The Lowa Jannu Lo is a sturdy, low-cut, well-constructed hiking shoe. Made in Italy, they retail for about $140 US dollars. They are available in men's and women's sizes. The women's size 6.5 weighs 2.2 pounds (997 grams). The men's size 9 weighs 2.3 pounds (1043 grams).
The shoe's uppers are made of split leather and a durable nylon fabric. The interior is lined with smooth leather.
I purchased these shoes a month ago after owning two pairs of a different brand that started falling apart after only a few uses. The Lowa Jannu Lo is one of the best made and most comfortable shoes I have owned. In the last month I have used them for hiking peaks, scrambling through talus and for backpacking. They show very little wear though I've put them through a lot. I have found this durability to be typical of the Lowa brand. The leather lining on the shoe's interior molds to your foot and is friction-free.
These shoes have a stiff sole. They took a few weeks to break in completely. I had one very small hot spot on the inside of my left heel when I first began using them. By applying a small piece of moleskin before a hike I could wear them all day with no discomfort. Now, after four weeks, no moleskin is needed.
These shoes do not have a goretex liner so they are not waterproof. I stepped in deep mud on a backpacking trip. An ounce or so of water entered the shoe. I found the shoe dried overnight even with below-freezing temperatures.
The Jannu Lo is a very breathable shoe, probably due to the lack of a waterproof liner. My feet have never felt hot in these shoes, and I have a tendency to overheat easily.
The rubber the sole is made with is quite sticky but doesn't seem to wear very quickly. It also grips fairly well when wet. The tread pattern is aggressive and works great on steep dirt trails too.
I have a narrow foot and the Jannu Lo fits very well. I don't have to crank down the laces too much to make the shoe fit snugly.
I initially hesitated at the $140 dollar price tag but these shoes are better made than most.
I'm planning on purchasing another pair when these wear out, but that should be a long time from now.
Here is an update as of December 2007. These shoes are still holding up quite well. The fabric on the sides of the shoes have wear spots, though. I'm going to use seam seal on the fabric to keep these spots from turning into holes.
In late July of this year, I broke a couple of toes while taking a break at the base of Milestone Mountain. (It's a long story.) The stiff sole on these shoes allowed me to hike the 23 or so miles back to the trailhead with a minimum of discomfort. I cranked the shoe down on my foot which formed a makeshift cast. The stiff sole made it more difficult to accidentally bend my broken toes or the ball of my foot. If I'd been wearing flimsy running shoes like I used to do, the walk out would have been more of an ordeal.
I have had mine for several months. Love them, hiking ,scrambling, mt-biking. Great support and narrow width make for a super fit. Lowa makes a quality product.
I have had 1 pair now over a year. They are holding up great. Many miles of adventure. I loved the first pair so much that I purchased an other pair and alternate them. Thanks LOWA !
Kerstin - Jun 22, 2007 3:29 pm - Voted 5/5
A great shoe!These shoes have a stiff sole. They took a few weeks to break in completely. I had one very small hot spot on the inside of my left heel when I first began using them. By applying a small piece of moleskin before a hike I could wear them all day with no discomfort. Now, after four weeks, no moleskin is needed.
These shoes do not have a goretex liner so they are not waterproof. I stepped in deep mud on a backpacking trip. An ounce or so of water entered the shoe. I found the shoe dried overnight even with below-freezing temperatures.
The Jannu Lo is a very breathable shoe, probably due to the lack of a waterproof liner. My feet have never felt hot in these shoes, and I have a tendency to overheat easily.
The rubber the sole is made with is quite sticky but doesn't seem to wear very quickly. It also grips fairly well when wet. The tread pattern is aggressive and works great on steep dirt trails too.
I have a narrow foot and the Jannu Lo fits very well. I don't have to crank down the laces too much to make the shoe fit snugly.
I initially hesitated at the $140 dollar price tag but these shoes are better made than most.
I'm planning on purchasing another pair when these wear out, but that should be a long time from now.