Just goes to show that only looking at the material thickness is half the story. These boots have lasted me forever, no failures anywhere and super comfortable. Apparently they are simply well designed and well made. I love them
Lowa Renegades are my favorite boots. I can wear them daily doing anything and have; work, hiking, bike riding, motorcycle riding, playing soccer with my son, etc. I can easily run in them. I have Nick's, Grant Stones, Red Wings and Ecco boots. If I'm going to do a lot of walking, I wear my Renegades. I've had the same pair for 2 years.
A rep for Lowa explained to me why they use multiple pieces of leather on this boot: comfort. Acording to them, using multiple pieces they way they are cut makes the boot conform better to your feet. This confirms my experience wearing them compared to my other high quality Italian hiking boots made from 2 pieces. The Italian booths are much more rigid and a pain to wear compared to the Lowa. The Lowa are the most comfortable boots I own.
This is the major trend for most shoes - you don't need to break them in for that comfort. A boot with fewer panels may get to the same level of comfort eventually, but you really need to break them in a have a few painful hikes in them to get there. The compromise is longevity Vs comfort, and most people in today's society would prefer to buy a new set of boots in 3-5 years vs having the same set they have to really care for that would last 10+ years.
Exactly, I had a pair of Renegades and they were comfortable out of the box. They lasted for 10+ years (not heavy use) until one day that, with snow, they failed catastrophically and I lost the soles on both boots. A good and comfortable boot for all the time i had it.
Fair enough, having gone through the break in process on very sturdy work boots a couple of times, that first week of working in them is a literal pain. 3 years plus later though where the initially comfortable boots are falling apart, the sturdy boots feel like the most comfortable pair of slippers and still have over half their life left. I see the appeal in both options.
It makes a lot of sense considering the rest of the technology. The glued on sole or the GTX membrane does not last forever either. In the real world, where people aren’t nostalgic hipsters sticking with old technology for fashion, comfort and ergonomics are nearly always chosen over maximum durability.
Yet the new Renegade Evo has fewer panels. It looks like the inside of the Evo and toe box is one piece and the outside is made from two. On the old Renegade, reviewed in this video, both sides are made from three panels and a separate piece for the toe box.
Honestly, I've had these Lowa Renegades for about 10 years now and they're still all in one piece. I used to wear them loads on fall and winter hikes and in town. Nowadays I mostly wear them during the worst winter weeks. I have not taken care of my boots at all and have no concerns about the seams, or other potential fail points you mentioned.
I love these boots for hiking. They fill a prefect middle ground between lighter boots/shoes and some heavy duty options. Kind of, from the airport straight to trail boot for me. I have had mine for 3 years.
That's an important reason (in addition to good quality) I'll probably buy a pair in the coming days. Unfortunately, to my liking some of their models look too much like an alien space ship for me, for example Zephyr shown on the video. I like a simple look more
I've hiked EBC, TMB, Kilimanjaro, and West Highland Way using a pair of Lowa Renegades. They are surprisingly comfortable, durable, and still look fairly new after some cleaning and conditioning. I'm very happy with my pair.
I have a pair of Lowa Camino GTX boots that I bought 7 years ago, they’re some of the most comfortable boots I’ve ever had on my feet. They feel like there are air bladders inside that conform to my feet. The lacing system is divided into 3 zones, with the lowest zone having roller eyelets and the top has Lowa’s X-lacing stud that keeps the tongue in place and centered. You can really dial in the fit of the laces. The day after I bought them I went on an easy 2-mile hike, the next weekend I wore them up Mt Monroe NH with no blisters or even hot spots. I still wear them for most of my 3-season hiking, and also for winter hiking & snowshoeing when the temp is 20F or higher. Though I’ve been wearing my LL Bean all-leather Cresta hiking boots more often lately, and they might be Lowa-beaters if they could be resoled. The lacing system is very basic and is a little harder to tighten properly, but goes well with the old-school styling of the boot.
I'm a lawn guy and i work a lot of ten-hour days in wet grass weed wacking. I'm in mulch, dirt and rocks all the time and these boots last like no other brand. I have tried lots of different brands. Merrells junk, Salomon one year then fall apart, Timberland 8 months then junk. and I can go on and on. I have tried a ton of boots. These are the best I have ever had. Lowas will be going into their 3rd landscape season this year. All the stitching is still together, really well made.
@@tactical_p0tatothat’s until you drop something heavy on your foot. At my job a UPS driver arrived balancing a roll of packing plastic on top of a box and wasn’t wearing safety shoes (we all wear safety shoes). The roll rolled off and fell on his foot. Someone sat him up and kept him from going into shock while others cleaned up the blood. That thing splatted his foot! He went to hospital. A colleague of mine also got off with a bad bruise after the sole of his safety boot maintained rigidity when a massive steel slab fell on it (5cm thick and 1,5m tall -definitely over 100kg) Certified safety shoes will save you from being crippled by something you thought would never happen until it does.
I have had and tried out several hiking boots over the years, and these are the ones that fit the best (when new and after years still) and the most comfortable of the hiking boots to actual hike for me. It's the way your foot roles from heel to toe that makes them less fatiguing to walk in my experience than other hiking boots. But as i said, nothing was as comfortable and still protective for your feet than these ones. Mine are quite old now, and in the last couple years i wasn't able to go hiking more than maybe once a year, but i did use them for something they weren'T made for and they still worked well in that regard: climbing radio antenna masts. (Have to do that at work sometimes). And they are grippy, comfortable, reduce the fatigue on your calves and even protect a little against banging your toes. And after a whole day, they still are comfortable. The leather panels i think have several reasons: you can use more of a sheet of leather as the parts are smaller and you can fit more of them on a sheet of leather. And as someone in the comments wrote: their parents had a damage on one panel and sent them in for repait: LOWA just replaced the damaged panel. Both of these reduce costs and waste. A few years back the Meindl boots of my father broke during a hike (the polyurethane dissolved into small granulate with every more step) And he tried out several boots. And he switched to these too. He always had Meindl ones before and was quite satisfied with them. But LOWA offers different widths (i think at least 2 different widths for each size are available in good sorted hiking stores where i live). And he was utterly surprised how comfortable and less fatiguing they are to walk compared to his previous boots. And they are not made in asia, but here in europe. Meaning people in europe buy those boots and other people in europe have a job and pay taxes and maybe go on vacation to the country of the boot buyers and spend money there and people can ahve a job and buy those boots. The circle of money. When i buy boots made in asia, the people working in those factories won't ever have the money or time to travel to europe and spend money here. So the money is gone and only has benefitted the asian country but i get no benefit back. Unlike with Slovakia (which is even a neighbouring country to mine, so it's even more likely for them to come here. And judging by the license plates on cars i see on our highways they do visit.)
I bought my first pair of Renegades 20 years ago in a small shop. The shop owner said, if you are looking for a good performing, highly comfortable boot, check them out. And I still can remember the feeling when I slipped into the Renegades. The did fit like gloves and the other pairs, that I bought after I had worn them, still do. Just fine boots. No issues with the stitchings. It's the Volkswagen Golf of hiking boots. Nothing fancy about it, but a solid standard in every way. I like them
Lowa Renegades are the most comfortable boot ive ever worn at work ive had mine for 2 1/2 years ..i wear 40lbs of body armor and these things are surprisingly light and have been super durable.
Awesome review, great to see the LOWA Renegade GTX get cross sectioned. I really enjoy the LOWA Renegade GTX hikers have been my daily drivers for a few decades. I see these as reliable tools but they do wear out. I usually have 3 pair, newest for office and 'dressier' field work, a mature pair for hiking, mountain biking, & hard field work, and a old pair for gardening & especially dirty/rough activities. Typically the outsole wears through and PU midsole degrades to failure. I have never had an upper, hardware or seam issue. Visually I love their conservative, low profile appearance, they fit in the office or on a work site or on the trail, they fit in everywhere, unlike most other work and hiking boot designs. They also don't look like a bunker, combat or a construction boot, so you aren't cosplaying another role. The Lowa Zephyr and Danner may be better made boots for some use cases but in black they look like army and police boots. Renegade GTX are available in many colors but I wear black and a little black shoe polish will spruce them up and hide any rockrash easily, they are easy to clean. They are light and cool but also very waterproof and tough enough, with loads of support and a shank with just enough flexibility! For me they are great in snowy & wet conditions and been very happy with the way they keep my feet dry and warm. They work with gaiters, crampons and platform pedals. A perfect balance for my needs, I would say much better than average performing. To answer your concerns, there are separate leather lined versions and a new Evo version that has fewer external seams, but I like this version for flexibility and breathability. I have also had a few variants as the Renegade GTX design has advanced and evolved slightly over the years.
