoes, I might look for a half size up or a wider version of the toe box. Since these were for reviewing, I like to get my standard size to see how it compares. I would recommend that people try the shoes or maybe look at a half size bigger which I hear is common for runners anyway.
Video review of the Lowa Skyterra Trail Runners
For those who prefer video reviews, I have put together this video of the Lowa Skyterra Trail Runners. If you enjoy the video please make sure to subscribe to my YouTube Channel. It is free to subscribe and you will get updates on all my latest outdoor content.
Wrap up of the LOWA Skyterra Trail Runners
Overall, I really liked the LOWA Skyterra Trail Runners. I hiked with them on longer hikes, shorter hikes and even wore them around the city for a bit. The support and cushion are great. They soften each step and then rebound and help spring you into the next one. It really helped on those longer hikes to help save the bottoms of my feet and help compel me to keep moving forward. The traction is also really impressive for a trail runner and handle all the terrains I tested it on with no problems at all.
The only downside is that they didn’t fit perfectly for my high arch. I probably could have used a half size bigger to help with that. That isn’t uncommon for me when I am doing testing due to my weird foot but I didn’t want to mention it for people.
While I didn’t use these shoes to actually trail run, I think they work really well for a hiking shoe for anyone who is looking for a lighter weight option to keep them on the trail in comfort and style.
More from the Fatman
For a list of other products that I have reviewed you can check my Product Review page here. If you have any products you would like me to review or any comments you can email me at fatmanlittletrails@gmail.com or you can follow me on any of the below social media platforms. Happy Hiking!