LOWA Men's Ranger III GTX Wide

The tongue is one of the most underrated components of a boot. A good one will stay in place, absorb the pressure well and you won't even think about it. A bad one will haunt you all trip. LOWA C4 tongues are made up of 15 parts per tongue. Anatomically-contoured for a natural flex that cradles the foot in comfort and promotes a faster break-in time. The benefit is that the C4 Tongue provides more comfort over the instep through engineered padding and instep flex notch.

X-Lacing completely centres the tongue, secures it in place symmetrically, so the tongue remains firmly located with more instep comfort.

LOWA's guide to cleaning your boots:

• Prepare by removing the insole to allow it to air and dry and remove the laces to allow you to reach tucked away corners
• Remove the dirt from your boots with a brush under lukewarm running water. For heavily soiled boots use specialist footwear cleaning products or soap suds.
• Increase the leather's water resistance: Cleaned boots are in an "open-pored" state and will soak up water. In order to "close" the leather again, an impregnating spray should first be used when they are still damp. Please note that proofing will only be fully effective 24 hours after application.
• Maintain the leather's natural softness: Once your boots have been water-proofed they should also regularly have a water-based cream rubbed or polished into them (with a brush), especially when they have had a soaking. TIP… Apply more in the forefoot / flex zone area (it's like a hinge) and brush away any excess. Do this immediately following waterproofing. Leather that has not been treated in this way dries out, becomes brittle and cracks, leaving your footwear irreparably damaged. To prevent this happening, apply your leather care product using a cloth and then polish it off with a brush. By carefully warming the leather with a hair dryer, the care product will be absorbed even deeper into the leather. LOWA do not advise the use of oils or greases. Although they leave the leather very soft and almost waterproof, they reduce the stiffness and therefore the stability of the footwear. Furthermore, oils and greases also clog the leather pores, thereby preventing the leather from breathing (rubber boot effect). In the worst case scenario they can even dissolve the adhesives used in the footwear. DO NOT use care products containing: beeswax, animal fats and petroleum oils e.g. Dubbin, Neatsfoot Oil, Mink Oil and Sno-Seal, etc.
• Give your boots ample time to dry: Never place boots to dry on a radiator, too near to a fireplace or oven, inside a car or in the trunk of your car. They should also not be left on the back step in direct sunlight; the ambient temperature which develops can be as bad as a heater or open fire and the UV perishes the randing.
• Store your boots in a dry, well-aired place. Never store wet boots in damp rooms or the car as they will get mouldy.