Lowa Women's Tempest Mid

I own four pair of these (both the leather and the fabric models), the fit, immediate comfort, long mileage comfort, clean up was so great.... I bought a second pair, then the 3rd , have the 4th waiting all new in its box.

I'm a high mileage hiker on trail mostly, but also lead my husband off trail where no sane woman has gone or followed her husband before, not a backpacker, have to run to that luxury camp or home. I'd suggest the leather for Spring, Fall and mild Winter days, fabric for Summer. Everything is so great about these boots except that the fabric model after about 1500 miles including off trail can get snags from briars, but is only cosmetic. Even the leather/Gortex® isn't waterproof enough for heavy wet snow or in the mountains on super rainy creek swollen days (I drag out the heavy old Danner gortex leathers). Work good from softest trail to most brutal bouldars, scree, or deep mountain side slide dust.

My first 2 pair both have about 2,000 miles in and are going strong, except a few snags in the fabric pair. Even the laces are original, that's a first!!!! I use need laces every 3 to 6 months, don't you hate carrying extra in your pack, OK I still do... but question why, they might work for some other use in an emergency.

PERFECT FIT FOR WIDE feet, works for tall (not high in step) feet, not a sloppy heel fit designed for fat feet, they even fit with the heaviest Filson Winter wool socks, yet lace tighter for warm weather socks. If you saw Walter Chronkite do the news you'll say "true to size, " if you grew up on CNN you might say "runs large," it's that Asia sizing thing.

Once you have your size keep checking Sierra Trading Post for BIG discounts on these in your favorite color, I like to match mountain trail dust :) the taupe/asphault-great far West, Cascade, & Canadian Rockies match. (leather shown as pictured July, 2000)