Lowa Tibet GTX Pro versus non-Pro

[colonel00]

So, I picked up a pair of Lowa Cevedale boots off of STP for cheap since I found my size in the regular color hoping that they would fit. Unfortunately they just seem too narrow. I seem to ride right in the middle of the regular to wide for footwear. After wearing these for an hour or so, I just feel a lot of pressure and I think I am fooling myself if I expect them to stretch.

That said, I started cruising around as I have heard good things about the Tibets. I found the regular Tibets on a site where I can get them in wide for $277 shipped. However, on Lowa's site I see that the GTX Pro's are "on sale" for $249 but hell if I can't find anywhere that actually has them. Moreover, I can't seem to nail down exactly what is different between the two. Even the descriptions on Lowa's site are exactly the same (though the categories are jumbled) as far as I can tell. Can anyone provide some insight?

 

[live2huntelk]

From what I can tell... The Tibet Pro GTX is catalog #2106705599.....looks like the older model. The Tibet GTX is catalog #2106805599 and it indicates "Our most popular hard-duty backpacking boot, updated for 2013." in the description. I found this "The ankle has been slightly improved with a softer flex than the original Tibet." on the Shoebuy.com website....where they are 25% off....$277 with free shipping and free return shipping till 1/20/14. This is a pretty good price.

 

[colonel00]

Yeah, that is the deal I was looking at. What has me torn is I like the Cevedales but they just feel tight, noticeably and somewhat uncomfortable. I ran up to Cabelas and measured my feet again three times and I am still right at a D in width. Perhaps they run narrow?

 

[ckleeves]

You might really try hard to find some Tibets to try on before you order. IMO they fit exactly like the STP Cevedale, unless your talking about the wide version in Tibets.

 

[5MilesBack]

IMO the Tibets do run narrow. I have a narrow foot and their regular width D's feel more narrow than all my other hunting boots. Also, the toe box feels tighter vertically as well. I really had to loosen up the lower laces to feel somewhat comfortable in those.

 

[colonel00]

Thanks for the input fellas. The ones I was looking at on Shoebuy are the wides. I just didn't want to get a wide boot if I didn't need to. Sadly, around here (Kansas City) it isn't the easiest to find boots like this to try on.

 

[drthornton]

I don't wear wide in anything but European Boots. Lowa Tibet Pro GTX currently.

 

[justin davis]

I prefer the Lowa Tibet LL over the goretex model. The LL stand for leather lined

 

[colonel00]

The LL model does look interesting. Have you had any issues with getting them soaked and the lining swelling? I read somewhere that that could be a concern.

I went ahead and placed an order for the wide Tibets so I could compare them with the Cevedales in normal width. Right now I am wearing the Cevedales with regular white gym socks and they aren't that bad but there is still noticeable pressure on the side but obviously not as bad as when I was wearing Darn Toughs yesterday.

 

[LaHunter]

I just ordered some Tibet GTX boots. I spoke with a few retailers who carry the Tibet GTX boots and what I was told is that the Lowa Tibet Pro GTX is the older model. The Lowa Tibet GTX is the newest version that was updated in the fall of 2013. The differences in the boots are in the ankle and midsole, as per what the retailers told me. I have seen some of the Tibet Pro GTX on sale but I have not seen anywhere that has had the new version Tibet GTX on sale.

Schnees had the Tibet Pro GTX on sale for about $250.00 in size 8 and size 11 a couple weeks ago.

Good Luck

 

[colonel00]

Thanks, I did come across the Schnees but yeah, they were very limited and didn't have my size. I don't know where you just ordered from but the shoebuy.com deal is pretty good. The boots aren't on sale, per se, but 25% off and free shipping does make the purchase much more palatable.

 

[justin davis]

The LL model does look interesting. Have you had any issues with getting them soaked and the lining swelling? I read somewhere that that could be a concern.

I went ahead and placed an order for the wide Tibets so I could compare them with the Cevedales in normal width. Right now I am wearing the Cevedales with regular white gym socks and they aren't that bad but there is still noticeable pressure on the side but obviously not as bad as when I was wearing Darn Toughs yesterday.

No hasn't been an issue. I have had both and I like the LL for the archery hunting I do. The LL breaths much better.

 

[live2huntelk]

I normally wear 11, however, when I tried on the Tibets with my wool socks...they were tight on width and I was concerned with my toes jamming into the front of the toe box while downhilling. I tried on 11.5 and it was good on with and gave me the extra room in the toe box for going downhills with a load on my back.

 

[LaHunter]

Hey colenel00,

Thanks for the heads up on 25% off on the Tibet GTX. I called the place that I ordered my Tibet GTX boots from, naturally I paid full price. I told them about the shoebuy.com sale and they threw in some Superfeet Copper insoles and some socks to sort of make it comparable.
I thought that was pretty cool on their part.

Thanks

 

[Climber]

I got a pair of the Tibet's last year (GTX) and am currently really happy with them. Although, I almost gave up on them so you may want to give the Cevedale's a longer break in period. It took me 2 weeks of continually wearing the Tibets before they finally broke in completely. I kept getting a pressure point on the right side of my foot and it nearly caused me to get rid of the boots. I wore some very thick socks on a few hiking trips and the pressure point finally went away. I now love the boots and they are super comfortable.

 

[n2horns]

I have had the Tibet GTX wide for about 4 months now. Lowa came out with a higher ankle support Tibet, looks interesting. The boots don't require too much break in time, but you do need some time.

 

[Brandon Pattison]

I called Lowa about the midsole being different on the non-Pro version. They said that the boot was lighter. I could be way off base here but it sounds like they made them not last as long and cheapened them up. They are still too new to really test the longevity I guess. What are your guys' thoughts?

 

[HJ Handy]

Seems as if a lot of companies are substituting lightweight for, in reality, cheaper quality. Hope this isnt the case with lowa, i love those boots.

 

[jpolson]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

this!

 

[LaHunter]

I was told by a retailer that the Tibet GTX midsole was now polyurethane, which is lighter and stronger than whatever it was prior to the new upgrade.
Also, it was explained to me that polyurethane midsoles are used in nearly all top end mountain hunting boots.