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Lowa Alpine Ice GTX Review

No fancy tech here, but this heavy boot gives wider feet weather protection and warmth
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Lowa Alpine Ice GTX Review
Credit: Backcountry
Price:  $695 List
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Manufacturer:   Lowa
By Ian McEleney ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Sep 14, 2022
66
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#4 of 9
  • Climbing - 25% 7.0
  • Weight - 20% 4.0
  • Weather Resistance - 20% 8.0
  • Warmth - 15% 8.0
  • Hiking - 10% 5.0
  • Lacing - 10% 7.0

Our Verdict

The Lowa Alpine Ice GTX is a no-nonsense cold weather mountaineering boot. The two main benefits of a supergaiter boot are warmth and protection from foul weather, and this boot delivers on those metrics. It also has decent performance on steep ice. However, it's among the heaviest boots in the review, and its old-fashioned lacing system divided our testers, some of whom preferred the newer designs and technologies on the market. If you have a wider or higher-volume foot, prefer ice to mixed climbing, and climb in a cold and wet place, this could be a great boot for you.
REASONS TO BUY
Weather-resistant
Warm
REASONS TO AVOID
Heavy
Old-school lacing system

Compare to Similar Products

 
lowa alpine ice gtx
Awards  Editors' Choice Award
Best Overall Mountaineering Boot
 Top Pick Award
Best for Overnight Trips
Best Buy Award
Best Bang for the Buck
Price $695 List
$694.95 at Backcountry
$700 List
$612.99 at Amazon
$849 List$750 List$475 List
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Star Rating
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Bottom Line This boot is warm and weatherproof but also heavy and low-techThis simple, lightweight boot is the one for tackling difficult mountaineering routesThis boot is warm, climbs well, and is easy to put on and adjust thanks to the external Boa systemOne of the lightest double boots on the market, and perfect for winter mountaineering in the lower 48A good choice for the year-round mountaineer looking for a do-it-all boot
Rating Categories Lowa Alpine Ice GTX Asolo Eiger XT GV Evo La Sportiva G5 Evo Arc'teryx Acrux AR La Sportiva Trango...
Climbing (25%)
7.0
8.0
8.0
5.0
6.0
Weight (20%)
4.0
9.0
6.0
4.0
7.0
Weather Resistance (20%)
8.0
7.0
6.0
9.0
4.0
Warmth (15%)
8.0
6.0
7.0
9.0
3.0
Hiking (10%)
5.0
6.0
7.0
5.0
8.0
Lacing (10%)
7.0
5.0
9.0
6.0
8.0
Specs Lowa Alpine Ice GTX Asolo Eiger XT GV Evo La Sportiva G5 Evo Arc'teryx Acrux AR La Sportiva Trango...
Style Single Single Single Double Single
Weight 2lb 2.2oz (969g) 1lb 10.8oz (760g) 1lb 15oz (875g) 2lb 2oz (965g) 1lb 13.6oz (835g)
Sizes Available 5-14 US 40-47.5 EU 38-48 EU 7-13 US 38-48 EU
Upper Synthetic High tenacity nylon with Schoeller Soft Shell Stretch Cordura with reflective aluminum lining 3L Gore-Tex w/ TPU Laminate Nylon 6.6 with Honey-Comb Guard and FlexTec 3
Waterproof Lining Gore-Tex Duratherm Gore-Tex Insulated Comfort Gore-Tex Infinium Gore-Tex Gore-Tex Performance Comfort
Shank Hard winter stabilizer Carbon Fiber 3mm Honeycomb Tech insulating carbon PU 9mm Insulated IBI-Thermo
Midsole DuraPU Dual color microporous midsole 2mm polyurethane CM EVA, carbon fiber 6-7mm TPU/ Dual-density micropore EVA
Sole Rubber Vibram Alp Trac Ice Vibram Litebase with Mont compound Vibram Matterhorn Vibram AR Vibram "One"

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Lowa Alpine Ice GTX reminds our testers of some of the early models of supergaiter boots with all of their benefits. That being said, it lacks some of the bells and whistles of other models and isn't as light.

Performance Comparison


lowa alpine ice gtx - leading ice with the lowa alpine ice.
Leading ice with the Lowa Alpine Ice.
Credit: Jon Crowley

Climbing


Climbing performance is the most important metric for consideration in mountaineering boots, and fit is a crucial consideration here. No online review can tell you how a boot will fit your foot. Our testers found that the Alpine Ice GTX felt a bit roomier in the forefoot than other models.

