At a glance – 

Plusses: Lightweight, comfortable and very agile.
Minuses: It has a thin sole, pricing.

Features: Imagine a trail running shoe with a thicker midsole, above ankle support and a Gore-Tex liner and you’ve got the Innox.

Lowa has foregone the usual rubber protection on the toes or sides of the boot to produce a fast packing, lightweight (920g (m), 810g (w)) trailblazer.

The Gore-Tex lined synthetic upper is thin and moderately breathable, with additional padding around the heel and ankle.

Lacing consists of thread-through eyelets instead of the hooks commonly found on boots. It does make getting in and out of the boots a bit more fiddly.

The parallels with running shoes extend to Lowa’s in-house NXT outsoles. The sole is nimble, with small lugs providing traction on most surfaces.

Fit: The boot errs on the narrow side, but the soft uppers can accommodate wider feet without discomfort. Sizing was spot on.

Comfort: The lined inner boot is seamless and snug. The midsole provides good heel cushioning but the sole on the front half of the shoe is thin enough to feel angular rocks through. This didn’t bother me – it contributes to the nimbleness of the boot – but others may prefer a thicker sole.

In use: Lowa’s NXT outsole provides good traction for rock hopping and performs well overall, though the small lugs may not last as long as the chunkier ones typically found on boots. The lack of protection for the toes and upper-foot make the boot best suited to trail walking.

Value: The price is above the market average for similar boots, but if you’re looking to save on weight, they are hard to beat.

Verdict: The Innox GTX is an innovative fusion of a trail-runner and a hiking boot. It’s light, nimble and comfortable, but is short on protection for feet.