Gear Review: Lowa Fortux Trail Running Shoe

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Late last year, my favourite partner Sport Dinaco told me that their fabulous hiking boot brand Lowa Canada has released their very first trail running shoe. To say I was over the moon is an understatement. If you’ve been following along my “influencer” journey over the years you will know that I’ve been wearing Lowa hiking boots and hiking shoes exclusively for the last six years since 2018. You’d also know that I fell in love with trail running the following year in 2019 adding it to my mix of trail adventures, including completing my first ultra trail marathon Coast Mountain Trail Running‘s Whistler Alpine Meadows 55km that fall.

Naturally I jumped on the chance to try out the Lowa Fortux trail running shoe before it was officially released in Canada. I tested it out on our local muddy, rocky, super steep trails in Hope and they held up oh so well. Not just comfy, but honestly the grippiest trail runners I have ever tried. As Lowa explains on their website, “the LOWA® TRAC® ULTRA sole, the bi-directional lugs provide both targeted acceleration (forefoot) and grippy braking (heel).

I’ve worn them now for a full year and have nothing but great things to say. I’ve worn them on long, flat gravel runs, long runs with undulating terrain deep in the mountains, I’ve worn them on short hikes through puddles and snow, even multi-day backpacking trips. They’re that comfortable.

They’re a different kind of comfortable, I must clarify. They have a harder-feeling sole than some other long distance trail runners I’ve worn so you don’t immediately feel that super cushy, bouncy sensation like some other brands are well known for, but the trade-off is well worth it. I’ve found that shoes like that – like my Hoka Speedgoats for example – lift you too high that stability isn’t great. My feet slip around too much with such a thin, flexible upper part of the shoe. The Lowa Fortux keeps you snugly in place with cushioning all around, including a reinforced toe area that prevents that dreaded, awful pain when you accidently kick rocks. Sitting deeper into the shoe, I find my ankle is more supported. I’ve now rolled my ankle quite badly twice over the last year in other footwear but never in my Lowas.

Check out lowa.ca to snag a pair. You can even get free shipping if you buy two or more pairs to try. I find their shoes really do fit true to size, but if you’re between sizes, I’d recommend sizing down. New for this rainy and upcoming snowy season, they’ve also released a waterproof version made with goretex! Check it out at https://www.lowa.ca/en/product/fortux-gtx-ws/

Note my links are to the women’s versions but they also come in men’s. See all the men’s trail runners at https://www.lowa.ca/en/product-category/men/all-terrain-running-men-en/