We tried out the Lowa Renegade GTX Mid hiking boots along the Severn Way in Gloucestershire and in the Lake District, to see if they could become our next ‘go to’ footwear for adventuring around the world and here at home. We’re also giving away one pair of Lowa Renegade GTX Mid hiking boots – you can enter the giveaway at the end of this post!
Hiking is one of life’s greatest pleasures, along with strawberry mojitos and cowboy movies. There’s no better way to explore the great outdoors than by pulling on a pair of boots and heading to the hills. Yet the decidedly unappealing prospect of blisters after just a couple of miles, and that lovely sensation of water slowly seeping in to drench your socks is enough to put anyone off! Living in the Lake District we’ve come to depend on our boots. Not just for being out and about in the hills, but also for day-to-day living with our changeable and often wet Great British weather. It isn’t called the Lake District for nothing. So understandably, when we do find a super comfy and durable pair of hiking boots, it takes a lot to convince us to try anything new!
Let me tell you a little story. Until recently Hubbie had a pair of boots that were 16 (!) years old, first purchased back in the days when he was an outdoor instructor. Despite looking their age, no longer being waterproof and lacking a certain amount of essential stitching, he refused to throw them out. They were his ‘go to’ footwear for our travels because they were lightweight, had good grip and he knew he could walk for hours in them, so long as it didn’t rain! Which is why I spied a slight tear in his eye when the Amazon Rainforest finally finished them off on our trip last month. The boots were consigned to the rubbish heap, and Hubbie was on the lookout for a new pair of boots.
This was the last time Hubbie’s boots were used, on an Inca trail in Peru, between Chinchero and Urquillos in the Sacred Valley. He tried to put a brave face on it…
To be honest, the same fate awaited my boots too. Although not quite as ancient as Hubbie’s, they’ve been much loved and well travelled over the years, which accounted for the numerous holes in the soles, and why they too ended up in the bin. I just didn’t make a song and dance about it!
So, what do you need to consider when buying a pair of hiking boots?
There are several different types of hiking boot out there, which can be a bit confusing to the uninitiated. Which is why Hubbie has put together these helpful points to assist in finding the best walking boots for you.
Leather or Fabric – This is an argument that will never be resolved in the outdoor world. We’ve both worn leather and fabric over the years, but as our travels tend to involve hot dry climates, we do generally favour the lighter more flexible synthetics over the all round protection and sturdiness of leather. Yet when we’re back home in the Lake District, we do sometimes wish we had the security of a good old fashioned bit of leather.
Mid or High Cut – This is all about personal choice. Having a higher cut boot offers far more support and protection for the ankle on rougher terrain, but it doesn’t afford the same kind of flexibility as the mid cut. The high cut also requires more material so the boot will be heavier than its mid cut counterpart.
Season rating – Boots can generally be classified by a season rating system (a bit like sleeping bags) to give an idea of the conditions the boot has been designed for:
1 season = lightweight boot with flexible sole suitable for flat easy summer trails
2 season = sole generally stiffer for more varied terrains, can be waterproof
3 season = most versatile boot suited for year round UK use on rocky terrain, waterproof
4 season = specialist boot for tougher conditions, stiff soles, increased protection for the foot
Liner – You need to consider when and where you are going to wear the boot. If you are just going along easy summer trails, then you want to have a good breathable boot, so a liner is not really needed. But if you’re looking for a versatile all-year-round boot then you will need a good liner such as GORE-TEX, which will keep the bad weather out, but still allow your feet to breath. We’re big fans of GORE-TEX so would always go for this option.
Unboxing the Lowa Renegade GTX Mid Hiking Boot
Lowa describes the Renegade GTX Mid hiking boot as a “multi-functional boot that can be called upon for a wide variety of needs”, claiming that as their “best selling” boot it brings “acclaimed trekking comfort”. We’d usually be wary of such assertions, but Lowa is a well-established and highly thought of boot manufacturer with over ninety years of design and manufacturing experience, and the “only outdoor footwear manufacturer in the world to be granted ISO 9001 status” – which sounds impressive.
Should be good enough for us then!
Opening up the boxes we immediately noticed the build quality of the Lowa Renegade GTX Mid hiking boots. The Nubuck leather is layered and sewn together by both hand and machine which makes for a good looking and robust boot. Add in the all important GORE-TEX lining and you have a boot that is ideal for trekking in the inclement British weather!
