HikingLowaHiking Boots

Lowa Renegade GTX Mid hiking boots long-term review: our experience after 5 years of use

Reliable, comfortable and surprisingly stylish walking boots that perform well in any and all UK conditions.

✓  Best BuyLowa Renegade GTX Mid Weight585 g/bootWaterproofingGORE-TEXPrice£215 The good✓  Great looking boots
✓  Exceptionally waterproof (GORE-TEX)
✓  Very comfortable over long distances
✓  Grippy Vibram sole
✓  Unrivalled ankle support
✓  Works from summer to winter
The not-so-good✗  Take a very long time to dry out
✗  Sole seal needed repair at ~250 km
✗  Laces snapped at ~500 km
Check price at Absolute Snow →

At a glance

Overview

The Lowa Renegade GTX Mids are Lowa’s flagship hiking boots. Designed to be an effective all-rounder for easy day hikes or long thru-hikes across changing technical terrain, they come with a durable Vibram sole that performs well on everything from deep muddy tracks to slick rock and snow, a malleable nubuck leather upper that moulds to your feet for maximum comfort, and a breathable GORE-TEX liner that does an excellent job of keeping your feet dry.

Renowned for being some of the most reliable boots on the market, you have probably already spotted them. Just head out into the mountains of the Lake District at any time of year and you will see at least one pair. This ubiquity is not without reason: the Renegades are such a great all-round mountain boot that for many of us, they are the only ankle-high boot we will ever need. Climbing Crib Goch in summer? Lace up the Renegades. Hiking the Skye Trail during a rainy Scottish autumn? Lace up the Renegades. Heading to a muddy music festival? Lace up the Renegades.

Weighing 585 g per boot, we think the Renegade GTX Mids are reasonably lightweight for the level of support they offer. Everything about the boot has been designed to provide maximum performance per gram. When bought from Absolute Snow, they cost £224.99 at time of writing, though frequently on offer for less.

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How we tested

We have been using the Lowa Renegade GTX Mids for many years now. Our most recent pair has clocked up almost 500 miles — and although around 200 of these have been through the Swiss, Austrian and German Alps, the Black Forest and several US national parks, the vast majority has been in UK conditions. We have used the boots in all four seasons: 30°C bluebird hikes, multi-day treks in torrential rain, and winter mountaineering trips in the Cairngorms. We have worn them across the Lakes, Eryri, Bannau Brycheiniog, Dartmoor, the Cairngorms, Loch Lomond and the South Downs. Here is what we think after all that time.

Features and performance

Comfort

The Lowa Renegade GTX Mids are very comfortable boots. Due to the soft nubuck upper and reasonably rigid soles, you can easily walk for miles without any pain. The only time we ever felt any aches was after carrying 16 kg over 36 miles shortly after we bought them — before they were fully broken in. Since then, we have repeated that feat several times without any similar experience. Whether you are charging up a grassy hillside, powering downhill through scree, or scrambling over slippery rock, the feel of the fit never changes. You always feel safe and secure, and the grip provided by the Vibram sole is beautifully confidence-inducing.

Waterproofness and breathability

The Lowa Renegade GTX Mids come with a GORE-TEX membrane which guarantees enhanced breathability and industry-leading waterproofness. After all our years of walking in them, these boots have never leaked once. We have waded through water, had our feet submerged in wet bogs and powered through rainstorms — never once with wet feet. The only exception was wading through dewy grass one summer’s morning in the Brecon Beacons while wearing only shorts: moisture soaked in through the top of the boot, which is intentionally not waterproof. Pure user error, and we now wear them under waterproof gaiters in tall wet grass.

The solid water-tight nature of the boots does mean they are slightly less breathable than lighter alternatives. In the UK, we have never found this to be an issue — even on 30°C days, feet never became uncomfortably warm. One honest caveat though: when the inside gets wet, it takes a very long time to dry out. Anything less than a full 24 hours on a radiator probably will not do the trick.

“The second these ones fail — which we don’t expect to be any time soon — we’d happily invest in a new pair. That hopefully speaks volumes.”

Durability and warmth

For the most part, these are very durable boots. The laces snapped fairly quickly on our latest pair, and the seal around the right sole cracked and opened after a particularly challenging few days in Eryri at around 150 miles of wear. A cobbler recommended running store-bought superglue around the sole rim — which felt like a lazy fix at the time, but has held perfectly since with no recurrence on either boot. Everything else has stood up very well to a lot of abuse. Warmth is equally impressive: paired with thick walking socks, they are plenty warm enough for snowy days, cold mountaineering trips and snowshoeing. Paired with lightweight socks, they are comfortable on the hottest summer days. Possibly the only walking boots you will ever need.

Our verdictGreat-looking, exceptionally comfortable, and potentially the only walking boots you’ll ever need.Overall, we have really enjoyed using the Lowa Renegade GTX Mids over the last few years. The second these ones fail — which we do not expect to be any time soon — we would happily invest in a new pair. They are great looking, exceptionally comfortable and very supportive, and they work well across such a wide range of conditions that, for the UK, they can quickly become the one and only walking boot you will ever need.Buy the Lowa Renegade GTX Mid at Absolute Snow →

FAQs

How comfortable are the Lowa Renegade GTX Mid hiking boots?Very comfortable on both short and long walks. The longest hike in ours has been 36 miles. Some mild discomfort early before full break-in, but consistently comfortable across all terrain once worn in.

How waterproof are the Lowa Renegade GTX Mid hiking boots?Exceptionally waterproof. We have had our feet in rivers numerous times over nearly 500 miles and the boots have not leaked once.

Are the Lowa Renegade GTX Mid hiking boots worth the money?Yes. At £215 from Lowa direct, they are expensive — but their durability and all-round performance make the investment worthwhile. They are regularly on offer at various retailers, so shop around. The second ours fail, we would buy another pair.

How durable are the Lowa Renegade GTX Mid hiking boots?Very durable considering they weigh under 600 g per boot. Nearly 500 miles of use across UK mountains and alpine terrain. The sole seal needed a quick repair at around 150 miles, and laces snapped at around 500 km — but uppers and GORE-TEX membrane have held up throughout.