Review of LOWA Maddox Lo GTX TF Athletic Outdoor Shoe

I’ve reviewed several different boots over the years, but when it comes to lower shoes I just haven’t done a lot with them. Truth be told, I spend about half my life without any real shoes on, instead traipsing around in mandals (man sandals, of course) because here in Florida, why not? But during the cooler months it’s nice to be able to slip on some comfortable shoes with my jeans when I’m doing yard work, taking short hikes in the woods, walking the fenceline to see what needs repairs, overhauling a tractor out in the shop, or whatever. Enter the Maddox from LOWA Boots, which ain’t a boot.

As you will see in the photos, I have not babied these shoes. I’ve spent countless hours wearing them as I worked on tractors in my concrete-floored shop and while I did just about every outdoor chore you can think of. They’re spattered with orange paint (Power King, not Kubota) and who knows what else.

The shoes I’ve used for this sort of thing in the past have typically been slip-ons with good arch support. I like being able to step into my shoes and get them on without any fighting. That’s not how it works with the Maddox, but it’s still pretty good. I slipped the shoes on, snugged up the one-lace system by moving the slider into position, then locked it and tucked the excess under the elastic loop above the tongue. And that’s where it stayed.

Instead of just stepping into the shoes, I do have to do the old finger-shoe-horn maneuver, but the payback is that these shoes stay on more securely during active endeeavors.

The soles are aggressive and tough, both of which are common traits of all my LOWA boots. They’re also comfortable, and prevented fatigue from standing and walking on concrete for hours on end.

The Maddox looks like a running shoe, and while I’m no runner I would be okay with these on my feet should the time come to flee. Mandals, not so much.

And entirely UN-like mandals, the Gore-Tex lining helps keep my feet dry.

If I have one complaint about the Maddox, it is that the tongue of my right shoe is prone to wander. There’s nothing to keep it centered, and it will slide off to one side. Examination shows that the left shoe’s tongue is stitched to prevent that, so I reckon that stitching came out of my right tongue. A few minutes with a needle and thread would remedy that.

One odd thing is that, although these shoes are size 12, I have been told more than once they make my feet look small. Not sure how that happened, but whatever.

Maddox Lo GTX TF Specs

LOWA has this to say about the Maddox Lo TF:

An ultra-lightweight athletically inspired training shoe. A one-pull speed lacing ensures easy tightening and even pressure distribution. The midsole is a dual density DynaPU® with the upper PU MONOWRAP® layer providing stability and support, while the bottom layer provides shock absorption. The Enduro Evo outsole has sharp edge lugs and a heel brake for reliable traction in all terrain. Durably waterproof/breathable.

• Made in Slovakia
• Insole: Atc Footbed
• Midsole: Double Injection DynaPU® with shock absobing zones
• Resolable: No
• Weight Per Pair (Spec): 25 ounces/1.6 pounds
• Weight Per Pair (Actual weight, size 12): 32 ounces/2 pounds
• Construction: Slip Lasted – Injected PU Midsole
• Lacing Hardware: Fabric Loops and Closed Hooks
• Lining: GORE-TEX® S
• Sole: LOWA Enduro Evo
• Upper Material: Synthetic
• Available colors: Black and Wolf
• Sizes: 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 10.5, 11, 11.5, 12, 13, 14
• MSRP: $195

Conclusion

I like my LOWA Maddox Lo TF shoes, and I’ll keep wearing them as long as I can. Are they that much better than lower-priced shoes? Well they are definitely better than the $30 shoes they replaced. But the lowest price I’ve seen for these is $175 per pair shipped, and that’s not cheap for a pair of shoes.

Bottom line: LOWA Maddox shoes are comfortable and they’ve held up well, and that’s more than I can say for most of the cheap shoes I’ve gone through the in the past.

Russ Chastain

Editor & Contributing Writer Russ Chastain is a lifelong hunter and shooter who has spent his life learning about hunting, shooting, guns, ammunition, gunsmithing, reloading, and bullet casting. He started toting his own gun in the woods at age nine and he's pursued deer with rifles since 1982, so his hunting knowledge has been growing for more than three and a half decades. His desire and ability to share this knowledge with others has also grown, and Russ has been professionally writing and editing original hunting & shooting content since 1998. Russ Chastain has a passion for sharing accurate, honest, interesting hunting & shooting knowledge and stories with people of all skill levels.