Being a hiking that spends almost everyday hiking in the woods I love this series you’re doing on hiking boots. I have had both the Lowa Renegades and the Camino. I believe the Camino is far superior. I’d love you see you do your cut in half to the Camino. Thanks
This is REALLY useful, not only about this specific boot but for building a "hiking boot knowledge base". Keep them coming, as a heavy outdoor boot user this is invaluable insight.
My wife has a pair of Renegade's she bought 7 years ago and they are still going strong. A year or two ago she did have to have one of the stitching on the toe piece of leather repaired, but it was minor and easy/cheap fix for a shoe repair shop. Seems like a great boot to me. She loves them.
I've been wearing & selling Lowas since 2000. Don't compare a combat boot (Zephyr) to a hiking (Renegade) boot. Not a valid comparison or recommendation. Lowa's factory in Slovakia delivers consistent fit and quality, so the boot you're trying on today fits like the one you bought years ago and have gotten hundreds of miles out of. You call it 'lame,' everybody who owns them knows they deliver on every step so you can get on with doing the thing, not thinking about your gear.
The Zephyrs are a bad example of a classic combat boot, they are very much designed towards comfort, light weight, and more urban oriented than traditional hiking boots. The Z-6 and Innox were specifically developed as more durable alternatives to Zephyrs. It’s not uncommon for soldiers using Zephyrs every day to wear them out in a year or less.
I'm on my third pair. Great boot. Wonderful fit. My only complaint is the stitching lets go way before the tread is worn out. I wear these on the ranch as a work boot as well as in the woods and yes, they're kind to my feet. I should disclose, because I purchased the first pair at REI, so taking them back asking if they would restitch them, they just gave me a new pair.
Still rocking my 10+ year old Lowa Topekas I bought in Austria. The sole has been replaced by lowa a couple of years ago because I wore it down. Also one of riveted lacing eyelets broke, Lowa repaired it. The stitches upper hasn't shown any signs of coming apart. Love em, would probably get another pair if the my current pair fails or is lost.
That's what I took to k2 base camp in the early 90s ... and from there on. Light, sturdy enough. Perfect mix for anything that might happen off trail up on a mountain. Not a forever boot. Buy new ones when worn out. Have one now. Super comfortable
Warm greetings from Germany The Lowa Renegade are so popular here in the Black Forest because every dealer has them and they are cheap. Maybe the manufacturers: Salewa Tainer, Meindl Air, or Hanwag Banks.
The Lowa’s I bought in 1972 were all leather with a Vibram sole. Great hiking boots at the time but now you want lighter weight and more cushioning. People buy the new ones because they know exactly what they’ll get with no unpleasant surprises. Personally I like trail runners better, very lightweight and good cushioning.
Letter carrier here: For my (precious little) money: this is my work horse shoe except for hot summer days. Light, durable, good fit, they offer a wide version (which I need). The weak point I came across is the seams at the lower side suede bit, they seem to give out first. That's at 6 miles on foot, all weather, 4 years, medium decent care. None of the other seams ever gave out. Sole stays put for about a decade of switching pairs (and I guess half as long w/o the switch). I'll try their sewing service soon as there is a store not far from where I live and the rep said they would send in my pair, let's see (it's that suede side-bit ofc). It's the people's choice bc it's all the things I mentioned and unchanged and affordable. You wanna hold to sth like that today.
My Lowa Renegade GTW were holding well until I wore them during a hike in the north of Norway. It was quite rainy during the hike and the boot did a good job at keeping my feet dry. I tried to dry the boots everytime I could but the PU part of the sole started breaking and literally decomposing and falling appart. It was surprising because the boot is supposed to be waterproof so I expected that it could handle it better. The upper is still good, no cracks but the style of construction of the sole makes it hard to replace the sole.
Could you please take a look at the Hanwag and Meindl shoes as well? Those three are the best selling hiking boot brands in Germany. I got the Hanwag Tatra II non GTX and been loving it.
funfact: the founders of Hanwag and Lowa are brothers. Hans Wagner and Lorenz Wagner. Pretty much the only Hiking Boot I ever had was the Hanwag Alaska. its a great boot so much so that I got 3 pairs by now and only ever had to get new ones because I needed a larger Size
@@c0dy42 Yeah, the founders of Adidas and Puma were brothers as well. Love that Hanwag also does wide cuts of their boots. I tried Lowa, Meindl and Hanwag and found Hanwag to be the most comfortable for me. Meindl seemed very high quality too but just not cut for my feet.
@@c0dy42 Modern Hanwags are crap. The midsole started to crumble in the second season on my Hanwag Alaska GTX. Now $400 boots with 400 miles on them need a sole replacement (the tread shows no signs of wear). The manufacturer itself states the shelf life of the sole materials is 3-5 years. If your pair has been sitting in a warehouse for 3 years, get ready to pay $150 for resole. Shoe manufacturers have become too greedy these days. I would gladly join a class action lawsuit against the manufacturer for planned materials failure.
@@PrVladimir There's not much planned about this. Hydrolysis is a thing that happens in all those modern midsoles. If they really wanted to make more unjustified money the whole boot/shoe would quickly fall apart. But it's pretty hard to get Hanwags destroyed, at least the ones with all leather outer. Some of my Hanwag didn't see much or any care but the outer never failed, not the leather, not the stitching. Some of them I wear almost daily. Yes, after 10 years, the outsole was blank and then the midsole broke. Even the Gore Tex lining never failed with all mine -- the leather lined did though, I guess the lining really needs some care.
@@OddSheep-Out Well, my Hanwag Tatras failed - fittingly while I was hiking in the Tatra - pretty early, considering they were not stored in high humidity. PU can be chemically protected from hydrolysis for a longish time but my Hanwags apparently weren't. Maybe too much stabilizer has other disadvantages, maybe it's a matter of cost, or possibly the shoes were stored for a long time before I bought them. In any case, I had to walk through a bit of snow and a lot of rough terain on my midsoles, the rest of which held up surprisingly well.
My girlfried got one of these about 1 1/2 years ago and absolutely loves them and says it's the most comfortable shoe she ever had. She used them A LOT. Usually for everyday use in fall and winter but also for hiking or longer walks in summer. It still is in very good condition and none of the stitchings worry me at all. The only thing I did is treat the outside leather with wax because the original color wasn't very bright anymore. Now it has a nice slightly shiny fatty look that we really like. It's important to understand that this is just not a mountaineering boot. It's meant for longer walks in the fields, woods or dirty road, to walk your dog, entry to medium level hikes or kind of a durable sneaker for dirty environments. In comparison to for example the Zephyrs it still has a more civilized everyday look without looking like a soldier. Lowa has a lot of other options for more dificult up to extreme mountaineering but that's just not what the Renegade is meant for. My girlfried now wants to get another pair in another colour and I am thinking about getting one too. Also Lowa can apparently resole them eventhough they say they can't guarantee the GoreTex still works. For me Lowa just means great quality. I have another model as hiking boots and I use Lowa laces for my Solovairs since the original and other brand's laces always ripped. During his time in the military my brother just as many of his brothers in arms used the Zepyhrs and was very happy with them.
I think you might have hit the nail on the head toward the end of your conclusions, they are a reliable and comfortable boot that just get the job done. I'm on my second pair in 10 years, and the only reason I bought new ones is the old ones were starting to look a bit rough.
Had these boots for 3 years and had used them a lot for climbing up Scottish mountains and general walking around. Unfortunately after three years of hard use I had an issue around the seams at the sole of the boot. Phoned Lowa and they said they expected their boots to last longer than that and sent me out a brand new pair, which I’ve used heavily for the last two years including doing the West Highland way in Scotland! Still in excellent shape 🥾🥾
I got a pair of these from an REI garage sale for $90 back in 2017. I've taken it to many places and currently have used it as my winter boot. Still looks good as new. The only eyindint use it much anymore is because I went to barefoot shoes and cant fit into them anymore. The Virbram base was very handy on ice in Iceland. Overall, super happy with them. It's a shame I can't really fit in them anymore.
The Renegade has actually been the most comfortable, easy to wear in boot I’ve ever had. Can’t fault them! Their Mountain Combat Boot is incredible but takes time to wear in. The Zephyr is without a doubt their best boot but I would recommend checking out the Mountain Boots and some of their new combat boots, like the breacher and the new Zephyr.
Lowa Tibet seems like more of their flagship and I skipped out on the Renegade for the Camino. I love mine and I really would love to see you review them. Also a series after this of reviewing mountaineering boots would be awesome.
