LOWA SKYTERRA Review

Publication date: 05 Jul 2026

GearHiking shoes

I’ve been a big fan of LOWA’s trail running shoes over the past few years, so when they came out with the SKYTERRA’s, I knew I had to try them. I took my pair on the Salento Trail with some friends this spring and was very satisfied with them. Honestly, they were comfortable, light, and I especially like the white color that they’re offering now. It felt good to have a shoe that could transition from the trail to restaurant dinners each night without sacrificing any support or comfort on the trail.

The LOWA SKYTERRA’s are evolving LOWA’s trail running shoes line with a more cushioned midsole, and 4.5mm treads that are setting a new standard within the brand for what trail-ready means.

Editor

Elmar Teegelbeckers

Passionate hiker Elmar spends months of his time on the trail. He’s usually on the lookout for hidden gems in one of his favourite countries such as Slovenia, Switzerland and Japan. He founded hiking-trails.com in need for a community and detailed information about the trails. Before this, he worked for the Alpine asscociation in the Netherlands[ (NKBV) but lost his heart to the trails.

Not long ago, Elmar published the book (in Dutch) Hiking Trails – best long-distance trails in Europe. With this book, website and socials, he hopes to inspire and shape an inclusive community for hikers all over world. No matter your speed, experience or level, you can get out there to enjoy the trails and connect with the heartwarming hiking community. Life is so much better outside and he hopes to inspire hikers to take their first, or next, step on the trail.

You can reach Elmar at info@hiking-trails.com.

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Testing the SKYTERRA

When we chose to hike the Salento Trail, we were envisioning sun, sand, wavy trails and lots of pasta. And while we did get lots of sun and pasta, the trail ended up being more asphalt than we originally thought. There was still plenty of trail, but once we got there, we realized there would be a fair amount of road walking in between the single track. All this to say, I was grateful to have a cushy midsole on the shoe to absorb some of that concrete shock. Then, when we would transition onto the trails, it felt like flying.

Close up of the SKYTERRA shoe on the label and laces

SKYTERRA shoes from an aerial shot of a man wearing them on a black sand beach

The shoes have the same support of other LOWA’s, and I felt very secure as I switched between sand, trail, and paved paths. The added benefit that I’d say I actually noticed between the SKYTERRA and the AMPLUX’s I’d been using before this was the extra cushion. It felt like I was wearing HOKA or ON running shoes, but with the added comfort of using a brand that has a very lengthy history of creating reliable mountain shoes. I knew I could rely on them as I jumped around with the extra weight of my pack.

About LOWA

LOWA is a German brand that has had a long and successful history of making shoes that last. Their boots have been worn by outdoor enthusiasts for over 100 years for mountaineering, climbing, hiking, skiing, and more. They’re iconic in the hiking scene for their sturdy boots, and they’ve now added trail running shoes over the last few years.

The company has been around for over 100 years now, and all of their products are still made in Europe, between Slovakia, Bosnia, Italy and Croatia. They lead the market for hiking shoes in many ways and are beloved by users globally.

About the SKYTERRA

The SKYTERRA is the next in LOWA’s line of ATR trail running shoes. The SKYTERRA is a lightweight runner with a ton of cushion, impressive lugs, and a wider fit for medium-width feet. The toe box isn’t massive, but it’s more comfortable for long treks when your feet start to expand. Which, as we all know, is a must.

The shoes material was also chosen to be even more breathable and flexible. They’re incorporating more textile for this which is really great. The outsoles are now VIBRAM with a DYNATPE midsole, which is different from the AMPLUX’s, which have TRAC outsoles and DYNAEVA midsoles. And you feel the switch! Because they’re made from such flexible material, there was almost no break-in time for me. The SKYTERRA also have a wider toe box than the earlier versions of LOWA’s trail runners, which make them the best yet for thru-hikers and long-distance hikers.

Specifications

LOWA SKYTERRA
Weight	613 grams
Outsoles	VIBRAM
Midsoles	LOWA DYNATPE
Lining	Textile
Tread Depth	4.5 mm

pro's

Lightweight and flexible

Comfortable lining

Very well-cushioned

Nice color choices

The widest trail running shoe from LOWA yet; great for thru-hiking

con's

Could do with an even wider toe box

No GORETEX or waterproofing

Conclusion

The LOWA SKYTERRA’s are great! I’m really a fan. They’re cushy, which makes the long days comfier, they have a reliable tread, and the material on them is really great now that they’ve switched to a textile. The only thing I’m wishing for in the next iterations of the ATR’s is that they make an even wider toe box. This one is a move in the right direction, and it was still comfortable, but I just like to know I have lots of breathing room for long days. Otherwise, these shoes are LOWA’s best yet!

LOWA SKYTERRA Review

Testing the SKYTERRA

About LOWA

About the SKYTERRA

Specifications

Conclusion

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Happy trails!