Balancing comfort and performance, LOWA's Alpine Expert II GTX Mountaineering Boot features a soft ankle flex for walkability and a stiff midsole for climbing stability. With a waterproof, heat-trapping lining, this pair armors our feet against winter's cold and wet conditions, while its leather upper resists abrasions along rugged trails. As we make our way to the summit, the tacky, multidirectional Vibram lugs stick to rocks and bite into soft terrain, and the heel and toe welts accommodate step-in crampons for glacier traverses and mixed routes.