Test Lowa Renegade GTX MID Ws – Good hiking boots

Test video summary

Opinion summary

How do you use the Lowa Renegade GTX MID?

The Lowa Renegade GTX MID is a mid-mountain shoe with a high upper, so it’s suitable for hiking in the mountains, but can of course also be worn on the plains or in the countryside. It will just be a little heavy in this case, in my opinion, and I’d tend to prefer lighter models if the idea isn’t to take them into the mountains. What’s more, being waterproof and therefore not very breathable, they are recommended for hikes in temperate but not hot climates .

This is one of the most popular hiking boots (and one of the best-selling for the past 20 years!), and for good reason: it’s a versatile, comfortable boot that offers a good compromise between comfort, support, cushioning and rigidity. It’s a shoe that’s often recommended to beginners as their first purchase for mountain trekking, and it’s generally a good choice for all types of terrain that aren’t too technical. In fact, they were the very first shoes I bought, a long time ago!

Features

• Weight: 1125g per pair in size 40 (weight observed on my pair)
• Stem type: high
• Upper: nubuck leather with Cordura inserts at collar.
• Lining: Gore-Tex
• Sole: Vibram (rubber)
• Injected polyurethane (PU) midsole
• Lacing system: crossed laces with 3 loops on top
• Stem height inside: 110mm
• Outside stem height: 135mm
• Women’s sizes: 35 to 44.5
• Widths: 3 widths (S for narrow feet, standard or W for wide feet)
• Color: 15 colors to choose from!
• Price: €220

Our full test of the Lowa Renegade MID GTX Ws

Comfort

This is THE strong point of the Renegade. They’re so comfortable, you’d think you were wearing slippers (okay, a little heavier!). And above all, they’re comfortable from the very first use, so you don’t really need time to break them in, even though I’d always recommend not going straight out on a long hike in new shoes to avoid blisters.

Note that you can buy them in 3 different widths: standard, but also for narrow feet (an S is then added to the name of the shoe) or for wide feet (a W is then added to the name of the shoe). For my part, I have the standard size, which I find already offers a generous fit and a comfortable toe box.

Even though these shoes are still quite stiff (they don’t have the flexibility of a trail shoe!), the foot rolls along nicely, with plenty of cushioning thanks to the midsole. You don’t feel the unevenness of the ground or the stones at all, so you’re comfortable walking on all types of terrain, even if you’re carrying a heavy backpack.

In terms of weight, these are fairly heavy hiking boots: 1.1kg for the size 40 pair on my scales, so you can feel that your feet are a bit heavy, but above all… You feel them if you have to put them in your backpack! They’re not ideal for carrying if you’re planning to do lots of activities on vacation, as they’ll still take up a lot of space in your suitcase.

Support and stability

The lace loops allow you to adjust the ankle support to suit your personal style. For example, I like to give my ankle a bit of freedom, even if I’m wearing a high upper, but others prefer more ankle support. Good to know if you prefer a low upper, there’s also the Renegade GTX Lo.

I find the stability of the shoe to be excellent, making you feel secure whatever the terrain. I’ve always felt comfortable hiking in the Dolomites, for example.

Waterproofing

With its Gore-tex lining, I’m really pleased with the Renegade’s waterproofing. You can get caught in the rain, walk through wet grass or even cross streams, but your feet stay dry! I’ve never had a problem with this, despite the low maintenance of my first pair.

Breathability

Renegade may be made of Gore-Tex, but it’s still hard to get both waterproofing and breathability. In fact, it’s almost mission impossible, even if the manufacturers will tell you otherwise 😉 Let’s just say that it’s more a question of finding the right balance for your particular riding style. As for the Renegade, breathability is pretty standard for waterproof shoes, i.e. not great.

If the climate is temperate, I end up with dry to slightly damp feet. On the other hand, in very hot weather, I end up with soaked, overheated feet. In the mountains, they’re generally fine, but I wouldn’t recommend wearing them if you’re hiking in a hot region. An alternative might be the Renegade LL Mid, which doesn’t have a Gore-tex membrane: so it’s less waterproof but also more breathable!

The advantage is that your feet won’t get cold easily. I frequently wear these shoes in winter (with good socks) with no worries. If conditions are really cold, opt instead for the Renegade Warm GTX MID Ws, which I’ve also had for many years and still use for snowshoeing and snow hiking.

Adhesion

Vibram soles are renowned for their grip qualities. From what I’ve seen, the ones on the Renegade aren ‘t the best in terms of grip on wet rocks: if the hikes you’re planning are mainly on this type of terrain, opt for another shoe. Otherwise, all in all, I find the shoe to be very satisfactory and versatile.

Size

The size seems right to me. However, if you already bought this model several years ago, it seems that the sizes have been adjusted a little, since my old size 40 is now more like a 40.5.

Durability and repair

Renegade shoes are really solid and my first pair lasted for many, many years, even though I didn’t really look after them (which is not a good thing!). For me, there’s nothing to say, I’m really satisfied with their lifespan, whether it’s the upper, the stitching or the Vibram sole. I’ve never calculated the number of kilometers I’ve put them through, but they were consistent and I didn’t spare them.

To ensure their durability, however, we really do recommend taking good care of them: they’re leather shoes, so you need to take a minimum of care by cleaning, waterproofing and air-drying them (especially not near a heat source, which will crack the leather). Find all Lowa care tips here.

Lowa also offers several repair services for Renegade:

• Seam repair
• Hook and loop repair
• Heel renewal
• Heel lining repair
• Edge repair

Please note that reseeding is not possible on this model.

Conclusion

The Renegade GTX MID is a good all-round hiking boot, comfortable and durable. Just avoid wet rocky terrain and hot climates, but otherwise it should take you just about anywhere!