The Lowa Renegade GTX may be the most beloved backpacking boot of all time. It was the first hiking boot ever named to Backpacker magazine's Gear Hall of Fame. Three decades later, it's still a perennial best seller. Why all the love for the Renegade? Is it still one of the best hiking and backpacking boots for men and women? My Lowa Renegade GTX review breaks down this boot's performance to help you decide if it's the right boot for your hikes and backpacking trips.
Lowa Renegade GTX Review
men's Renegade GTX
women's Renegade GTX
Lowa is a German brand known for its brawny boots, and the Renegade is their best-seller. The Lowa Renegade GTX is made in Europe under the EU's strict quality standards. It has a long track record of that no frills, German quality. It's one of the best backpacking boots of all time, alongside other greats like the Salomon Quest.
But it hasn't changed much in 25 years. Is that cause for concern—or celebration?
My Lowa Renegade GTX review breaks down this icon's present-day performance in key categories: support, weight, fit, comfort, weather protection, traction, and overall value. As always, my in-depth and independent review are based on my first-hand experience hiking and backpacking in the Renegade. I picked up a new pair of the Lowa Renegade GTX in summer 2022 and tested it out on several Pennsylvania hikes and a 42-mile backpacking trip. My review will help you decide if the Renegade might be a good fit for your feet and good match for your hikes.
very little flex = excellent support
SUPPORT
EXCELLENT
More than anything, generations of men and women have bought the Lowa Renegade for its support. The boot features a sturdy outsole, durable TPU midsoles, and a full-length nylon stability shank for a stiff base, good foot protection, and torsional rigidity. As you can see from the picture, there's very little flex underfoot (as I'm trying to bend the boot). Renegades also feature an external PU-Monowrap frame for lateral stability and sturdy leather ankle collars, which offer real ankle support. Genetics haven't been kind to my lower body, but my weak feet and ankles have felt highly supported in the mid-cut Renegade, even carrying a moderately heavy pack on the rocky trails of Pennsylvania.
Most day hikers will prefer a less supportive boot with more flex underfoot. The rugged Renegade is a better match for backpacking or hard-core, off-trail hiking.
WEIGHT
HEAVIER THAN AVERAGE
With all that support, the Lowa Renegade GTX Mid is heavier than the average hiking boot today. My pair (men's size 12) weighs a smidge over three pounds. That's not bad for a backpacking boot, but that's 6-8 ounces heavier than most mid-weight hiking boots in my size. If you're weighing the Renegade as a backpacking boot, it may be a good choice for you. However, if you're primarily a day hiker— or you value weight-savings over support, stability, and durability— I recommend skipping the Renegade and scoping my recommendations for the best lightweight hiking boots.
COMFORT
IT DEPENDS...
Comfort has a lot to do with fit and personal preferences. The Renegade's TPU midsoles give it a firmer feel than most hiking boots, which use EVA foam that's cushier, lighter, and cheaper. If you prefer a firm, supportive feel, you'll probably find the Renegade comfortable. [Experienced hikers understand that a firmer boot may be more comfortable on difficult terrain.] If you prefer a lot of cushion, you may not find it particularly comfortable. [I added Superfeet insoles for a little more cushioning.] This category a toss up that will come down to how much cushion you like or need.
FIT
AVAILABLE IN MULTIPLE WIDTHS
European brands generally have a narrower fit than US brands with Italian brands running the tightest and narrowest. By US standards, the Lowa Renegade fits true to size—slightly narrower than some US brands, but not as narrow as most European brands. As a bonus, Lowa offers the Renegade in narrow, regular, and wide sizes. One of those sizes should fit almost anyone. [Pro Tip: REI usually carries all three widths. Backcountry carries the standard and wide widths. Hikers with wide feet will need to order the wide— and may also need to size up a 1/2 size more than normal to get a wide enough fit. It's not the widest wide.]
WEATHER PROTECTION
EXCELLENT
The nubuck leather uppers in the Renegade are naturally water-resistant and breathable, and they're treated with a durable water repellent and backed up by a waterproof and breathable GORE-TEX membrane. That should keep out plenty of water, snow, and mud and limit how swampy your feet get on the trail. No hiking boot will keep out the elements indefinitely in sustained wet conditions. However, Renegades should keep you drier than most. My feet eventually got damp (not soaked) 30+ miles into a 42-mile backpacking trip in steady rain. But that's a win in my book. Many boots would have surrendered to the mud, puddles, and rain many miles earlier. In easier conditions, this boot should be highly waterproof and relatively breathable, given the reliability of GORE-TEX, which is still the industry standard for waterproofing. It's also a good choice for winter hiking or even snowshoeing.
TRACTION
AVERAGE
Lowa sourced the Rengade's outsoles from Vibram—an Italian company known for rubber that excels on both wet and dry surfaces. This specific Vibram sole is more of a jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none outsole: its lug pattern works on most surfaces without excelling on any of them. Backpacking the Allegheny Front Trail, I took a hard fall on some damp rocks—a challenge for most outsoles. Overall, though, this traction is a low-risk, low-reward choice. This tread won't be bad on tough surfaces— such as slick rock, mud, or steep scree— but it's best for moderate terrain.
Lowa Renegade is the quintessential brown leather hiking boot
VALUE
OK
You definitely pay for Lowa's time-tested quality—and for tariffs imposed on EU products. The Lowa Renegade currently retails for $245. That may be a steep price, but that's about average now for a real backpacking boot. With its popularity, you'll find a range of colors for men and women as well as three different width options: narrow, standard, and wide. Check the affiliate links below for available sizes and colors at Backcountry, which generally has the widest selection of Lowa Renegade hiking boots:
See available sizes and colors for the men's Lowa Renegade Mid GTX:
See available sizes and colors for the women's Lowa Renegade Mid GTX:
LOWA RENEGADE GTX REVIEW: PROS VS CONS
Gear reviewers have been recommending the Lowa Renegade GTX Mid since it debuted in the late 1990s. It's the quintessential brown leather hiking boot—and Lowa's best seller. But that doesn't mean it's necessarily the right boot for your feet or your hikes. Here's a quick run-down of the Renegade's pros and cons to help you decide if it's right for you:
OVERALL RECOMMENDATION: LOWA RENEGADE GTX
Based on my review, the Lowa Renegade GTX remains one of the best backpacking boots out there. It may be a good choice for you if you're primarily looking for a backpacking boot and prefer a traditional leather boot with good stability and support. If you're primarily a day hiker, it's probably stiffer and heavier than you want—unless you're hiking gnarly terrain and have a history of ankle problems. With it available in three different widths, there's a good chance that a Renegade will fit you.
Love it or leave it? Lowa Renegade GTX
Are you loving the Lowa Renegade GTX Mid? If so, please consider purchasing them from the affiliate links in this post. Hiking Feet may receive a small commission from Backcountry or REI (at no cost to you). That’s how I pay for this site (and get a few shillings back for the hundreds of unpaid hours I've spent creating free content to help you buy the right hiking boots or shoes). If this site hooked you up, please consider hooking me up, too. (Or at least hit that *like* or *share* button below.) Thanks, I appreciate it!
Happy Hiking!
Lowa Renegade-Men's
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Lowa Renegade-WIDE
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Lowa Renegade-Women's
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