Weight
Hubbie did notice that the Lowa Renegade GTX Mid hiking boots were a little heavier than what he has been used to (his were 1110 grams per pair, whilst mine came in at 880g). This might preclude them from becoming his new ‘go to’ travel footwear, but when you look at what else the boot offers, perhaps this isn’t really an issue.
Comfort and Stability
The Lowa Renegade GTX Mid hiking boots come with Lowa’s exclusive monowrap framework which provides enhanced protection to the side of the foot, and a full-length stabilising shank protecting keeping the underfoot secure. Combine that with the double injected DuraPU midsole for shock absorption and Vibram Evo sole technology you have a boot that offers great stability and non-slip performance for all terrain use. So a little extra weight can be forgiven and they are by no means the heaviest boot on the market.
Shop Lowa Renegade GTX Boots
Sizing
One thing I love about the Lowa Renegade GTX Mid hiking boots are the sizing options. They come in narrow, medium and wide fits, because there’s no such thing as a ‘standard’ sized foot. Something which so many footwear manufacturers have failed to recognise. I also really appreciate that the boots come in half sizes, which is so important in hiking footwear, especially when you’ll often be wearing thicker socks. Hubbie and I both opted for the medium width boot, in UK sizes 10 and 5.5 respectively, and the fits were pretty true to size.
Initial thoughts when slipping the boot on were positive. There was no obvious pinching, a bit of space where you want it and a comfortable fit when done up. However, pacing around the living room for 2 minutes isn’t really that much of a test!
Putting the Lowa Renegade GTX Mid Hiking Boots through their paces along the Severn Way
We were down in rural Gloucestershire to walk a section of the famous Severn Way so we decided to give the boots their first test there, and did something that you should never do. We wore them straight out of the box. Heading out in slight trepidation, fearing blisters and hot spots because we hadn’t worn the boots in, we walked over fields, hills, roads and even sand. The result? Not a single sore spot between us!
Hubbie was raving about his boots almost instantly, apparently able to tell that they were perfect after just 100 metres. I preferred to reserve judgement until later. To get onto the Severn Way we walked along muddy farm tracks and through orchards and fields, before finally reaching the famous river. There’s really nothing better than being in the outdoors, enjoying a good old country ramble. Although it was soft underfoot thanks to recent rain, we felt no risk of slipping in the mud, and confidently glided across the multitude of puddles.
Well Hubbie did. I skirted around them where possible as I’m the kinda girl who doesn’t like getting her boots muddy, even though that’s what they’ve been designed for!
Our Severn Way section was a combination of grass banking and fields. Possibly not the most technical of terrains, but it’s not all about walking up and down mountains. At least that’s what I try and tell Hubbie! If you’re only going to invest in one pair of boots, you want a good all-round multi-purpose pair, and that’s where the Lowa Renegade GTX Mid hiking boots come into their own.
To get back to where we were staying we had to walk along country lanes. Not something that the feet will enjoy if they have already covered several miles and are starting to feel tired. However thanks to the double injected DuraPU midsole Hubbie couldn’t really tell that he was walking on much tougher, less forgiving compact roads. On the other hand I found the soles of my boots a little hard and probably wouldn’t want to walk for long periods on such a surface.
Check Lowa Renegade Boots Price on Amazon
Testing the boots in the rainy Lake District
We couldn’t test our Lowa Renegade GTX Mid hiking boots without heading into the hills back home, and we wanted to be able to compare the performance of flat soft ground, to the undulations and raging torrents of the Lake District.
We didn’t have to wait long for a wet and windy weekend, and whilst some of us would perhaps have preferred to stay warm and dry inside, with the reassurance of a blister free hike it was actually a pleasure putting the boots back on and heading out into the National Park.
We intentionally chose a location along the Ullswater Way that would provide a variety of different surfaces to walk on, including mud, gravel, water, as well as ups and downs to truly test the boots. I must be honest, neither of us were disappointed with how well the boots performed.
The monowrap and underfoot stabilisation really came into their own providing us with the confidence needed to be sure footed when hopping over boulders, around tree roots and up slate stepping. All of which were wet and very slippery due to the weather. Hubbie ventured up leaf strewn mud trails to see how the boots fared on unstable ground. They did the job well and he didn’t slip and land on his backside…a bit of a shame since I had been ready with the camera!