Have had a pair of Renegade GTX's for 5yr. They've been very reliable and I have only managed to wear out the heel. Testing cobbler/glue skills trying to replace them with a cheap SVIG heel
I’ve had a pair of Lowa Renegades for almost a decade. They were my boots I wore in Afghanistan in combat and are still going strong. The point about the multiple pieces of leather being failure points is true as I’ve busted a couple seams there. They’ve been great overall and are still going strong. I hope Lowa opens their cobbler service here in the US so I can have them resoled.
Work in a large conservation area with lots of trails. Bought the green ones (our park uniform color) I liked them so much purchased another pair in brown. Like some have said more support than a ballistic nylon day hiker, not as heavy as a X -day backpacker....just right.
I have a pair of Lowa Z-8S Gtx - and walked the Camino Frances this year from St Jean Pied de Port to Santiago and on to Muxia. All up around 1000km plus 6 months of training. Still like new. Most comfortable hiking boots with a light pack I own. Only failure is the WIDE version is not available in Australia. For really hard core walking in rough terrain with a very heavy pack, my Lowa Tibet wides are simply unbeatable. Both are VERY expensive but are truly worth every cent.
I tried Lowa alpine plastic boots after trying many other brands torture alpine boots. They felt more akin to a classic hiking boot, since then I’ve been a big fan. I had to get my wife a pair of boots and she got these renegades and we did a big trip immediately (she had forgotten her old hiking boots at home) and she didn’t have any issues without any break in period. She said they were the most comfortable boot she’s had. They did last, yes the stitching did unravel eventually but with some maintenance they made it another year of trail packing in the PNW. For the price I would recommend them for avid hikers and backpackers.
I have been happy with my pair. I needed a leather boot for hiking and working outside that was light(ish), had a stiff sole, and was not super expensive. It is much more substantial than those hiking sneakers, but not a hard-core mountaineering boot. Also, it was comfortable to me right away. But there is one minor flaw. The lace can catch the top of the first hook/eye (not sure what they are called) without being fully engaged. It is hard to see as you are lacing the boot. Later, when it comes off, all the upper laces come loose. Other than that, they have worked well.
Goes to show that technical aspects do not necessarily translate to end user performance. If this comment section is anything to go by, the concerns in "lame" construction seem to be unwarranted.
i bought a very expensive pair of hiking boots many years ago and threw them out after about a year of pain. i went back to using high top sneakers for a short hike and well broken in redwing work boots for longer trips with rough terrain .
I worked on a military base north of Tikrit, Iraq for 2 1/2 years from August 2005 to March 2008. I don’t recall what model Lowa boot that I bought prior to deploying, but they lasted me for 2 1/2 years. Before making my final trip home I removed them for the final time and left them on the porch of my housing unit well worn.
I have a four year old pair of Lowa Renegades that have seen all sorts of industrial chemicals outdoors at work. They have lasted longer than every other boot that I’ve used for work and have exceeded my expectations regarding comfort and durability. If the quality hasn’t changed since I originally purchased them, I would definitely purchase another pair when it comes time to get a new pair of work boots.
I'm on my third pair of Renegade GTX boots. I have never had a stitch pop, so the paneling has not been an issue fo me. My first pair had the leather collar lining, which I do prefer. The sole has great traction, but wears surprisingly fast. The number one reason I keep coming back is fit and an extreme level of comfort. Tue insold doesnindeed conform to your foot nuchblikena slab of veg tanned leather. The Renegades maintain their comfort through the life of the boot, too. They require zero break-in for me and have been super consistent from pair to pair. They have a great classic look that improves with a little wear. I also like my Zephyrs but they are too tacti-cool for some settings. The Renegades look good even when not hiking. I get exactly what I expect when I buy a new pair of Renegades.
I hike around 200km a month, and it took 3 years for the sole the break. While hiking it just broke in two parts, felt mud in my boot and noticed the damage. Never had an issue with the stitching, but I did have issues with the synthetic fabric attached to the leather middle tongue part. It had holes in it after a while and water got in from there.
I’ve had this model of boot for over 10 years. They have never been a problem. Best boots I’ve ever owned. Great for deer hunting in Kodiak and going up the mountain.
I wore a pair of zephyr in Iraq in 2010-2011 and they were by leaps and bounds the most comfortable boot I've ever worn and second in durability only to my Rocky S2V
Hell ya man I ONLY wore Lowas in Afghanistan ‘10-‘11. Had the Zephyrs and Desert Elites. I just rotated daily use on them and also mett-tc. 🤢 damn I haven’t used that term in years 😂
I have the Renegade GTX for some years. I think everthing is right what you said. What is special? It was the only boot I felt well, also walking every day up to 40 km on UK's south west coast path. I had previously tried dozens of shoes in the shop. And I own(ed) Meindls and Raichles and Merrells and Sportivas... they just don't feel as good.
I bought mine 10 years ago and they are still going strong. Hiked up Mt. Fuji with these babies. Hiked all around Taiwan and Malaysia. It is nice to see the company is still making the same boot with the same quality. Although mine were a lot cheaper. Thanks inflation......
My Renegade GTX’s have done a great job of keeping my feet dry this moose hunting season. I went a week wearing them in wet swampy terrain every day and there was no leakage. I just hope they last a while. My two complaints are the outsole being slick on wet hard surfaces and the gusset doesnt go all the way up the tongue.
Would be cool, if you could also test Hanwag boots, preferably the Alaska GTX. Hanwag is short for Hans Wagner, the brother of Lorenz Wagner (yes, like Adidas and Puma, that seems to be a German thing with brothers and competing companies).
I normally wear the soles out of the Zephyrs. The last pair I had were disappointing. The leather cracked and split where the boot bends at the ball of your foot. If not for the lining inside I could have pushed a hole right through the leather. I didn’t do anything any differently and the boots definitely didn’t snag on a sharp object. It was really frustrating.
Ive been using a pair of Asolo Thyrus GV's for the last 5 years and they've been amazing. I don't like much ankle support, but I do want protection and these are by far the best, most waterproof, most breathable hiking boots I've ever had. Almost a single piece of leather for the whole boot, and after waxing it, they are bombproof. The midsole does seam to be wearing out the quickest though. They have less support than they used to 5 years later...which is a shame because the rest of the boot is holding up amazingly
I love me my Lowa Renegardes and have recommended then to anyone who has ever asked me for advice on boots. The rigid sole, the actual nubuck, the easy of breaking in etc all makesnit the perfect beginner hiking boot. I've had mine for 8 years now and I've never had anything except the isolere fail on me. Putting in a high quality insole is really good to do tho
Have you seen the crowdfunded startup company Flatstep? This guy is making a zero- drop, hard toe, no toespring, footshaped work boot that has a real rubber outsole! It would be so cool to see Rose Anvil get a first run model pair to review..
In my experience, the insoles don’t hold up at all. I currently have a pair of Renegade GTX Lo for slightly over a year and the insole has a torn up top layer. The soles are also pretty much gone. The leather held up remarkably well. I did about 1500 miles in these shoes.
Recently hiked 30 miles this past weekend with the Lowa Renegades. Incredibly comfortable, but the Vibram sole could have been a bit more grippy. No break-in period necessary. Also ran pretty hot on the inside. All in all, I'd rather wear these than the Salomon Quests.
I wore a pair of Renegades for just over 10 years and they were super comfortable. Only problem was that the PU in the sole deteriorated and the soles fell off, It broke my heart. Again, they did last for 10+ years but I had bought them hoping to have them longer.
The renegade evo has been on sale in the uk for at least three months or so and theyve removed the inner toe flex point seam, it used to be a major point of failerure- but the only major one based on the returns ive seen.
It looks like the old Renegade had a separate toe box leather piece whereas the toe box on the Evo is part of the leather piece that comes from the outside of the boot if that makes sense. Also both sides are now just one piece instead of two.
I had my first pair for 13 years. Last year I bought 2 new pairs because they are the best modern allrounder boot. One was on sale for 130€ the other is leather lined for 180€. I use these 2 pairs for hunting, hiking and walking the dog all year round. I bought a pair of Jim Green African Ranger’s too. Great boot but they are so different that I couldn’t even compare them. Lowa Renegade GTX is a modern, durable, lightweight and comfortable boot. The first pair was lame without any surprises; that’s why I bought it again. And its made in Europe.
As someone thats on a budget, i rely on any pair of boots lasting me at least 3 years use without blisters or leaking, in Scotland, 9 months a year i wear Lowa or iturri Brittish army surplus I'd love to see a lowa combat boot(mk1 not mk2) or mountain boot (2000s-2020ish) or iturri cold weather boot cut in half 🙏
I'm considering these because they come in a narrow size, and I have narrow feet. I wish more boot companies did that. Danner only has three pairs with narrow options.
