Lowa Women's Renegade GTX Mid

I bought these boots primarily for a trek across northern Spain on the Camino de Santiago Compostela, which was a month long pilgrimage that covers every sort of terrain from the Pyrenees to wheat fields to asphalt to rocky roman roads and everything wet and dry in between. Weather was between 40's/pouring and 110/sunny, and I carried a 15-30 pound pack (depending on the day, water, and if markets were open).

I had previously used a pair of Merril trail shoes for my hiking and outdoor adventures, but was told that I would appreciate a heavy duty boot for something like the Camino. And heavy duty they are. It feels like there are 6 inches of buffer between you and the terrain, and while this is not always appreciated by hikers that like to feel where they're walking, it enabled me to push on during the 40k+ days with sore but able feet. Throughout the Camino my feet stayed dry, no matter if I was walking in 4in deep water or the rest of me was sweating up a storm in the 110 degree Spanish sun.

I only got one hotspot because I got lazy and didn't put on my sock liners on a day we were trekking up and down mountains, and though for the rest of the time I was very intentional about applying superglide and wearing my smartwools over sock liners, the camino is notorious for its blister ridden pilgrims no matter the prevention mechanism and I chalk my luck up to a good boot. I also have very low volume feet, so most boots do not work for me no matter how many different insoles you stack in them (but oh did the faithful REI boot experts try). These were actually my third boot to take home in a one month period, as the others did not pass the weekend hike test. REI was very gracious in my returns and exchanges, only ever charging/giving back the difference in cost of the boots and even re-cutting new superfeet insoles to fit the new boot for free. With a pair of minimum thickness superfeet, these boots fit perfectly, though the laces can easily accomodate a larger volumed foot. As a college kid I wasn't too excited about the price, but I can say that they have been worth every penny. I have only had them for a year, though they have been through a lot (Camino, snow/mountain hiking, jagged rock jumping, airport security) and don't have a single scratch on them. A lot of reviews report low durability (I can't even imagine these things falling apart), so maybe I'll do another review in 5 years and let you know how they're holding up.

These boots give you an "I can conquer the world" kind of feeling- they're my footwear of choice for hiking, grocery shopping, and taking finals. I'm not generally the "write a review" kind of person, but these boots were so awesome I just had to.

I just took these from Oregon mountains to SoCal deserts. Three weeks ago, I was exploring Mount Hood (just beneath the snow line) on a few day-hikes with friends. It was chilly, wet, slippery, etc but these boots held up. I never needed to worry about where I was stepping, I simply moved on through without concern. Needing to traverse creek beds by jumping on wet rock, AMAZING traction. No break in time, feet never wet (foot went under water several times, though not above the ankle). Coming from a background in the Navy, break in time, waterproofing, and breathability are hard to balance and sooo important to a good, long adventure. This design does it all, though. This past weekend, I then took the boots with me to Joshua Tree Natl Park, a high desert region with incredible bouldering and rock face climbing. I left my rock climbing shoes at home since they need resoling, and I managed to keep up with the crew on every surface while bouldering and top roping. The straight edges of the boot allow you to actually rock climb with them, so I could go from scaling boulders to hiking spiky trails without any time lost. It was about 95*F and my feet never sweat. Also, the rocks out there did not wear out the shoe at all- not a scratch on them. THE ONLY DOWNSIDE: The bottom of this shoe is very well cushioned, and sturdy. This cuts down on your ability to "feel the natural terrain" underneath you, so it takes some getting used to. I can't drive with them because I can never feel the pressure I'm exerting on the pedals. I'm sure this will become easier eventually, but for those of you who like that moccasin feel to hiking (I used to absolutely need it in a shoe, no matter the pain it brought, as it may me much more secure in my movements), this shoe may not be for you. Otherwise, I give it an A++!!!

I like these shoes. I wish I could say that I love them, but after a long day of hiking, my feet hurt much more than they did in my last pair of (Keen) hiking boots. I've been using them the last 6 months or so, so I think I have a good idea of their pros and cons by now.

The good:
- These were the only boots (in the store) that I could find that would effectively lock my heel (to prevent my toes hitting the front on downhills) but not be so stiff as to prevent good ankle movement. This was a HUGE factor for me since I do mostly mountainous hikes.
- Good waterproofing, etc. Although I do always seem to get pebbles in these shoes somehow.
- No durability issues so far, except maybe the laces fraying a little bit where they cross the lace hooks from tying them very tight.

