These Lomer Keswick MTX boots are excellent and comfortable boots for any trip. Unfortunately, mine weren’t waterproof.
The Bottom Line
(4.5 / 5)
- Water-resistant
- Very comfortable
- Removable foam insoles
- Full leather construction
- Very resilient
Purchasing
These boots are available direct from Lomer, or from a range of other UK websites (a quick search will show up availability) but not currently from amazon. They go for around £80.
General Comment
These are a really sturdy pair of boots and to this day my favourite. They have a proprietary waterproof membrane (called Mer-Tex) made by Lomer – unfortunately, however, it isn’t waterproof. It does take a soak to get them to wet out, but after a day of Cumbrian rain they are wet through (although, because they leak slowly the water warms up so they never feel too cold…). They have excellent grip on almost all terrain (I’ve not tried on ice) and are very comfortable to wear, even for long periods with their high-quality Vibram soles.
First Impressions
For such an unknown brand, they were very well packaged and presented (not that it matters beyond the first few minutes), but the instructions have got a bit garbled in translation (Lomer is an Italian company). Off the shelf they are fully waterproof and very comfortable – they only get better as the boot molds to the shape of your foot. For the first few hikes they look beautifully pristine and unspoiled but, as you can see from the pictures, this doesn’t last. Weeks of hiking wear and tear have taken their toll.
Included
In the box, you get:
- The boots themselves
- 2 pairs of laces – red and black
- Care instructions
- Warranty card
The extra pair of laces is great to have – I keep mine in my first aid kit just in case I need them.
Comfort
As I’ve already said, these boots are extremely comfortable straight out of the box. As they change to fit the shape of your feet they get even more comfortable. Though the tongues on mine have a tendency to move outwards and can start to rub, but this is easily adjusted. Even if they soak through, they are comfortable to wear and don’t seem cold. You can dry them overnight on longer trips by taking the insoles out – they dry much faster this way.
Care
Lomer recommends using waxes and polishes to keep these boots in good condition, and they say it is very important not to use any thick product that will block the pores in the leather as this will stop them from being breathable. If you do need to fully waterproof them, however, you will have no choice but to take this route.
Quality
These boots are well-made and sturdy, but sadly not waterproof. The boots as a whole seem to be excellent quality and I’ve never had any issues – but the Mer-Tex waterproof membrane clearly is not up to the job. Credit is due to Lomer for trying something different, but in this case it would have been better (if slightly more expensive) to stick with known options like Gore-Tex. The Mer-Tex is not entirely useless, as it does keep water out for a few hours, making it more of a trickle than a flood. This means that you never get overwhelmed with freezing water. Thus the boots are always warm to wear, even when wet.
Replacement
Because these boots weren’t waterproof, I felt the need to replace them. I got in contact with Lomer, and their (really excellent) customer service immediately agreed to give me a discount on a new pair. I bought a new pair of Lomer Pelmo STX boots, which I review here.