I owned a Renegade for 10(!) years - walked more then 2000 Km in rocky trails (from New Zealand to Europe) and spent years with it as my go to for army reserve, winter or summer. The only thing that broke was that the rubber sole itself started to dry up and crumble - the leather, the springiness of the, the grip and even the water tightness held strong. Could not recommend it enough.
Why would someone buy these boots, you ask? Renegades are the most comfortable boots out of the box I’ve ever used. They are comfortable before they break in. They are comfortable after they break in. They are great in the wet with the Gortex lining. They are great in the desert without the Gortex lining (requires special order). They work on trail. They work off trail. They work under a load. Renegades are not the toughest boots I’ve owned - it’s a soft boot, and I suspect they traded some durability for comfort - but they last just fine. The Zephyr, however cool they may look, didn’t offer as much foot protection off trail, and for me the footbed wasn’t as comfortable as the Renegade. Top shelf comfort. Excellent utility. Decent durability. Those are my metrics. It seems like this review applies just about every other possible metic.
I've been in the backcountry in this boot through rain, snow 100° temperatures, and it works unbelievably. I remember on one 4-day trip it rained every day the boots were soaking wet for 4 days in a row and my feet were dry You can add a new software cushion insole after a few hundred miles but off Trail it's #1.
I’d like to see maybe either a pair of Italian diemme hiking boots 🥾 or maybe a pair of b2 grade mountaineering boots and see what goes into the construction of them, something like the scarpa Mont Blanc or the la sportiva Nepal gtx extreme 🙏🥾
I got those. I did Camino de Santiago on these. They were comfortable. The problem i had is that after 9 or 10 years the sole started to crack, split open. Low quality rubber.
I prefer Hanwag myself (by Hans Wagner, the brother of Lowa‘s Lorenz Wagner, iirc), but Lowa is part of Germany‘s outdoor footwear holy trinity: Hanwag, Lowa, and Meindl. Gore-Tex equipped boots have a textile lining, only non-membrane boots come with leather lining.
I got pair of those 3-4 years ago just because I needed a winter commuter shoe in wet close to freezing temp weather weather. Knew nothing about them but seemed ok and price was good. Overall they hold well but instant problem I had was that insole felt short after 2-3 weeks. It looks like it just moved backward leaving 1/2 inch gap at the toe. Supper annoying. Adjusted it few times but changed insoles altogether as I got spur problem. I am surprised how long lasting they are comparing to chinese Martens that broke sole after 4 months. Additional plus for sole at the heel that usually due to 100kg weight wears prematurly but on those it’s very decent. One thought I had about the shank being short is that a lot of new shoes having edge on the heel feel unstable clog like almost when your foot slaps against the ground. Maybe allowing for shank to be shorter it give more flex to reduce this effect of pointy hard sole edge and flapping feel.
I have owned and worn a pair of Lowa Renegade GTX boots for about 3 years now and they are by far the best boot I have owned for the last 40 years or so of hiking, climbing, and working. The form, fit, and support they offer across and around my entire foot plus the way the panels (that the reviewer claims is a negative) on sides of the boot act as strategically placed/engineered support straps that fit the contours of my feet like webbing offering both lateral, torsion, and vertical 360' support across the arch because of the I-beam sole the reviewer pointed-out. Seems to me if you keep your boots (focus on the seams with a tooth brush) clean and protected with a good polymer, the seams should not fail as the threads tensile-strength too are protected? I have put these boots through hell (west coast of Canada) and when I get them home, I clean them up well and add protection as needed and they show very little signs of even close to failing at the seams. The grip on the soles in all kinds of extremes also holds very well. Ya, these are not zombie apocalypse proof boots or to be used in a seven years in Tibet scenario and the cost is high, but these boot are definitely not lame. Oh, I also own a pair of Lowa Zephyrs and they are in a different league all together then the Renegades, but I love them both for different reasons (thank God I do not have to wear Red Wing boots anymore like back in the 1980's - back then, I thought those boot were great - but, these Renegades are 100 times better for sure...). One final word, the factory sole-bed is crap and offers no real decoupling or moulded support - I replaced it form day-1 with a Sole Active EVA rigid foot-bed and even after 20 hours of continuous wear my feet feel great after.
Big fan of Lowa boots, been wearing them for years. I do agree that the Renegade has gone downhill, that particular boot isn't what it used to be but the more expensive models like the Camino and Zephyr are still the quality boot I expect from Lowa.
My Lowa Renegade GTXs just passed last year. Born 2011. Died 2024. They have been thru everything. I just ordered another pair for $157. The same price I paid for them in 2011! w00t!
My 2019 Renegades failed after 1.5 years of light use on a seam near the feet ball. One of my friends had a pair of Renegades from late 2000s or early 2010s and they worked fine for him for more than 8 years, then he bought 2020 Renegades and they failed him after a year. It's hard to say if something went wrong with renegades over the years or our use cases got more demanding. Dunno. Though to give a credit were it's due - they are quite comfortable right out of the box, great insole (which I'm now using in other shoes), relatively lightweight, definitely waterproof and look good. As for comparisons, 2012 Scarpa Lite Trek GTX were not only my hiking boots but my daily boots from 2012 till 2019, they were fine on the outside but goretex failed on the inside over the years. Now I have two pairs of Hanwags. Tatra lite gtx - purely a hiking boot and Alta 2 which somewhat resemble Renegades with that multi paneled leather design, though have a little less panels. Out of the box both pairs felt less comfortable than Renegades, subjectively construction feels more sturdier and i like lacing on Hanwags more. But the main difference is that Alta 2 are still perfectly fine after two years despite having multiple leather panels and seams like Renegades. I wanted to try Zephyrs but after negative experience with Renegades I decided to steer away from Lowa altogether.
The stitching popped on my Renegade not far off 50 miles use because of the break pedal on my truck, leaked ever since and so I bought the new Evo model which seems to have fixed this area of stitching so I am guessing this was a wider issue they had to address. The new EVO model is super comfortable BUT THEY ARE LIKE ICE SKATES IN THER WET! Very disappointing with the new outsoul. Zephyr is my favourite for sure but rubbish in water, good wet grip though.
I would really like you to cut open some boots from a local brand here in Lower Austria. Waldviertler/GEA are producing mostly zero drop boots with a wide toe box (different lasts available). The founder is a pretty interesting/weird guy and created jobs in an area where it's needed. The boots are made in Austria and all the parts are from Europe. Although they only offer Europe-wide shipping (afaik) I think the story alone could be interesting for international viewers
They have some wool lining options as well and their boots are known for repairability. I haven't tried them yet but I will as soon as it gets colder :)
I love LOWA and enjoy CAMINO EVO GTXand the ZEPHYR GTX they are very reliable boots and with proper care will last a long time. I have worn mine form WA to MT to Germany.
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Just goes to show that only looking at the material thickness is half the story. These boots have lasted me forever, no failures anywhere and super comfortable. Apparently they are simply well designed and well made. I love them
Lowa Renegades are my favorite boots. I can wear them daily doing anything and have; work, hiking, bike riding, motorcycle riding, playing soccer with my son, etc. I can easily run in them. I have Nick's, Grant Stones, Red Wings and Ecco boots. If I'm going to do a lot of walking, I wear my Renegades. I've had the same pair for 2 years.
A rep for Lowa explained to me why they use multiple pieces of leather on this boot: comfort. Acording to them, using multiple pieces they way they are cut makes the boot conform better to your feet. This confirms my experience wearing them compared to my other high quality Italian hiking boots made from 2 pieces. The Italian booths are much more rigid and a pain to wear compared to the Lowa. The Lowa are the most comfortable boots I own.
This is the major trend for most shoes - you don't need to break them in for that comfort. A boot with fewer panels may get to the same level of comfort eventually, but you really need to break them in a have a few painful hikes in them to get there. The compromise is longevity Vs comfort, and most people in today's society would prefer to buy a new set of boots in 3-5 years vs having the same set they have to really care for that would last 10+ years.
Exactly, I had a pair of Renegades and they were comfortable out of the box. They lasted for 10+ years (not heavy use) until one day that, with snow, they failed catastrophically and I lost the soles on both boots. A good and comfortable boot for all the time i had it.
Fair enough, having gone through the break in process on very sturdy work boots a couple of times, that first week of working in them is a literal pain. 3 years plus later though where the initially comfortable boots are falling apart, the sturdy boots feel like the most comfortable pair of slippers and still have over half their life left. I see the appeal in both options.