The bad:
- After maybe 5 miles, my feet start to hurt in these boots... It feels like I've been standing all day in flat sandals or something. Nothing rubs the wrong way or anything, but maybe there is just inadequate arch support or something. I've tried putting in some Superfeet insoles, but they didn't seem to fit right (there was a gap between the back of the shoe and the insole), so I can't really say if switching out the insoles would help with this issue.
- I have pretty narrow feet, so I really have to cinch these down to get a good fit. This causes the leather near the toe to buckle a little bit and just doesn't look right.

Overall, I think these boots have great potential. The combination of flexibility and great heel lock is key for me. I just don't like the way my feet feel after a few hours in them. Not enough support or cushion or something...

Lowa's last for female is legendary for its fit and comfort. I am a true believer for I have owned 3 pairs of Lowa in different models already. Vasque, Keen, and Asolo can't win my trust.

Renegade is Lowa's most popular and hardest working hiking boots. Let's face it, most people are not doing long-mileage days bushwacking with a heavy pack strapped on. For most people the most they'd do is to hike for 5 hours (with a 2 hr break) with less than 10lb on. If they do it once a month that's considered often.

Thus the demand and appreciation for this model is high. They are built for your typical occasional day hikers in mind. The built and support are more than enough for them.

After Vasque Wasatch gave me 4 hot spots on a 12-mile day hike up to Mt. Baldy (yeah, testing new boots doing 6000' gain and loss in a day, very smart of me) and 2 hot spots after another 14-mile backpacking day gaining and lossing 4000' with 20lb on (gotta give it a second chance, right?), I returned the Wasatch and bought Lowa Renegade instead.

I tried them for an over-nighter carrying 25lb and covered about 7 miles total in a day, I was sold on Renegade. They did the job beautifully, never made me feel like wearing ski boots or not having enough ankle/foot support and sole flexibility.

However, I can imagine if I'd up the mileage, elevation gain/loss, and backpack weight, I would need something more heavy duty. However, for what I am doing right now (less than 10-mile a day and less than 25lb backpack, 22% of my body weight), Renegade is more than adquate to fit the needs.

Lowa makes several models in wide and narrow width besides the usual med width. Make sure you order your boots in the right width.

I have very narrow feet, so finding boots that hold my feet securely is a challenge. I went to my local REI and tried on every women's boot in the store. All of them were stocked in-store only in medium width, and all of them were way too wide for my feet. Of them all, the one that came closest to fitting--while simultaneously being the most comfortable--was the Lowa Renegade. Fortunately, the Renegade also happened to be the only women's hiking boot that could be ordered in narrow via the REI web site. So, I ordered it. To be sure I was getting the best fit available, I also ordered (from other retailers) the only other boots I could find that came in narrow--the Vasque Breeze and an LL Bean model whose name I can't remember. Of the three, the Renegade was the clear standout for fit, comfort, and support. Even in narrow, it was still a bit too wide to keep my toes from bumping the end of the boot, but I played with different socks and premium insoles until I managed to take up the extra space. The result is a perfect fit--stunningly comfortable (especially with premium insoles) and supportive. I just got back from a week of intensive hiking in Yosemite with the brand-new boots. I got winded, my muscles got sore, but my feet never had a moment of discomfort. Traction on the Yosemite granite was great, and the ankle support was terrific in all those moments when I caught my toe on a rock. I've seen that a few reviewers have complained about durability, but so far my boots are holding up beautifully. And even if they were to fall apart in a year, I'd have to run out and buy another pair, because they're really the only option for narrow feet.

I have had these boots for about a year now. I absolutely loved the fit and support. When I purchased these boots, I had problems with a bunion on my left foot. Finding shoes or boots that fit me without pain has always been a problem for me.

However, once I tried these boots, I was hooked. They do run about a half size too big, so I had to get a size 7 instead of my usual 7.5. They are very supportive and the arch support is just right for me. But the most important aspect of the boot was the toebox. I had enough room for the first time. There is no break-in period needed. I bought these boots and went hiking at petroglyphs and Sandia Crest. I actually wear these boots everyday. I wear them when I go grocery shopping and walking. I forget that I have them on. I have gone on long hikes and my feet never hurt.