While not wowing us in any one type of climbing, this boot puts in an above-average showing all around. The cuff of the inner boot is more substantial than other supergaiter models, so it felt a bit more supportive on steep ice. This doesn't help with ankle articulation for technical footwork on mixed ground, with or without crampons. However, the Alpine Ice's inner boot is cut lower than many of the single boots, making it feel a bit more nimble on the rock.

lowa alpine ice gtx - the alpine ice with grivel (left) and petzl (right) crampons.
The Alpine Ice with Grivel (left) and Petzl (right) crampons.
Credit: Ian McEleney

Weight


While most mountaineering boots seem to be getting lighter each year, the Alpine Ice is falling a bit behind. Weight on your feet counts the most, so we think this is worth some consideration.

In a size 42.5, this boot weighs in at 2 lbs 2.4oz (about 969g) — the heaviest boot in our test. There are boots that are as warm that weigh less, and boots that climb better that weigh less.

lowa alpine ice gtx - weighing in.
Weighing in.
Credit: Ian McEleney

Weather Resistance


The supergaiter construction of the Alpine Ice does exactly what most mountaineers would expect: it keeps out snow and most water. We did not find the TIZip on the supergaiter to be completely waterproof. After 5 minutes of standing in 6 inches of water, enough liquid had penetrated the zipper for the laces and the outside part of the inner boot to be wet. However, the inside part of the inner boot (where your foot goes) was still bone dry. This makes the effective waterline of the boot about 7 inches, where the tongue of the inner boot connects. We think this is a reasonable amount of waterproofness to expect from a mountaineering boot.

Other supergaiter boots have done away with the waterproof zipper. While this doesn't compromise the weather resistance of the boot much when it comes to post-holing, surprise encounters with running water on approaches and descents can be problematic. Climbers who worry about wet feet should consider this boot.

lowa alpine ice gtx - our tub test placed each boot in 6 inches of water for 5 minutes...
Our tub test placed each boot in 6 inches of water for 5 minutes, which is actually a pretty abnormal place to find yourself when wearing a mountaineering boot.
Credit: Ian McEleney

Warmth


Keeping your extremities warm is a personal, subjective, and complicated job. That said, our testers felt that this boot was amongst the warmer boots in our review. The inner boot came up a bit higher than other supergaiter boots, and it is made of thicker material. This seemed to give more insulation.

Dry feet are warm feet. As mentioned above, the Alpine Ice is a very weather-resistant boot, which contributes to its overall warmth.

lowa alpine ice gtx - the thick inner boot gives more calf support for steep ice and (we...
The thick inner boot gives more calf support for steep ice and (we think) more warmth.
Credit: Ian McEleney

Hiking


Mountaineering boots aren't hiking boots. However, mountaineers do quite a bit of hiking. The inner part of the Alpine Ice has a nice big cutout for your Achilles tendon, which helps the range of motion.

This boot has a pretty standard amount of rocker, which is great for crampon compatibility and climbing performance but doesn't help much with hiking. The fairly traditional lacing system on this boot (discussed in more detail below) doesn't make fine-tuning for hiking any faster, either.

lowa alpine ice gtx - the inner boot is cut lower around the achilles for easier hiking...
The inner boot is cut lower around the Achilles for easier hiking. Also we like this pull tab for getting the boots on and for hanging them up to dry.
Credit: Ian McEleney

Lacing


If you're the kind of climber who doesn't trust newfangled gadgets, the lacing system Lowa used on this boot is for you. The Alpine Ice has a standard lace that runs through nylon loops and metal lace hooks. Though the lace lock is one step lower on the boot than where it's usually found, our team thought it was very effective. The metal lace hooks on the upper part of the boot are covered with a flap to prevent wear and tear on the gaiter.

lowa alpine ice gtx - we really liked this lace lock. it let us easily increase the lace...
We really liked this lace lock. It let us easily increase the lace tension.
Credit: Ian McEleney

Should You Buy the Lowa Alpine Ice GTX?


Supergaiter boots are a hot spot in the mountaineering boot world right now; they're where manufacturers are using the newest technology. The Lowa Alpine Ice GTX is not an example of this trend. The lacing system and materials are a bit more old-fashioned. This is great news for climbers who prefer a simpler boot but need the extra warmth of a supergaiter boot with great weather resistance. If you're a climber with wider feet who spends their time in a maritime climate (we're looking at you PNW and New England), this could be the boot for you.

What Other Mountaineering Boots Should You Consider?


The Lowa Alpine Ice GTX is one of the more affordable supergaiter boots in our testing lineup. This is great news if it's also a good fit for your foot. If not, and you're looking for this type of boot, it might be worth spending more on something like the Asolo Eiger XT GV Evo or La Sportiva G5 Evo. For an all-around boot at an approachable price, take a look at the La Sportiva Trango Tower Extreme GTX

lowa alpine ice gtx - steep ice is a great medium for the alpine ice.
Steep ice is a great medium for the Alpine Ice.
Credit: Jess Haist

Ian McEleney