It makes a lot of sense considering the rest of the technology. The glued on sole or the GTX membrane does not last forever either. In the real world, where people aren’t nostalgic hipsters sticking with old technology for fashion, comfort and ergonomics are nearly always chosen over maximum durability.
Yet the new Renegade Evo has fewer panels. It looks like the inside of the Evo and toe box is one piece and the outside is made from two. On the old Renegade, reviewed in this video, both sides are made from three panels and a separate piece for the toe box.
Honestly, I've had these Lowa Renegades for about 10 years now and they're still all in one piece. I used to wear them loads on fall and winter hikes and in town. Nowadays I mostly wear them during the worst winter weeks. I have not taken care of my boots at all and have no concerns about the seams, or other potential fail points you mentioned.
I love these boots for hiking. They fill a prefect middle ground between lighter boots/shoes and some heavy duty options. Kind of, from the airport straight to trail boot for me. I have had mine for 3 years.
Lowas are made in Europe, unlike many outdoor brands who make their boots in Asia. This is an important factor to many people.
It's why i bought em!
That's an important reason (in addition to good quality) I'll probably buy a pair in the coming days. Unfortunately, to my liking some of their models look too much like an alien space ship for me, for example Zephyr shown on the video. I like a simple look more
I've hiked EBC, TMB, Kilimanjaro, and West Highland Way using a pair of Lowa Renegades. They are surprisingly comfortable, durable, and still look fairly new after some cleaning and conditioning. I'm very happy with my pair.
I have a pair of Lowa Camino GTX boots that I bought 7 years ago, they’re some of the most comfortable boots I’ve ever had on my feet. They feel like there are air bladders inside that conform to my feet. The lacing system is divided into 3 zones, with the lowest zone having roller eyelets and the top has Lowa’s X-lacing stud that keeps the tongue in place and centered. You can really dial in the fit of the laces. The day after I bought them I went on an easy 2-mile hike, the next weekend I wore them up Mt Monroe NH with no blisters or even hot spots. I still wear them for most of my 3-season hiking, and also for winter hiking & snowshoeing when the temp is 20F or higher. Though I’ve been wearing my LL Bean all-leather Cresta hiking boots more often lately, and they might be Lowa-beaters if they could be resoled. The lacing system is very basic and is a little harder to tighten properly, but goes well with the old-school styling of the boot.
I'm a lawn guy and i work a lot of ten-hour days in wet grass weed wacking. I'm in mulch, dirt and rocks all the time and these boots last like no other brand. I have tried lots of different brands. Merrells junk, Salomon one year then fall apart, Timberland 8 months then junk. and I can go on and on. I have tried a ton of boots. These are the best I have ever had. Lowas will be going into their 3rd landscape season this year. All the stitching is still together, really well made.
I have a pair of these renegade boots that I bought for work and I've loved them since they kept my feet from getting crushed by heavy objects
If that is your use case you'd better get safety boots with reinforced toes
@@aaxa101 I have some I just liked my Lowas better because they were lighter
@@tactical_p0tatothat’s until you drop something heavy on your foot. At my job a UPS driver arrived balancing a roll of packing plastic on top of a box and wasn’t wearing safety shoes (we all wear safety shoes). The roll rolled off and fell on his foot. Someone sat him up and kept him from going into shock while others cleaned up the blood. That thing splatted his foot!
He went to hospital.
A colleague of mine also got off with a bad bruise after the sole of his safety boot maintained rigidity when a massive steel slab fell on it (5cm thick and 1,5m tall -definitely over 100kg)
Certified safety shoes will save you from being crippled by something you thought would never happen until it does.
@@aaxa101 There's a work version of the Renegade GTX that's got a steel toe-cap as well.
@@banaantjexx164 I did not know that! I might get some of these when my current safety boots stop working
I have had and tried out several hiking boots over the years, and these are the ones that fit the best (when new and after years still) and the most comfortable of the hiking boots to actual hike for me. It's the way your foot roles from heel to toe that makes them less fatiguing to walk in my experience than other hiking boots.
But as i said, nothing was as comfortable and still protective for your feet than these ones.
Mine are quite old now, and in the last couple years i wasn't able to go hiking more than maybe once a year, but i did use them for something they weren'T made for and they still worked well in that regard: climbing radio antenna masts. (Have to do that at work sometimes).
And they are grippy, comfortable, reduce the fatigue on your calves and even protect a little against banging your toes.
And after a whole day, they still are comfortable.
The leather panels i think have several reasons: you can use more of a sheet of leather as the parts are smaller and you can fit more of them on a sheet of leather.
And as someone in the comments wrote: their parents had a damage on one panel and sent them in for repait: LOWA just replaced the damaged panel. Both of these reduce costs and waste.
A few years back the Meindl boots of my father broke during a hike (the polyurethane dissolved into small granulate with every more step)
And he tried out several boots. And he switched to these too.
He always had Meindl ones before and was quite satisfied with them. But LOWA offers different widths (i think at least 2 different widths for each size are available in good sorted hiking stores where i live). And he was utterly surprised how comfortable and less fatiguing they are to walk compared to his previous boots.
And they are not made in asia, but here in europe.
Meaning people in europe buy those boots and other people in europe have a job and pay taxes and maybe go on vacation to the country of the boot buyers and spend money there and people can ahve a job and buy those boots. The circle of money.
When i buy boots made in asia, the people working in those factories won't ever have the money or time to travel to europe and spend money here. So the money is gone and only has benefitted the asian country but i get no benefit back. Unlike with Slovakia (which is even a neighbouring country to mine, so it's even more likely for them to come here. And judging by the license plates on cars i see on our highways they do visit.)
The leather collar is on the leather lined non GTX version of this boot.
In my experience, no footwear company makes a better fitting boot than LOWA. I own eight different pairs, all a joy to wear !
I bought my first pair of Renegades 20 years ago in a small shop. The shop owner said, if you are looking for a good performing, highly comfortable boot, check them out. And I still can remember the feeling when I slipped into the Renegades. The did fit like gloves and the other pairs, that I bought after I had worn them, still do.
Just fine boots. No issues with the stitchings. It's the Volkswagen Golf of hiking boots. Nothing fancy about it, but a solid standard in every way. I like them
I've had many Golf's and find they don't stand up to lamp posts very well. It's not a deal breaker though 😂
Lowa Renegades are the most comfortable boot ive ever worn at work ive had mine for 2 1/2 years ..i wear 40lbs of body armor and these things are surprisingly light and have been super durable.
Awesome review, great to see the LOWA Renegade GTX get cross sectioned. I really enjoy the LOWA Renegade GTX hikers have been my daily drivers for a few decades. I see these as reliable tools but they do wear out. I usually have 3 pair, newest for office and 'dressier' field work, a mature pair for hiking, mountain biking, & hard field work, and a old pair for gardening & especially dirty/rough activities. Typically the outsole wears through and PU midsole degrades to failure. I have never had an upper, hardware or seam issue. Visually I love their conservative, low profile appearance, they fit in the office or on a work site or on the trail, they fit in everywhere, unlike most other work and hiking boot designs. They also don't look like a bunker, combat or a construction boot, so you aren't cosplaying another role. The Lowa Zephyr and Danner may be better made boots for some use cases but in black they look like army and police boots. Renegade GTX are available in many colors but I wear black and a little black shoe polish will spruce them up and hide any rockrash easily, they are easy to clean. They are light and cool but also very waterproof and tough enough, with loads of support and a shank with just enough flexibility! For me they are great in snowy & wet conditions and been very happy with the way they keep my feet dry and warm. They work with gaiters, crampons and platform pedals. A perfect balance for my needs, I would say much better than average performing. To answer your concerns, there are separate leather lined versions and a new Evo version that has fewer external seams, but I like this version for flexibility and breathability. I have also had a few variants as the Renegade GTX design has advanced and evolved slightly over the years.
Being a hiking that spends almost everyday hiking in the woods I love this series you’re doing on hiking boots. I have had both the Lowa Renegades and the Camino. I believe the Camino is far superior. I’d love you see you do your cut in half to the Camino. Thanks
This is REALLY useful, not only about this specific boot but for building a "hiking boot knowledge base". Keep them coming, as a heavy outdoor boot user this is invaluable insight.
My wife has a pair of Renegade's she bought 7 years ago and they are still going strong. A year or two ago she did have to have one of the stitching on the toe piece of leather repaired, but it was minor and easy/cheap fix for a shoe repair shop. Seems like a great boot to me. She loves them.
I've been wearing & selling Lowas since 2000.
Don't compare a combat boot (Zephyr) to a hiking (Renegade) boot. Not a valid comparison or recommendation.
