FAQ

Can I buy LOWA footwear directly from the factory or the company?

Unfortunately, no, we have made a conscious decision not to sell our footwear factory direct to consumers. For good reason! Fitting LOWA boots and shoes correctly and specifically to your foot’s individual needs demands intensive and well-trained consulting - the kind of personal advice you can only find at specialty retailers.

I’ve worn out the soles on my LOWA boots, but I’d like to keep using them. Is there something I can do?

Whether your LOWA boots can be resoled depends entirely on the construction method used in that style. Cemented soles, for example in LOWA Alpine, backpacking and trekking styles, can be replaced without a problem. Your specialty retailer sends us the boots, and we resole them at cost using original materials. If the original materials are not available, we will select materials of at least equal quality. Resoling is unfortunately not possible for footwear from our All Terrain Collection, as well as from the Outdoor-Fitness/Speedhiking and Travel lines.

How long is the warranty on my LOWA boots valid?

We guarantee your boots and shoes will be free from defects in workmanship and materials for a period of 24 months. If you should experience defects during this time, we will repair them within the general terms of our warranty. We are not responsible for damages resulting from improper care and inappropriate use. However, in general, we can usually repair such damages for you at cost.

My LOWA boots are defective, but I’m not certain if they‘re qualified for an authorised claim under the conditions of the warranty.

Please take the boots to your LOWA retailer to ask about any possible defects. The staff will handle all inquiries and returns. And don’t forget your sales receipt. You can of course go to any authorised LOWA retailer, but it’s best to go to the store where you purchased the boots. With their expertise, the retailer can best judge what the best solution is, for example if your boots should be sent in for repairs. 

How do I best care for my LOWA footwear?

The right kind of care can significantly lengthen the time you’ll be able to enjoy your LOWA footwear. Detailed care instructions and tips can be found in our section "Service/Care Tips".

What do terms that you use, like SPS and C4, mean? 

Usually they are a descriptive name for a certain technology we employ to improve for example fit, comfort or stability. Detailed explanations can be found in our section "Fit & Quality".

What is a last and how does a woman’s differ from a man’s?

A last is the shaped form usually made of wood or synthetic materials that fills the inside of footwear during the manufacturing process. Footwear is built around lasts that are shaped like feet. The last is vital in determining the fit and feel of the boot or shoe. Women’s last are at LOWA significantly narrower in the ball of the foot, have a higher instep, and are slimmer in the heel.

What sort of pieces and how many of them are in Trekking boots?

Approximately 190 individual pieces, countless meters of thread, a lot of cement, and endless amounts of handwork are needed to manufacture LOWA Trekking boots. Here is a list of materials typical for one pair of LOWA Trekkers, size 8:

  • 30 pieces of leather 
  • 42 reinforcing pieces
  • 110 metal pieces 
  • 10 pieces for the sole

In addition, we use approximately 65 meters of thread and 200 grams of cement. 

What are the manufacturing stages needed to complete a LOWA Hiking/Trekking boot?

  1. Evaluating the leather: sorting and distribution 
  2. Punching out the pieces: uppers, lining, cushioning, reinforcements, etc. 
  3. Setup:  preparation of all of the individual pieces including stamping, shaving and beveling to thin the edges and to equalise the strength of all parts, applying colour touch-ups to the cut faces, pressing flat and fusing together the leather pieces and reinforcements.  
  4. Sewing: stitching together the pieces 
  5. Cementing: gluing in the cushioning pieces 
  6. Riveting: fastening the metal parts such as hooks, eyelets and lace loops
  7. Quality control of the uppers (i.e., the boot without the last and before the insole, outsole or midsole are attached)
  8. Preparing the parts of the sole: roughing the leather, pretreating
  9. Attaching the insole to the last
  10. Shaping the upper: The upper is drawn snugly and shaped over the last, and then the edges of the upper are cemented to the insole. 
  11. Shaping and securing the heel area: The rear part of the upper is cemented or tacked to the insole
  12. Roughing the sole leather 
  13. Cementing on the rubber rand
  14. Cementing on the sole 
  15. Removing the boot from the last 
  16. Finishing and additional quality control 
  17. Spraying on the finishing treatment
  18. Threading the laces
  19. Inserting the footbed
  20. Attaching the label
  21. Packing and shipping 

More detailed descriptions and images can be found in our section "About LOWA/Manufacturing".