Great news: this hiking boot is also available in a men’s version.
Pros / Reasons to Buy
- Available in three widths for better fit
- Extremely comfortable yet rigid for difficult terrain
Cons / Reasons to Avoid
- Expensive
- Isn’t the most exciting design visually
We were impressed with the Lowa Renegade GTX Mid Hiking Boots – they’re from the exact same family as the Lowa Renegade GTX LO, which we’ve also reviewed. This higher version, which gives much more support around the ankle and sits as a traditional hiking boot takes the ‘why fix what isn’t broken approach’ and offers something similar.
So, if you’re used to the ankle height, hiking shoe version of this boot, and want something that is heavier weight, more robust and ready to take on a wide variety of terrain, including more technical conditions, then you will likely love this offering.
Editor’s note: This article is part of our guide to the best hiking boots, be sure to check out the rest of this guide for our top buying tips:
Compare to Similar Products:
Danner Mountain 600 Leaf GTX | Merrell Moab 3 Mid Waterproof | Salomon Quest 4 Gore Tex | Columbia Newton Ridge Plus Waterproof Amped | Zamberlan 996 Vioz GTX | Salomon X Ultra 4 Gore-Tex | Lowa Renegade GTX Mid | La Sportiva Nucleo High II GTX | Hoka Kaha 2 GTX | Vasque Breeze Waterproof Hiking Boots | |
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Buying Options | ||||||||||
Our Ratings | Best Overall Women's | Most Comfortable | Best for Mountain Walking | Best Budget | Best Waterproof | Best for Summer/Hot Weather | Best Leather | Best for Day Hikes | ||
Pros | Extremely comfortable. Wears in quickly. Excellent fit for wider feet | Excellent comfort. Excellent durability | Sturdy and ready to take on anything. Good toe placement and great ankle positioning | Very comfortable, pretty much straight out the box. Great price point | Excellent build quality. Can be resoled | Low weight. Good build quality | Available in three widths and a variety of sizes. Extremely comfortable | Cutting edge materials, good breathability to waterproofing ratio | Extremely supportive and comfortable. Stylish. | Excellent durability. Rigid build |
Cons | Not great for narrower feet. Sizing for buyers outside the United States can be limited | Slightly confusing product range. The design looks dated. | Break in takes a little while. Rigid. | Isn't as breathable. Could do with a more robust sole | Expensive. The design may be too utilitarian for some | Ankle cuff not as supportive as some others. Wider toe box may not suit those with very narrow feet. New | Expensive. Isn't visually that striking | Expensive for what they are. We don't find them suitable for longer treks | Expensive. Leather feels cold after walking through significant water. | Dated design. Stiff upper may not be to everybody's taste. |
Traction | Excellent | Very good | Medium/deep thread pattern | Good - but not as good on technical terrain | Excellent | Excellent | Vibram outsole - excellent | Excellent | Excellent - uses Vibram Megagrip | Very good |
Breathability | Good | Very good | Gore-Tex upper and well insulated | OK | Low | Good | Good | Excellent | OK | Very good |
Ankle Support | Good | Very good | Excellent | Good | Excellent | Good | Excellent | Good | Excellent | Excellent |
Arch support | Regular to good | Good | Average | OK | Average | Good | Average | Regular | Average | Average |
Fit | Fits a little large, size down a half size if in-between, available in a single width | Fits true to size. comes in standard and wide widths | Suits normal to wider feet | Standard fit, runs small - best to go up a half size | Standard fit - runs small | Fits true to size. Comes in standard and wide widths | Comes in standard, narrow and wide fit options and wide range of sizes | Runs narrow | Standard fit | Runs a little small. Available in standard and wide fit |
Materials | Grain leather upper, metal lacing hardware and synthetic/rubber soles | Synthetic and pig suede upper. | Leather and synthetic | Upper leather and suede and synthetic | Mostly leather with synthetic lining and rubber sole | Fully synthetic | Leather and synthetic | Leather and synthetic | Leather and synthetic | Nubuck leather and synthetics |
Appearance | Modern hiking boot | Slightly dated design | Modern | Modern hiking boot with traditional feel | Traditional hiking boot | Modern hiking boot | Modern hiking boot | Modern hiking boot | Modern hiking boot/trail hybrid | Slightly dated design |
Durability | Excellent | Very good | Excellent | Sole feels quite lightweight | Excellent | Excellent | Good | Average | Good | Excellent |
Water Resistance | Gore-Tex membrane | In-house waterproof, breathable membrane | Gore-Tex membrane | Waterproof (Omni-Tech) | Gore Tex lining and water resistant coating | Gore Tex membrane | Gore-Tex membrane | Gore-Tex Surround membrane | Gore-Tex lining | In-house waterproof, breathable membrane |
Weight (pair) | 900g/2lb per pair | 800g/1lb 12oz | 1070g/2lb 6oz | 791g/1.8lbs per pair | 1.28kg/2lb 13oz | 740g/1lb 10oz | 950g/2lb | 900g/2 lb. 1 oz | 1015g/2.5 lbs | 990g/2lb 2oz |
Insoles | Standard insole | Padded insole | Padded insole | Standard insole | Padded insole | Padded. shaped insole | Standard insole | Standard insole | Standard insole | Padded insole |
Break-in Period | Minimal | Minimal | Some break in needed | Very minimal | Some break-in required | Minimal | Minimal | Slightly longer than average | Minimal | Medium |
Lacing system | Regular laces with metal lacing hardwear for durability | Standard laces | Standard laces | Standard/regular laces | Standard/regular laces | Standard laces | Standard lacing system | Standard/regular laces | Standard - eyelet with grip lacing around the ankle | Standard laces |
Toe Protection | Rubberized toe rand | Rubber rand around toe and small toe cap | Rubberized toe rand | Rubberized toe rand | Substantially reinforced toe offers excellent protection | Rubber rand on toe and small toe cap. | Substantial rubber toe rand | Rubberized toe rand | Rubberized toe rand with reinforced stitching | Rubber rand around toe and small toe cap |
Analysis and Test Results
The Lowa Renegade GTX Mid performed well in our tests amongst the best hiking boots, in much the same was the GTX LO did in our previous reviews – it’s a dependable boot that you’ll likely find yourself reaching for time and time again. This model is extremely popular for Lowa, and you’ve no doubt encountered the various iterations of the product and the range they offer.