Lowa's factory in Slovakia delivers consistent fit and quality, so the boot you're trying on today fits like the one you bought years ago and have gotten hundreds of miles out of. You call it 'lame,' everybody who owns them knows they deliver on every step so you can get on with doing the thing, not thinking about your gear.
The Zephyrs are a bad example of a classic combat boot, they are very much designed towards comfort, light weight, and more urban oriented than traditional hiking boots. The Z-6 and Innox were specifically developed as more durable alternatives to Zephyrs. It’s not uncommon for soldiers using Zephyrs every day to wear them out in a year or less.
"Hundreds of miles" is what, a months worth of use? Two months?
I'm on my third pair. Great boot. Wonderful fit. My only complaint is the stitching lets go way before the tread is worn out. I wear these on the ranch as a work boot as well as in the woods and yes, they're kind to my feet. I should disclose, because I purchased the first pair at REI, so taking them back asking if they would restitch them, they just gave me a new pair.
Still rocking my 10+ year old Lowa Topekas I bought in Austria. The sole has been replaced by lowa a couple of years ago because I wore it down. Also one of riveted lacing eyelets broke, Lowa repaired it. The stitches upper hasn't shown any signs of coming apart. Love em, would probably get another pair if the my current pair fails or is lost.
That's what I took to k2 base camp in the early 90s ... and from there on.
Light, sturdy enough.
Perfect mix for anything that might happen off trail up on a mountain.
Not a forever boot. Buy new ones when worn out.
Have one now. Super comfortable
Warm greetings from Germany The Lowa Renegade are so popular here in the Black Forest because every dealer has them and they are cheap. Maybe the manufacturers: Salewa Tainer, Meindl Air, or Hanwag Banks.
The Lowa’s I bought in 1972 were all leather with a Vibram sole. Great hiking boots at the time but now you want lighter weight and more cushioning. People buy the new ones because they know exactly what they’ll get with no unpleasant surprises.
Personally I like trail runners better, very lightweight and good cushioning.
Letter carrier here: For my (precious little) money: this is my work horse shoe except for hot summer days. Light, durable, good fit, they offer a wide version (which I need). The weak point I came across is the seams at the lower side suede bit, they seem to give out first. That's at 6 miles on foot, all weather, 4 years, medium decent care. None of the other seams ever gave out. Sole stays put for about a decade of switching pairs (and I guess half as long w/o the switch). I'll try their sewing service soon as there is a store not far from where I live and the rep said they would send in my pair, let's see (it's that suede side-bit ofc). It's the people's choice bc it's all the things I mentioned and unchanged and affordable. You wanna hold to sth like that today.
My Lowa Renegade GTW were holding well until I wore them during a hike in the north of Norway. It was quite rainy during the hike and the boot did a good job at keeping my feet dry. I tried to dry the boots everytime I could but the PU part of the sole started breaking and literally decomposing and falling appart. It was surprising because the boot is supposed to be waterproof so I expected that it could handle it better. The upper is still good, no cracks but the style of construction of the sole makes it hard to replace the sole.
Could you please take a look at the Hanwag and Meindl shoes as well? Those three are the best selling hiking boot brands in Germany.
I got the Hanwag Tatra II non GTX and been loving it.
funfact: the founders of Hanwag and Lowa are brothers. Hans Wagner and Lorenz Wagner.
Pretty much the only Hiking Boot I ever had was the Hanwag Alaska. its a great boot so much so that I got 3 pairs by now and only ever had to get new ones because I needed a larger Size
@@c0dy42 Yeah, the founders of Adidas and Puma were brothers as well.
Love that Hanwag also does wide cuts of their boots. I tried Lowa, Meindl and Hanwag and found Hanwag to be the most comfortable for me. Meindl seemed very high quality too but just not cut for my feet.
@@c0dy42 Modern Hanwags are crap. The midsole started to crumble in the second season on my Hanwag Alaska GTX. Now $400 boots with 400 miles on them need a sole replacement (the tread shows no signs of wear). The manufacturer itself states the shelf life of the sole materials is 3-5 years. If your pair has been sitting in a warehouse for 3 years, get ready to pay $150 for resole. Shoe manufacturers have become too greedy these days. I would gladly join a class action lawsuit against the manufacturer for planned materials failure.
@@PrVladimir There's not much planned about this. Hydrolysis is a thing that happens in all those modern midsoles. If they really wanted to make more unjustified money the whole boot/shoe would quickly fall apart. But it's pretty hard to get Hanwags destroyed, at least the ones with all leather outer. Some of my Hanwag didn't see much or any care but the outer never failed, not the leather, not the stitching. Some of them I wear almost daily. Yes, after 10 years, the outsole was blank and then the midsole broke. Even the Gore Tex lining never failed with all mine -- the leather lined did though, I guess the lining really needs some care.
@@OddSheep-Out Well, my Hanwag Tatras failed - fittingly while I was hiking in the Tatra - pretty early, considering they were not stored in high humidity. PU can be chemically protected from hydrolysis for a longish time but my Hanwags apparently weren't. Maybe too much stabilizer has other disadvantages, maybe it's a matter of cost, or possibly the shoes were stored for a long time before I bought them. In any case, I had to walk through a bit of snow and a lot of rough terain on my midsoles, the rest of which held up surprisingly well.
My girlfried got one of these about 1 1/2 years ago and absolutely loves them and says it's the most comfortable shoe she ever had. She used them A LOT. Usually for everyday use in fall and winter but also for hiking or longer walks in summer. It still is in very good condition and none of the stitchings worry me at all. The only thing I did is treat the outside leather with wax because the original color wasn't very bright anymore. Now it has a nice slightly shiny fatty look that we really like. It's important to understand that this is just not a mountaineering boot. It's meant for longer walks in the fields, woods or dirty road, to walk your dog, entry to medium level hikes or kind of a durable sneaker for dirty environments. In comparison to for example the Zephyrs it still has a more civilized everyday look without looking like a soldier. Lowa has a lot of other options for more dificult up to extreme mountaineering but that's just not what the Renegade is meant for. My girlfried now wants to get another pair in another colour and I am thinking about getting one too. Also Lowa can apparently resole them eventhough they say they can't guarantee the GoreTex still works. For me Lowa just means great quality. I have another model as hiking boots and I use Lowa laces for my Solovairs since the original and other brand's laces always ripped. During his time in the military my brother just as many of his brothers in arms used the Zepyhrs and was very happy with them.
Please cut up Zamberlan boots next. Like the Vioz 996 😊. One piece leather construction, very supportive and comfy.
I think you might have hit the nail on the head toward the end of your conclusions, they are a reliable and comfortable boot that just get the job done. I'm on my second pair in 10 years, and the only reason I bought new ones is the old ones were starting to look a bit rough.
Had these boots for 3 years and had used them a lot for climbing up Scottish mountains and general walking around. Unfortunately after three years of hard use I had an issue around the seams at the sole of the boot. Phoned Lowa and they said they expected their boots to last longer than that and sent me out a brand new pair, which I’ve used heavily for the last two years including doing the West Highland way in Scotland! Still in excellent shape 🥾🥾
I got a pair of these from an REI garage sale for $90 back in 2017. I've taken it to many places and currently have used it as my winter boot. Still looks good as new. The only eyindint use it much anymore is because I went to barefoot shoes and cant fit into them anymore. The Virbram base was very handy on ice in Iceland. Overall, super happy with them. It's a shame I can't really fit in them anymore.
The Renegade has actually been the most comfortable, easy to wear in boot I’ve ever had. Can’t fault them! Their Mountain Combat Boot is incredible but takes time to wear in. The Zephyr is without a doubt their best boot but I would recommend checking out the Mountain Boots and some of their new combat boots, like the breacher and the new Zephyr.
Lowa Tibet seems like more of their flagship and I skipped out on the Renegade for the Camino. I love mine and I really would love to see you review them.
Also a series after this of reviewing mountaineering boots would be awesome.
I can’t wait for the Renegade RTX to come out
Love the ray lacing on those
Have had a pair of Renegade GTX's for 5yr. They've been very reliable and I have only managed to wear out the heel. Testing cobbler/glue skills trying to replace them with a cheap SVIG heel
I’ve had a pair of Lowa Renegades for almost a decade. They were my boots I wore in Afghanistan in combat and are still going strong. The point about the multiple pieces of leather being failure points is true as I’ve busted a couple seams there. They’ve been great overall and are still going strong. I hope Lowa opens their cobbler service here in the US so I can have them resoled.
Finally a channel w some solid worthwile merch! Too many just slap some transfer print on a cheap tee or hoodie and charge the sky high price.
