Feature Product – Yukon Ice Hunting Boot by LOWA

For over 4 decades, I’ve tried many different brands and styles of boots during my days afield. Some have been great, and others not so much. But I’ve come across a boot that has been outperforming them all — the Yukon Ice boot by LOWA Boots Inc. I’m hard on my boots, so I need a boot that can withstand long walks through muddy cornfields, steep terrain and deep draws, and still keep my feet warm while sitting in my deer stand for hours. The Yukon Ice boot meets the challenge, and then some. Our deer season has been unusually warm, but with temps dropping in November, I finally got a chance to try out my LOWA’s.  And I have to say I’m more than impressed. In addition to keeping my feet dry and warm, they have great traction that enabled me to safely and easily climb into my tree stands. I’ve probably put close to 20 miles on my LOWAs this season and and I can honestly say they are one of the best performing boots that I’ve ever worn. By giving me dependable, comfortable footwear, I was able to put more time in the field and put 2 deer on the ground.

Here are just a few of the key features:

• LIGHTWEIGHT and STABLE, with top quality Full Grain Leather uppers providing perfect fit.
• WATERPROOF and WARM: Guaranteed waterproof GORE-TEX® Partelana® fleece lining and Primaloft ® insulation keeps dry feet and cozy warm.
• EASY LACING loop system secures your foot perfectly for excellent support and stability.
LOWA is a world renowned manufacturer of premium footwear for hunters, hikers and outdoor enthusiasts. Since 1923, they have been helping outdoorsmen and women get the most of their outdoors adventures by providing quality boots for every terrain, temperature and activity. They have a full line of boots for hiking, backpacking, hunting, and tactical applications.

According to Peter Sachs, General Manager of LOWA Boots LLC, the top 2 preferences for customers are fit number one and comfort number 2. “Those sound like the same thing, but they are not,” explains Sachs. “The best boot in the world is no good if it doesn’t fit. So it’s critical that you find a boot that fits your foot, and activity.” And when it comes to comfort, LOWA manufactures their boots to produce the highest level of comfort, and fit. “Many of our boots have a 14 piece tongue, so that it bends the way your ankle bends. the tongue weight is different is various places so that the amount of friction is different. many people have problems where the tongue wraps on inferior boots. On taller hunting boots we put a flex notch on the heel so the boot will flex backwards if you are walking downhill. We also use a derby style lacing, again to impact how the tongue wraps around the foot for maximum comfort. Pillow perforations on our boots allows heat and moisture to escape. Our boots are designed for comfort and fit since those are the primary factors. In many tougher terrains, underfoot stability is paramount. We use polyurathane soles which are firmer and have a longer life. We tend to prefer full length stabilizers so we can control the flex of the boot. And we never use metal shanks, which don’t offer strength and stability. Also in cold weather, having metal in the boot does not help with heat.”

It’s clear that the folks at LOWA have put years of research and development into production and perfected their boots to produce one the best line of outdoor footwear available in the market today. I chose the Yukon to keep my feet warm when sitting in a deer stand for hours in cold weather. But LOWA offers hundreds of styles for every type of hunting, hiking or outdoor activity. Most boots I’ve used give me about 3 seasons of use. But I would consider the LOWA’s what I call a “15-year-boot”. By that, I mean they are built to last. There are cheaper boots in the market, but like most gear, you get what you pay for. Anyone that has hunted with inferior boots and suffer through a hunt with cold wet feet will agree that paying a few more dollars for quality footwear can make the difference between a great, successful hunt and a miserable one. A good LOWA boot can also save your life. Sachs shared a story with me, “One of our clients expected to be out for 2 or 3 hours and ended up getting lost. Their LOWA boots enabled them to keep their feet warm and keep moving so they were found. So a great boot can save your life.”

LOWA boots can be purchased at many specialty boot stores which typically have staff that can help you try on boots and find the the boot that fits your foot perfectly. To find a listing of stores where LOWA boots are carried, visit their website. You can also research their entire lines and styles of boots to get an idea of which boot is best for your adventure before you head to the store. Visit their website here at lowaboots.com.