180 Firearms Training Tests the Lowa Aerox QC GTX
June 24, 2024
I am outside running around in all kinds of weather on many different types of terrain. I’ve also had a recent ankle injury, so it was a daunting task to find the perfect footwear to meet my very specific needs.
After researching many, many, many options, I finally decided on the Lowa Aerox QC GTX boots. My thoughts on the footwear...
Concern: What if the ankle support creates pressure and causes pain?
Reality: The boots added a very gentle support to my ankles where low-cut trail shoes did not. The soft cushioning inside the shoe is very comfortable, yet supportive. They have no-slip laces that help keep the ankle supported as tightly or loosely as I prefer. The laces stayed tied through 8-12 hours of rigorous activity.
Concern: They are boots, so are they going to be heavy, making it difficult to move my feet quickly, and wearing me out as the day goes on?
Reality: These boots were incredibly light-weight. I was amazed that my level of foot speed and agility was just as fast as in a low-cut trail shoe. They didn’t feel any heavier at all.
Concern: What if they run big or small? What if there isn’t room for me to wiggle my toes?
Reality: My order was true to size. I have a skinny foot, but the laces allow them to be tightened so they don’t slide on my heel at all. They have a roomy toe box that is great for comfort and would allow for wider feet as well.
Concern: What if the grips are slippery on some of the terrain I have to compete on?
Reality: The gripping surface was soft enough for gravel, wet concrete and wood, but hard enough for grass, mud and dirt. I didn’t feel my knee torque in the grass like they would with cleats or slide on wet slippery surfaces.
Concern: If I have to shoot in the rain, will my shoes fill with water so I have wet feet all day followed by blisters?
Reality: I shot in the rain and puddles and mud for three days and my feet stayed completely dry. In my previous trail shoes, my feet would be soaked after simply walking through wet grass! In these, they stayed dry running through puddles of standing water.
Concern: These shoes are a bit pricey…is it really worth it?
Reality: I’m on my feet all day every day in all kinds of weather. Shooting with sore wet feet saps my energy and affects my performance. If I’m putting so much money into a gun, ammunition, match fees, etc., why have I been neglecting taking care of my feet to save money? With dry feet and more support, I felt like I had more stamina throughout the day and brought more energy to each stage.
- Kita Busse
I was extremely impressed with these shoes. Especially how light-weight they are and how dry they kept my feet in the rain. For me in my situation, these shoes are worth it. My ankle injury followed by shooting a competition that was completely under water were my deciding factors, but for a long time I was able to get away with cheap throw away shoes. Only you can decide whether they are worth it for you. How often will you wear the shoes? How bad is the terrain and weather you commonly use them in? Do you have any injuries? How important is your performance to you? These are the questions you need to ask yourself when deciding whether to go with something cheap you can get by with or if you need something more. I like that this particular company has different shoes to meet various specialized needs.