Work in a large conservation area with lots of trails. Bought the green ones (our park uniform color) I liked them so much purchased another pair in brown. Like some have said more support than a ballistic nylon day hiker, not as heavy as a X -day backpacker....just right.
I have a pair of Lowa Z-8S Gtx - and walked the Camino Frances this year from St Jean Pied de Port to Santiago and on to Muxia. All up around 1000km plus 6 months of training. Still like new. Most comfortable hiking boots with a light pack I own. Only failure is the WIDE version is not available in Australia. For really hard core walking in rough terrain with a very heavy pack, my Lowa Tibet wides are simply unbeatable. Both are VERY expensive but are truly worth every cent.
I tried Lowa alpine plastic boots after trying many other brands torture alpine boots. They felt more akin to a classic hiking boot, since then I’ve been a big fan. I had to get my wife a pair of boots and she got these renegades and we did a big trip immediately (she had forgotten her old hiking boots at home) and she didn’t have any issues without any break in period. She said they were the most comfortable boot she’s had. They did last, yes the stitching did unravel eventually but with some maintenance they made it another year of trail packing in the PNW. For the price I would recommend them for avid hikers and backpackers.
I have been happy with my pair. I needed a leather boot for hiking and working outside that was light(ish), had a stiff sole, and was not super expensive. It is much more substantial than those hiking sneakers, but not a hard-core mountaineering boot. Also, it was comfortable to me right away. But there is one minor flaw. The lace can catch the top of the first hook/eye (not sure what they are called) without being fully engaged. It is hard to see as you are lacing the boot. Later, when it comes off, all the upper laces come loose. Other than that, they have worked well.
Goes to show that technical aspects do not necessarily translate to end user performance. If this comment section is anything to go by, the concerns in "lame" construction seem to be unwarranted.
i bought a very expensive pair of hiking boots many years ago and threw them out after about a year of pain. i went back to using high top sneakers for a short hike and well broken in redwing work boots for longer trips with rough terrain .
Great video, love the depth of your passion on this subject, thanks 😁
I worked on a military base north of Tikrit, Iraq for 2 1/2 years from August 2005 to March 2008. I don’t recall what model Lowa boot that I bought prior to deploying, but they lasted me for 2 1/2 years. Before making my final trip home I removed them for the final time and left them on the porch of my housing unit well worn.
Absolutely love your videos, have you considered reviewing the Oboz Bridger hiking boot? Keep doing what you do sir, I applaud you!
I have a four year old pair of Lowa Renegades that have seen all sorts of industrial chemicals outdoors at work. They have lasted longer than every other boot that I’ve used for work and have exceeded my expectations regarding comfort and durability. If the quality hasn’t changed since I originally purchased them, I would definitely purchase another pair when it comes time to get a new pair of work boots.
I'm on my third pair of Renegade GTX boots. I have never had a stitch pop, so the paneling has not been an issue fo me. My first pair had the leather collar lining, which I do prefer. The sole has great traction, but wears surprisingly fast. The number one reason I keep coming back is fit and an extreme level of comfort. Tue insold doesnindeed conform to your foot nuchblikena slab of veg tanned leather. The Renegades maintain their comfort through the life of the boot, too. They require zero break-in for me and have been super consistent from pair to pair. They have a great classic look that improves with a little wear. I also like my Zephyrs but they are too tacti-cool for some settings. The Renegades look good even when not hiking. I get exactly what I expect when I buy a new pair of Renegades.
I hike around 200km a month, and it took 3 years for the sole the break. While hiking it just broke in two parts, felt mud in my boot and noticed the damage. Never had an issue with the stitching, but I did have issues with the synthetic fabric attached to the leather middle tongue part. It had holes in it after a while and water got in from there.
I’ve had this model of boot for over 10 years. They have never been a problem. Best boots I’ve ever owned. Great for deer hunting in Kodiak and going up the mountain.
I wore a pair of zephyr in Iraq in 2010-2011 and they were by leaps and bounds the most comfortable boot I've ever worn and second in durability only to my Rocky S2V
Hell ya man I ONLY wore Lowas in Afghanistan ‘10-‘11. Had the Zephyrs and Desert Elites. I just rotated daily use on them and also mett-tc. 🤢 damn I haven’t used that term in years 😂
I have the Renegade GTX for some years. I think everthing is right what you said. What is special? It was the only boot I felt well, also walking every day up to 40 km on UK's south west coast path. I had previously tried dozens of shoes in the shop. And I own(ed) Meindls and Raichles and Merrells and Sportivas... they just don't feel as good.
I bought mine 10 years ago and they are still going strong. Hiked up Mt. Fuji with these babies. Hiked all around Taiwan and Malaysia. It is nice to see the company is still making the same boot with the same quality. Although mine were a lot cheaper. Thanks inflation......
My Renegade GTX’s have done a great job of keeping my feet dry this moose hunting season. I went a week wearing them in wet swampy terrain every day and there was no leakage. I just hope they last a while. My two complaints are the outsole being slick on wet hard surfaces and the gusset doesnt go all the way up the tongue.
I really like the higher top on the zephyr. I’m always worried about stepping in too deep of a puddle with my renegades.
PLEASE DO THE VASQUE SUNDOWNER!!! Thanks! That would be such an awesome boot to see done!
Would be cool, if you could also test Hanwag boots, preferably the Alaska GTX. Hanwag is short for Hans Wagner, the brother of Lorenz Wagner (yes, like Adidas and Puma, that seems to be a German thing with brothers and competing companies).
I normally wear the soles out of the Zephyrs. The last pair I had were disappointing. The leather cracked and split where the boot bends at the ball of your foot. If not for the lining inside I could have pushed a hole right through the leather. I didn’t do anything any differently and the boots definitely didn’t snag on a sharp object. It was really frustrating.
Ive been using a pair of Asolo Thyrus GV's for the last 5 years and they've been amazing. I don't like much ankle support, but I do want protection and these are by far the best, most waterproof, most breathable hiking boots I've ever had. Almost a single piece of leather for the whole boot, and after waxing it, they are bombproof. The midsole does seam to be wearing out the quickest though. They have less support than they used to 5 years later...which is a shame because the rest of the boot is holding up amazingly
Lowa is my favorite boot brand hope to see you review the rest
Hanwag has the same kind of felted insoles and so does Meindl, although these feel a bit different.
The lining in these shoes is surprisingly tough.
I loved that Old School Jungle Boot. I used to wear those in the 80's.
please please please do more review of mountaineering boots. The world needs this :)
Thanks a lot,very informative. Love Lowa but sad to say their shoe last not fits on my leg, which is very sad.
I love me my Lowa Renegardes and have recommended then to anyone who has ever asked me for advice on boots. The rigid sole, the actual nubuck, the easy of breaking in etc all makesnit the perfect beginner hiking boot. I've had mine for 8 years now and I've never had anything except the isolere fail on me. Putting in a high quality insole is really good to do tho
Have you seen the crowdfunded startup company Flatstep? This guy is making a zero- drop, hard toe, no toespring, footshaped work boot that has a real rubber outsole! It would be so cool to see Rose Anvil get a first run model pair to review..
In my experience, the insoles don’t hold up at all. I currently have a pair of Renegade GTX Lo for slightly over a year and the insole has a torn up top layer.
The soles are also pretty much gone.
The leather held up remarkably well.
I did about 1500 miles in these shoes.
Recently hiked 30 miles this past weekend with the Lowa Renegades. Incredibly comfortable, but the Vibram sole could have been a bit more grippy. No break-in period necessary. Also ran pretty hot on the inside. All in all, I'd rather wear these than the Salomon Quests.
You should also check out Meindl and Hanwag boots, these 2 and Lowa are the big 3 hiking boot brands of Germany.
I wore a pair of Renegades for just over 10 years and they were super comfortable. Only problem was that the PU in the sole deteriorated and the soles fell off, It broke my heart. Again, they did last for 10+ years but I had bought them hoping to have them longer.
Exactly my case.
The renegade evo has been on sale in the uk for at least three months or so and theyve removed the inner toe flex point seam, it used to be a major point of failerure- but the only major one based on the returns ive seen.
It looks like the old Renegade had a separate toe box leather piece whereas the toe box on the Evo is part of the leather piece that comes from the outside of the boot if that makes sense. Also both sides are now just one piece instead of two.
@@KristianGrSl yeah that's accurate, no more suede strip
Actually it looks like the inside is one piece and the outside two. On the old Renegade both sides made from three pieces.
I had my first pair for 13 years.
Last year I bought 2 new pairs because they are the best modern allrounder boot. One was on sale for 130€ the other is leather lined for 180€.