This hiking boot clearly puts comfort at the forefront, as these boots are extremely well cushioned and feel trail ready very quickly. We also love the fact that Lowa are making this boot as accessible as possible by way of the variety of widths on offer. There’s a standard, wide and narrow. Great news if you struggle to find a boot that fits you just right.
See how we ranked the Lowa Renegade GTX Mid based on our various testing metrics below.
Performance Comparison
Traction
The Lowa Renegade GTX Mid hiking boots perform exceptionally well in a whole variety of circumstances, making light work of slippery rocks, loose surfaces, slide inducing mud and even light snow and ice. They present a rugged option and for their price point offer a step up in terms of the confidence they can provide with foot placement on the trail.
They make use of a Vibram outsole, which gives it the edge, and the thread pattern uses deep lugs and grippy elements to make them extremely versatile. You’ll feel more confident on all surfaces in these boots.
Breathability
Unventilated leather, such as that used on the Lowa Renegade GTX Mid hiking boots is always going to be less breathable than their synthetic competition seen in other models. However, the breathability of these hiking boots will not be a problem for you if you are hiking in varying weather.
If you’re hiking in hot summer weather or very hot deserts a lot of the time, then you may find them overkill. You may want to then opt for a more ventilated version. Otherwise, they’re pretty much perfect and give a great option if you know you’ll be hiking in a whole range of places.
The breathability can of course be improved if you make use of well-ventilated socks too – choose something made of merino wool or synthetic version for optimal breathability, especially on longer treks and hikes.
Ankle Support
The ankle support offered with this boot of course takes things up a notch from their Renegade LO version, which we’ve also reviewed. The reality is that this boot is substantial – and it feels really supportive for longer treks even with a heavy backpacking pack.
The lacing system – giving three hook overs that hold tension really well and don’t seem to loosen even after steep ascents and descents. This keeps the ankle in place really well and reduces the amount of tension put on the ball and sole of the foot.
Whilst its rigidity is pretty confidence building and helps the prevent ankle injuries, it never feels particularly heavy or cumbersome and makes light work of more difficult sections of trail too.
Arch Support
Lowa don’t make any big points about the arch support offered on the Renegade GTX Mid in their product information, and when testing we also couldn’t find any reason why this hiking boot wouldn’t be classed as offering about standard or a normal level of ankle support.
This will work well for most hikers, but if you do have any specific concerns, you can easily change out the insole for a more supportive one taking your particular needs into consideration. Given that these are easily found in most drug stores of similar for a low price, this alteration will not add much to the overall price of kitting yourself out with this hiking boot.
See the Lowa Renegade GTX Mid in more detail:
Fit
An area where this hiking boot really excels itself is that Lowa offer it in three widths – narrow, standard, or regular and wide. This is excellent as some hiking boots from certain manufacturers tend to offer one fit alone and if you live nowhere near a good outdoor store to get a feel, can be a real guessing game when ordering online.
This allows you to get the perfect fit for your feet – and ultimately, this means that the Renegade Mid feels ultra-supportive and comfortable. You’ll want to go further in these because they feel really well adapted to your feet and after you’ve worn them for a while, they’ll feel like you always have. They’re also available in a wide range of sizes from 4.4 US/2.5 UK/35 EU to 12 US/10 UK/44.5 EU.
Materials
The Renegade Mid uses a combination of nubuck leather for its upper and synthetic materials for its sole (rubber) and it’s waterproof lining (Gore-Tex). The thing about leather is that it is softer and molds to the shape of your foot, so it really enhances comfort over time.
