Over the past five months I’ve been putting the Lowa Renegade GTX Mid hiking boot to the test to see how it performs with Irish mountains,woodlands and trails.
Before going into a performance review I’d like to mention how I found the boots out of the box.
FIRST THOUGHTS
Firstly the Renegade boot felt comfortable out of the box and took only a few trails to break them in properly.
Being a mid-weight boot I was quite surprised that they weighed less than my other mid-weight boots at a little under 640 Grams for each boot.
Grip
As well as general hiking I used the Renegade boots scrambling along granite rock faces and abseiling where I put the boots’ traction to the test. In general they performed really well, gripping well to the granite rock. Another nice feature I noticed was the generous rubber rand – always welcome when rocks are involved.
In particular the heel rand is positioned high – protecting and buffering the heel from the elements. The Renegade boot performed well with traction on mud,gravel and grass,although on wet granite like any boot the traction was lost slightly. The soles are vibram – a quality material expected in a boot at this price point.
Comfort
As I previously mentioned the Renegade were comfortable right out of the box. When fastened the boot contoured the foot well providing good volume. I selected the wide fitting version as in the past I’ve had issues with a normal fit boot width.
The foam insole feels comfortable underfoot with quite a sunken heel bed which assists in a snug fit. The ankle collar is somewhat padded and supports the ankle well. The upper boot is secured with three locking eyelets on each side of the boot. There is also a tongue collar which when laced laced holds the tongue in a fixed position.
Water Resistance
The Renegade boot comes Gore-tex lined with a seamless design which I tested after many a wet day trapping through Irish mountain bogs. The upper is made from Nubuck leather which did ‘wet out’ but never allowed water to penetrate the Gore-tex liner keeping my feet dry whatever the elements threw at me.
Build quality
The Renegade feels like a well built boot, yet light at under 640g per boot. You would expect that to affect the boot stability but this is not the case. The midsole design helps reduce the weight. The Renegade also features a nylon shank which aids in foot stability. The toe box is in scale with the wider fit I selected which allows a better fit.
The ankle cuff is supportive yet allows for flexibility of movement and is comfortable around the ankle. The eyelets are well manufactured as I’ve had no issue with any rusting,snapping or stiffness. The three fixed upper hooks are well placed allowing the middle hook which is positioned somewhat back from the other two securing a better fit across the outer ankle.
Durability
As previously mentioned the Renegade is built from Nubuck leather, Vibram sole,s urrounded by a rubber rand with a Gore-tex liner. I’ve always been a firm believer in looking after my kit. I always follow the manufacturer instructions when it comes to cleaning,water-proofing outdoor kit.
Clean and proof as necessary and your kit will keep you safe and dry. The Renegade boot is tailored from several different pieces of Nubuck leather which I’ve not had any issue with,ok theres a few scratches but that just proves I’ve been outdoors!
Check back for the long term update, where I will update on longer term durability
Final Thoughts
I like to measure a boots performance not only on how much support it gives or indeed if its waterproof, but how my foot feels after a long trek in the mountains or after a wild camp.
If your foot is sore and tired you’re probably wearing the wrong size or selected a bad choice in footwear. Other factors such as wearing a technical hiking sock will increase comfort and breathability of the foot. Whether its a nice walk in the woods with your family or scramble along a ridgeline I’d be more than happy to recommend the Lowa Renegade GTX Mid hiking boot.
John Surginor
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