The past September, I had bunion surgery. When it came time to wear shoes again, the only shoe I could wear was my Lowas. My physical therapist was surprised when I walked in to wearing them. But when he realized how well I was walking with them, he changed his mind. He checked them out and was surprised on how supportive and well made they were. The Lowas passed his test!

I love these boots and will recommend them to my other friends.

First time trying this brand. Now hooked on the ultra lightweight feel, easy to non-existent break-in, and solid quality. My pair nearly lasted 2 years of very rough daily use, mostly working off-trail in ragged and wet conditions. Probably would have gone another 2 years no problem if I had taken care of them – longer if I didn't log >1000km a year on them. I finally blew out the side seams and surrounding leather after being unable to dry the boots out for a few weeks straight (could barely remember what color they were with how thick the layer of mud was).

During the boots life, the triple hooked laces kept my feet firmly in place and I never got a blister or twisted ankle while wearing them. The rubber guard in front saved me from many a stubbed toe and the rubber grip was solid in all but the most mud-bogged conditions while also cushioning against jagged rocks to all but the hardest hits to my arch. The breathable leather, paired with wool socks, left my feet at a comfortable temperature in a wide range of climates (Rocky Mountains, Desert Southwest, Appalachian Trail, Hawaii).

Only complaints would be that the toe box starts to feel a bit pinched after a long day and the sole could be a bit more supportive for the price.

I bought these the day before a five day rim to rim backpacking hike in the Grand Canyon--I know, I know, bad idea-but my old ones HURT. I forgot I had the Lowas on, they were so comfortable. Right after that, I became a geocacher in southern NM and this area is TOUGH on footware. Everything is sharp--loose, very sharp rocks, boulder scrambing, cactus, Spanish daggers, agaves, cat claw acacia, white thorn acacia, off trail hiking can be a real bush whacking thrash, which is mainly what I do. So 15 months after I got them, they are pretty much worn out. the Gore Tex metal logos are both long gone, the seams are unraveling, the soles are worn down in many places, the leather has deep gouges in it everywhere and boy do they smell--but I have put 475 mostly hiking geocaches on them and they have seen very rough terrain, from Oregon Needle to the Franklins, the Rough and Readies, the Sacramentos, the San Mateos and all over the surrounding desert. Only a little of that was trail. I haven't figured the mileage, but it is high. I will buy another pair, but the printing is worn off the tags and I can't read the width. These are the best boots I have ever owned.

I used these boots for a Fourth of July trek through the San Juan valley in Colorado outside of Ouray. This was my first backpacking trip, and I was afraid of rolling my ankle while being so far away from any medical care. I knew I needed to purchase boots a month in advance to wear them in and assure good ankle support. I'm also a woman with large feet (a size 10 wide width) and I wasn't finding any woman's boots that fit me. I was about to go with a men's style and size boot when the knowledgeable REI shoe dept. salesman said I should try Lowa boots. I was a little sticker shocked, but after further investigation - I knew I was buying boots that would last a lifetime. I ended up getting a 10 and a half wide width Renegade boot. We hiked 7 miles each day with 30lb packs up and down the mountains and they were sturdy and gripped really well. Crossing a few streams with unsteady rocks - I submerged both lower extremities - and my feet managed to stay completely dry. I am definitely happy about this purchase: I can't wait for our next hiking trip :)

My husband and I love this boot! We had been trying to break in our Asolo boots for a couple years before we gave up and bought a new pair.

These boots aren't nearly as stiff as the Asolos which fit our feet better (and reduces/eliminates break-in time). We didn't have time to break in the Lowa boots before we took them to the Andes but the boots were very comfortable on several 4-10 day treks, in addition to everyday wear. No blisters and no pain from walking in them for 7+ hours a day with a heavy backpack. We have been wearing these boots non-stop for the last 3 months.

We backpacked with 20-25 lbs packs without any issue. The boots also kept our feet dry in rain (and walking through rivers), our feet toasty in freezing temperatures and were comfortable in all sorts of terrain (rocky, grassy, gravel, wet/marsh). We literally have 0 complaints about the boots thus far and are very happy with them.

We also appreciate how lightweight the boots are. Hands down the lightest hiking boot we have ever owned (and perfect for international travel).