They will last the test of time, but it also doesn’t offer a great option if you’re looking for something that doesn’t contain leather but is also fairly solid. That said, if this isn’t an issue for you, the longevity you’ll get from these boots and the durability that the materials used give is second to none.
Appearance
Whilst we’ve seen more exciting hiking boots, especially at the price point these hiking boots are offered at, they’re also far from boring. They have a kind of classic hiking boot look or style whilst shaving off a lot of the ‘lug’ and heaviness that comes with that more traditional style.
However, what you are getting is a hiking boot that looks good over time and effortlessly blends into your other hiking gear. It’s fairly low profile and relatively discreet, which may well suit you if you’re not looking for a boot that is brightly colored or really sticks out.
The leather construction on these hiking boots does keep them looking good too – even after they’ve experienced a muddy trail, once cleaned up and looked after well, they look almost like new.
Durability
We’ve found these hiking boots to be very durable – the upper and mid are exceptionally well put together and their comfort and well positioned feel on the trail means you are not putting any undue strain on the boots.
We’ve tested these hiking boots in a variety of conditions, from rocky trails to much more muddy or boggy circumstances and they show no signs of wearing to either the upper or the sole.
Sustainability
Lowa don’t really make a big point in their descriptions of the Renegade Mid as to its sustainability credentials. However, in general, Lowa do make a point of saying that the materials they source – for example the tanneries they use for their leather – use sustainable practices.
It’s also important to remember that the longer a product lasts, the better it is for the environment, as it encourages buying less, and given the sturdy build of this hiking boot, we think there are no longer term durability concerns. These boots should last a long time.
Water Resistance
The Lowa Renegade Mid GTX is a fully waterproof hiking boot. The use of Gore-Tex as its membrane combined with hardy leather gives a pretty much impenetrable barrier against water. These boots handle well against streams, puddles, heavy rain and everything in-between.
If you wanted to further increase the level of waterproofing they can offer, you could add a gaiter which would allow these to be very easily used for a full four seasons (depending on the level of warmth/insulation you need for your location).
Weight
Coming in at 950g/2lb, these boots aren’t the lightest in our reviews, but by no means are these heavy hiking boots. There has been a real move in the last few years towards making hiking boots less heavy – if you remember really traditional boots, you’ll remember the kind of fatigue they give. This isn’t so much the case anymore as technology and processes become better at producing lighter results that perform just as well.
The Renegade Mid is a great example of these, and whilst it is at the heavier end of our reviews, we haven’t experienced any fatigue whilst wearing, even on longer trails.
Insoles
The Lowa Renegade Mid GTX hiking boots come with a fairly standard insole – similar to most hiking boots in our round up and reviews. You’ll find these generally suitable for most hikers without any specific concerns.
That said, if you do need some extra support, for whatever reason, you can easily replace the insoles with some more catered to your needs and there is enough space in the boot to replace with thicker insoles too.
Break-in Period
Like all hiking boots, you should never take these out straight from the box on a long trail. We would always recommend taking them on a few training hikes first to get a feel for them and if there are (though unlikely) any sore spots you need to be aware of.
All that said, these hiking boots are very comfortable straight out of the box – and over time, due to their leather construction become even more comfortable and molded to the feel of your feet. You will find yourself reaching for these time and time again.
Lacing System
The Renegade Mid makes use of a fairly standard lacing system. Using metal eyelets up to the ankle crease and then metal hooks from there up to the top of the boot. These stay well in place, even after steep ascents and descents. They show no signs of wear and tear and feel like they are set up for the long haul.
You can also improve the feel of your hiking boots by making an effort to re-lace based on your foot type. Our article on different lacing patterns goes into more detail on this. This can make a really big difference to the overall feel of your hiking boots and experience on the trail.
Toe Protection
With a strong and solid toe construction including a rubber toe rand, these hiking boots really protect your feet well from the elements. They hold up exceptionally well against knocks and bumps on the trail and they also feel well cushioned for support on the trail against any sharp uphill or downhill sections where you might expect your feet to move forward slightly in your boots.
We actually find these hiking boots a little chunkier around the toe than some of the other hiking boots in our reviews – and this is great for added protection – especially good if you’re someone who can be a little heavy footed with your placement and positioning.
Conclusion
The Lowa Renegade GTX Mid is a popular hiking boot and it’s not difficult to see why. Whilst they are not the lightest option out there, they are exceptionally well-made, offer good water-resistance and their stiffer construction means they offer good foot and ankle support.
Whilst the industry seems to be moving towards generally lighter, trainer-inspired models, we still think there’s still plenty of room for more rigid boots like the Lowa Renegade and, indeed, they offer a real advantage over more flexible options on some types of terrain.
These boots offer a combo of features that we think many hikers will prefer over absolute low weight and flexibility. These are great boots if your hiking takes you onto more technically demanding terrain, out in bad weather – or both!
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