Lowa Renegade II GTX Mid

Bottom Line

The Lowa Renegade II GTX Mid draws rave reviews for its soft, comfortable interior, plenty of ankle support and great traction on any terrain, but falls flat in the durability department. Its lifespan of 200 to 600 miles would be decent for a light hiking shoe, but it just doesn't cut it for leather backpacking boots.

Fit and Comfort

Fits like a glove. A number of owners find the Lowa Renegade II GTX Mid comfortable right out of the box, which is impressive for a leather backpacking boot. "They are quite simply some of the most comfortable boots we've ever worn," say editors of Camping Life Magazine. "The first day I wore these boots in the field I put 16 miles on them and had no blisters," adds a user at REI.com.

Other wearers praise the Renegade II GTX's soft interior, saying it fits like a glove. The ample toebox leaves plenty of room for comfortable downhills, and an REI.com poster reports that the boot takes orthotic inserts very well. Although this boot runs a little small and narrow, three widths for both men and women help you get the best fit.

Performance

A sure-footed leather hiker. The Lowa Renegade II GTX Mid really shines for its grippy traction in varied terrain. "Lower on the mountain, the Renegade GTX gripped rocks and dirt well, without slipping. Once I reached the higher parts of the mountain, the tread pattern kept me from slipping in the mud or snow," says Branden McIntyre at DailyHiker.com. "They have incredible traction... do well in muddy and rugged terrain," agrees a user at REI.com.

In what may be the ultimate compliment to a hiking boot, an owner with a below-the-knee prosthesis writes at REI.com, "the Lowa Renegade II gives me stability when walking." But when it comes to heavy backpacking, user opinions are mixed about just how heavy a pack you can carry. "Once the pack hit 25 pounds, I started feeling every rock in the trail," posts one; another backpacked for 75 miles with a 40- to 50-pound pack and says the boot's performance was flawless.

McIntyre describes the Renegade II GTX Mid as "not quite as beefy as a full backpacking boot, but still a lot more support than a hiking shoe." If you're not too worried about ankle support, the Renegade II GTX also comes in a low-cut shoe (*MSRP $200). Gore-Tex waterproofing makes the shoe water-resistant, but owners don't venture to call it waterproof.

Durability

Not built to last. While comfort and traction are high points for the Lowa Renegade II GTX Mid, it falls short in the durability department. "Because the soles are a little soft, after a year of wear, the sole was tearing apart," says an owner at REI.com. Another had his boot's Vibram sole wear completely through after about 200 miles of light day hiking.

In contrast, a frequent Appalachian Trail hiker estimates the boot's life at about 600 miles: admirable for a shoe, but not up to par for a heavy-duty leather backpacking boot. A satisfied user claims at REI.com, "I've got 360 miles so far this year, most of it on the rocky, talus strewn trails here, and they're still in great shape."