LOWA, well known from their long standing mountain hiking boot heritage, has built a mid to long distance trail runner from. The SKYTERRA Trail Shoe is a great option for your long runs, with plenty of traction and cushioning.

LOWA SKYTERRA Trail Shoe

Fit

I am typically a women’s size 9 for running shoes and require a special insole with a metatarsal pad for running. I found that the LOWA SKYTERRA Trail Shoe ran VERY large. I ordered a women’s 8 (a full size smaller) and found them to fit perfectly.

LOWA SKYTERRA Trail Shoe

The interior of the shoe is plenty roomy and had no issues accommodating my running insoles. I had just the right amount of room across my forefoot, never feeling too roomy or too tight.  I had excellent heel comfort and lock-down as well.

Function

I tested the LOWA SKYTERRA Trail Shoe on my usual trail running route that I utilize for most of my gear testing. Trail surfaces varied from packed dirt, dirt with a slippery layer of grit, loose baby head rocks, and conglomerate sandstone.

The feel of the LOWA SKYTERRA Trail Shoe is firmer compared to most of the shoes that I test (which lately have fallen into "squishy supershoe" territory". The supercritical foam The shoes are slightly stiff, but in a supportive way, and not in a bad way.  The cushion was noticable but not overwhelming.

LOWA SKYTERRA Trail Shoe

The overall feel of the shoe is on the stiff side, maybe a callback to LOWA’s boot roots. The stiffness isn’t bad, it’s just different. The fabric upper is constructed in a way where I suspect it will last a very long time. Select parts of the fabric upper are coated with a durable material along the toe cap, the lace eyelets, and along the midsole, giving extra protection from fraying and tears.

The VIBRAM TRAC® ULTRA 2 w/Megagrip Rubber outsole provided secure footing on a wide variety of terrain. I enjoyed the lug depth – 4.5 mm – giving me plenty of traction in sand and over rocks. Even with the firm midsole and stiffer feeling upper, I didn’t have any issues with footing during my testing. The shoes moved well on a wide variety of terrain with no instability or near-ankle twists. There isn’t a ton of “trail feel” due to the firm midsole, but I’m the kind of runner that favors stability on lumpy terrain over feeling the bumps.

I would place the LOWA SKYTERRA Trail Shoe in the upper rankings of my unofficial trail shoe hierarchy.  The shoes were super comfortable right out of the box.  I had an easy time picking up my feet as I ran and the shoes handled any trail surface without issue.  I would even say these everyday trainer shoes were "fun" to run in, with a very enjoyable ride could carry me through many miles and adventures.

Closing Thoughts

The LOWA SKYTERRA Trail Shoe falls into the “reliable trainer” category of trail running shoes. Durable and reliable, it’s a shoe that’s good over the long haul, for longer training days and even longer racing days where protection and grip are prioritized over lightness and a bouncy foot feel.

The LOWA SKYTERRA Trail Shoe is available for both men and women. Sizing can be tricky, so try and find the shoe in person to find the fit that works for best for you. I recommend sizing down a full size for the best fit.