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? I've owned two pairs of Renegades over the years and recently put pair #2 through a series of test hikes to see if it's still got it. 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
The LOWA Renegade 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 independent reviews are based on my first-hand hiking experience. After winning a free pair of Renegades by winning top hiker in Backcountry's Summer Adventure challenge, I personally tested them on several Pennsylvania hikes day hikes on and off the award-winning Mid-State Trail. I also tested them on a 42-mile backpacking loop around the Allegheny Front Trail.
However, my experience with this boot goes deeper than those test hikes—I also owned Renegades 10-12 years ago and sold quite a few of them when I was managing footwear at Appalachian Outdoors. 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
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. Those three pieces add up to a stiff base, good foot protection, and torsional rigidity. As you can see from the picture, there's not much 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 when I'm carrying a heavier 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 backpackers, hardcore hikers who prefer tough trails, and heavy-set hikers who need extra support.
WEIGHT
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 4-8 ounces heavier than the typical hiking boot in my size—and pretty much a pound heavier than the lightweight hiking boots in my gear closet. If you're weighing the Renegade as a backpacking boot, its weight is reasonable. However, if you're primarily a day hiker— or value weight-savings over support, stability, and durability— skip the Renegade and scope my recommendations for the best lightweight hiking boots.
COMFORT
Comfort has a lot to do with fit, hiking style, 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. It's also stiffer than the typical, mid-duty hiking boot. 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.] Comfort is a toss up that comes down to how much cushion & support you want.
FIT
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 (not narrows). Hikers with wide feet will need to order the wide and probably size up a full size to get a wide-enough fit—LOWA's wide is not the widest wide.]
WEATHER PROTECTION
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. [Plus, the water likely wicked in through my pants and socks— not through the GTX waterproofing.] In easier conditions, the LOWA Renegade should be highly waterproof and relatively breathable, given the reliability of GORE-TEX, which is still the industry standard for waterproofing.
TRACTION
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
You definitely pay for LOWA's time-tested quality—and for US trade policies on EU imports. Now listed at $255-265, Renegades run about $20 more than other backpacking boots I recommend, such as the Salomon Quest ($230) and HOKA Kaha ($240). They're also much more expensive than other mid-weight leather hiking boots I've reviewed: the Vasque Breeze ($160), Oboz Sawtooth ($165), and Oboz Bridger (MSRP $200). Ouch. Lucky for you, outdoor retailers have been struggling, so you can snag these on sale pretty regularly now. With its popularity, you'll find Renegades in 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 first-hand review, the LOWA Renegade GTX remains one of the best hiking boots for backpackers who care more about support than price or weight savings. It's the quintessential brown leather hiking boot—the first boot people probably picture when you say "hiking boot." If you're primarily a day hiker, it's probably stiffer and heavier than you want—unless you're hiking gnarly terrain or 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
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Happy Hiking!