I use these 2 pairs for hunting, hiking and walking the dog all year round.
I bought a pair of Jim Green African Ranger’s too. Great boot but they are so different that I couldn’t even compare them.
Lowa Renegade GTX is a modern, durable, lightweight and comfortable boot.
The first pair was lame without any surprises; that’s why I bought it again.
And its made in Europe.
As someone thats on a budget, i rely on any pair of boots lasting me at least 3 years use without blisters or leaking, in Scotland, 9 months a year i wear Lowa or iturri Brittish army surplus
I'd love to see a lowa combat boot(mk1 not mk2) or mountain boot (2000s-2020ish) or iturri cold weather boot cut in half 🙏
My feet preferred the direct competitor from Hanwag, the Banks model in narrow. Also a long running and not too heavy model
I'm considering these because they come in a narrow size, and I have narrow feet. I wish more boot companies did that. Danner only has three pairs with narrow options.
I owned a Renegade for 10(!) years - walked more then 2000 Km in rocky trails (from New Zealand to Europe) and spent years with it as my go to for army reserve, winter or summer.
The only thing that broke was that the rubber sole itself started to dry up and crumble - the leather, the springiness of the, the grip and even the water tightness held strong.
Could not recommend it enough.
Why would someone buy these boots, you ask?
Renegades are the most comfortable boots out of the box I’ve ever used. They are comfortable before they break in. They are comfortable after they break in. They are great in the wet with the Gortex lining. They are great in the desert without the Gortex lining (requires special order). They work on trail. They work off trail. They work under a load. Renegades are not the toughest boots I’ve owned - it’s a soft boot, and I suspect they traded some durability for comfort - but they last just fine. The Zephyr, however cool they may look, didn’t offer as much foot protection off trail, and for me the footbed wasn’t as comfortable as the Renegade.
Top shelf comfort. Excellent utility. Decent durability. Those are my metrics. It seems like this review applies just about every other possible metic.
I've been in the backcountry in this boot through rain, snow 100° temperatures, and it works unbelievably. I remember on one 4-day trip it rained every day the boots were soaking wet for 4 days in a row and my feet were dry
You can add a new software cushion insole after a few hundred miles but off Trail it's #1.
Have a look at the Brandecosse boot range. They are well thought of, so would be interesting to see what’s in them
I’d like to see maybe either a pair of Italian diemme hiking boots 🥾 or maybe a pair of b2 grade mountaineering boots and see what goes into the construction of them, something like the scarpa Mont Blanc or the la sportiva Nepal gtx extreme 🙏🥾
I got those. I did Camino de Santiago on these. They were comfortable. The problem i had is that after 9 or 10 years the sole started to crack, split open. Low quality rubber.
Any rubber sole that lasts a decade isn’t low quality so your expectations for the money spent amortised over a decade seems unrealistically high.
Had mine for about 8 years now. Just tried to get them repaired at a cobblers as they've split at the tow flex area. Was told it can't be done....
I prefer Hanwag myself (by Hans Wagner, the brother of Lowa‘s Lorenz Wagner, iirc), but Lowa is part of Germany‘s outdoor footwear holy trinity: Hanwag, Lowa, and Meindl.
Gore-Tex equipped boots have a textile lining, only non-membrane boots come with leather lining.
I got pair of those 3-4 years ago just because I needed a winter commuter shoe in wet close to freezing temp weather weather. Knew nothing about them but seemed ok and price was good. Overall they hold well but instant problem I had was that insole felt short after 2-3 weeks. It looks like it just moved backward leaving 1/2 inch gap at the toe. Supper annoying. Adjusted it few times but changed insoles altogether as I got spur problem. I am surprised how long lasting they are comparing to chinese Martens that broke sole after 4 months. Additional plus for sole at the heel that usually due to 100kg weight wears prematurly but on those it’s very decent. One thought I had about the shank being short is that a lot of new shoes having edge on the heel feel unstable clog like almost when your foot slaps against the ground. Maybe allowing for shank to be shorter it give more flex to reduce this effect of pointy hard sole edge and flapping feel.
I have had a pair for 10 years plus I never had a problem with the boot I’m only buying new as I’ve worn the soles out
Would love to see some boots from Salewa on here.
I have owned and worn a pair of Lowa Renegade GTX boots for about 3 years now and they are by far the best boot I have owned for the last 40 years or so of hiking, climbing, and working. The form, fit, and support they offer across and around my entire foot plus the way the panels (that the reviewer claims is a negative) on sides of the boot act as strategically placed/engineered support straps that fit the contours of my feet like webbing offering both lateral, torsion, and vertical 360' support across the arch because of the I-beam sole the reviewer pointed-out. Seems to me if you keep your boots (focus on the seams with a tooth brush) clean and protected with a good polymer, the seams should not fail as the threads tensile-strength too are protected? I have put these boots through hell (west coast of Canada) and when I get them home, I clean them up well and add protection as needed and they show very little signs of even close to failing at the seams. The grip on the soles in all kinds of extremes also holds very well. Ya, these are not zombie apocalypse proof boots or to be used in a seven years in Tibet scenario and the cost is high, but these boot are definitely not lame. Oh, I also own a pair of Lowa Zephyrs and they are in a different league all together then the Renegades, but I love them both for different reasons (thank God I do not have to wear Red Wing boots anymore like back in the 1980's - back then, I thought those boot were great - but, these Renegades are 100 times better for sure...). One final word, the factory sole-bed is crap and offers no real decoupling or moulded support - I replaced it form day-1 with a Sole Active EVA rigid foot-bed and even after 20 hours of continuous wear my feet feel great after.
Have a pair for years now as winter/rain boots. They're super comfy, but yes, a seam popped.
Would love to see a test of Rocketbuster boots. Thank you!
Another boot I'd love to see you test is the AKU Pilgrim HL GTX Combat.
Big fan of Lowa boots, been wearing them for years. I do agree that the Renegade has gone downhill, that particular boot isn't what it used to be but the more expensive models like the Camino and Zephyr are still the quality boot I expect from Lowa.
My Lowa Renegade GTXs just passed last year. Born 2011. Died 2024.
They have been thru everything. I just ordered another pair for $157. The same price I paid for them in 2011! w00t!
My 2019 Renegades failed after 1.5 years of light use on a seam near the feet ball. One of my friends had a pair of Renegades from late 2000s or early 2010s and they worked fine for him for more than 8 years, then he bought 2020 Renegades and they failed him after a year. It's hard to say if something went wrong with renegades over the years or our use cases got more demanding. Dunno. Though to give a credit were it's due - they are quite comfortable right out of the box, great insole (which I'm now using in other shoes), relatively lightweight, definitely waterproof and look good. As for comparisons, 2012 Scarpa Lite Trek GTX were not only my hiking boots but my daily boots from 2012 till 2019, they were fine on the outside but goretex failed on the inside over the years. Now I have two pairs of Hanwags. Tatra lite gtx - purely a hiking boot and Alta 2 which somewhat resemble Renegades with that multi paneled leather design, though have a little less panels. Out of the box both pairs felt less comfortable than Renegades, subjectively construction feels more sturdier and i like lacing on Hanwags more. But the main difference is that Alta 2 are still perfectly fine after two years despite having multiple leather panels and seams like Renegades. I wanted to try Zephyrs but after negative experience with Renegades I decided to steer away from Lowa altogether.
The stitching popped on my Renegade not far off 50 miles use because of the break pedal on my truck, leaked ever since and so I bought the new Evo model which seems to have fixed this area of stitching so I am guessing this was a wider issue they had to address. The new EVO model is super comfortable BUT THEY ARE LIKE ICE SKATES IN THER WET! Very disappointing with the new outsoul. Zephyr is my favourite for sure but rubbish in water, good wet grip though.
I love my Zephyrs (the long C8Z model). Hands down the best boots I've ever owned.
I would really like you to cut open some boots from a local brand here in Lower Austria. Waldviertler/GEA are producing mostly zero drop boots with a wide toe box (different lasts available). The founder is a pretty interesting/weird guy and created jobs in an area where it's needed. The boots are made in Austria and all the parts are from Europe. Although they only offer Europe-wide shipping (afaik) I think the story alone could be interesting for international viewers
They have some wool lining options as well and their boots are known for repairability. I haven't tried them yet but I will as soon as it gets colder :)
lol all the comments disagreeing with the video. Cutting a boot in half doesn't tell the whole story at all it turns out.
I love LOWA and enjoy CAMINO EVO GTXand the ZEPHYR GTX they are very reliable boots and with proper care will last a long time. I have worn mine form WA to MT to Germany.