Lowa Renegade GTX Low - iReviewGear.com

Lowa Renegade GTX Low

By Cory McLaughlin

Just the Facts:

This low-cut trail shoe features a hybrid DuraPU™/DynaPU™ midsole for superb cushioning, support and rebound. Add a roomy toebox and extra cushioning around the collar and tongue and you’ve got a rugged walking shoe that can handle rocky trails and wet fields as well as groomed paths. Durably waterproof/breathable.

Upper Material: Nubuck Leather
Construction: Slip Lasted – Injected PU
Lining: GORE-TEX®
Lacing Hardware: Eyelets
Insole: Atc Footbed
Midsole: Double Injection DuraPU® with DynaPU® shock absobing zones
Monowrap Frame®: MONOWRAP® Support Frame
Sole: VIBRAM® Evo Trac
Stabilizer: Soft
Country of Origin: Slovakia
Weight (lb) 2.28

My Story:

If you follow our page you will see that we have a great working relationship with LOWA boots. I am sure you gathered by now that if LOWA made crappy boots we would no longer choose to take them into the wilds. Well, the LOWA Renegade GTX Lo is another prime example of a great product from a great company.

Most of my reviews include a story about how my feet are messed up and in bad shape from injuries while I was in the military so I’ll not bore you with those same old stories again. The point is that I am very picky about what I put on my feet. It’s hard enough to get out and adventure as it is so I will not compromise my footwear and risk re injury because I want to save a buck. I like good boots.

My early life was all about 8’’ or higher and I would not even entertain the idea of a lower boot. I just could not make myself do it. Interestingly enough it was LOWA that changed my mind. I was able to work out a review of the LOWA Ranger and thus began my love affair with LOWA and lower boots. When the time came that I was ready to test out the Renegade GTX Lo I was again a bit nervous as it was more of a shoe than a boot. I was interested in the weight savings and I truly am a believer of the saying “you don’t know until you know!” so I arranged for a test pair.

I received the Renegade GTX Lo shoes just in time for early season scouting and after breaking them in by wearing them to my day job for a few days I was ready to get them into the field. I knew that they would be worthy and they have all the same great features of the Renegade GTX that I previously reviewed for LOWA, and yet, they are completely different.

Summer life was a bit crazy this year but I finally was able to get out on a much needed backpacking trip. This was where the Renegade GTX Lo’s would be truly tested. I was carrying a full pack as my children were with me and any family backpacker knows you’re going to end up carrying a huge pack when you bring the kids. I was loaded down and honestly pushing the Renegades past what they were intended for. I am a tester after all so I had not reservations of going a bit extreme.

The trip would amount to just under 20 trial miles with lots of additional undocumented boulder jumping and fishing adventures. We were hiking in the Eagle Cap Wilderness of Oregon and it is a beautiful but unforgiving mass of shoe chewing granite. It was the perfect area to test!

This trip was amazing for so many reasons. It was my family’s first real backpacking adventure in which we were all together. We had a great time. I never gave a second thought to my feet as they never bothered me.

I went through some creek crossings, stepping on rocks of course, and put on the miles both on and off trail. No hot spots or blisters and no sore heels or arches. I really enjoyed hiking in my Renegade GTX LO shoes.

Here are some of my most important parting thoughts about these great trail shoes. LOWA! Please hear my call! The insoles are simply awful and need to be redesigned. I have tested a considerable amount of boots and while I rank LOWA to be right at the top of the pack in their boot quality and design I find their stock insoles to be among the worst. I implore you LOWA, please make a change! As for comfort, after changing out the insoles, I was not surprised at all to find these shoes to be excellent in performance and durability. Just another great product from LOWA. A sharp eye might even notice that my wife is wearing the standard Renegade GTX while my oldest daughter has the new Innox boots. We are a LOWA loving family!