Walking up and down hill we found that we had very little foot movement within the boot, which is a good thing. You want a bit of space in the boot to allow the foot to expand through use, otherwise you’ll soon be experiencing pinch points and blisters. Yet if you have too much room your foot will be slipping around regardless of how thick your socks are and how tight you lace the boots.
Waterproofness is essential with a boot in this part of the world, and Hubbie certainly put his Lowa Renegade GTX Mid hiking boots to the test. Not satisfied with the downpour of rain, or walking through torrents of water on the trail, he actively sought out becks and quagmires in which to submerge his boots with a gleeful glint in his eyes. I was half expecting the disappointing moan that comes from a foot slowly getting wet, one I’ve heard so many times before. However the Nubuck leather in conjunction with the GOR-TEX liner kept all moisture out and his toes stayed nice and dry. Smug doesn’t even begin to cover it. At least I didn’t have to listen to him complaining about cold wet feet for the rest of the day.
What we loved
- Although not recommended, we wore these straight out of the box and have been blister free throughout testing
- The laces are a decent length (I’ve sometimes found on other boots that because I prefer to have the lower section of the laces slightly loose, I can’t use all of the upper locking lace hoops because the laces aren’t long enough!)
- They performed very well over a variety of terrains, which is exactly what they’re designed for
- There is an excellent size, cut and an unusually large colour range (because we all know colour is the most important thing!)
What wasn’t so great
- When I first put the boots on I found the sole to be quite hard compared to what I’m used to, but through more regular use this has softened a bit (or I’ve become used to it). For longer walks on harder surfaces I would certainly consider using an insole to cushion my foot a little more. Hubbie has pointed out that the harder sole means the boots are more sturdy and excellent on rougher ground. I point out that I’m a lady and has he never heard of Cinderalla?
- The weight is absolutely fine for hiking in, and perfect for terrain here in the UK, but may prevent them from coming with us on our travels when keeping weight down to a minimum is essential (on our Kenyan safari trip earlier this year we each had to make to with just 10kg for 2 weeks!).
The Verdict
Having now used the boots over various terrains in different weather conditions, we are honestly really impressed with our Lowa Renegade GTX Mid hiking boots and can definitely see them being taken on all our outdoor adventures here in the UK. I’m really fussy about my footwear, and wasn’t expecting the boots to be anything special, but for a multi-purpose all year round hiking boot to explore the fells and countryside, they do exactly what they’re meant to do!
The Giveaway
We’ve partnered with Lowa to offer our readers the chance to win a pair of Lowa Renegade GTX Mid hiking boots for themselves.
The giveaway is open to entrants worldwide.
How to enter
It couldn’t be simpler. Just use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter, completing as many of the options as you like. If you have previously completed any of the actions (for example if you already follow us on Facebook, Twitter etc) then feel free to have an entry for them!
Make sure you select your entries on the Rafflecopter widget to validate your entry (click on the grey bottom right hand box under each entry option)!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
” src=”data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7″ alt=”
These are fantastic boots. Had mine 3 years now and no visible signs of wear. And they’ve been through all sorts of trails and the not-so glorious N.Ireland weather. One big tip is to invest in Lowa’s own Water-Stop spray and Active care cream. Not expensive and leaves them like new
Great to meet another fan of the boots! And thanks for the tip, we so often forget about aftercare of our products. Happy hiking!
Great article, very informative. Having done the Inca Trail previously, would you say these boots were suitable for that? Also, it’s sounds like you got the Mid WS rather than the Mid. Other than the weight, do you know the difference between these boots? Do the Mid provide more cushioning in the sole? Having a debate with myself about comfort over weight.
we haven’t tried the other boots so can’t compare, we haven’t done ‘the’ Inca Trail, but we’d have been happy wearing those Lowa boots if we had. The main thing as you know is wearing them in! Hope you have a great time!
On my feet
I would wear them on country walks and fishing trips.
Hiking, long walks and walking the dog xx
would be great for my son who’s in college doing Countryside management so he’s regularly hiking across the south downs
I would love to wear these in Snowdonia when we go for a weekend break early next year. 🙂
I would wear them when walking our dogs over Ashdown Forest, in Bedgebury Pinetum and over the woods and fields where I live in Kent
I’d wear these on my morning walks with my dog – it’s quite hilly up where we are x
i am planning a trip to switzerland to climb some trails in the alps i visited when i lived there as a child so these would be great to wear
I’d use them for walking out around the welsh country side and coast line wit my dog
I would wear them on my weekly 8 mile hike around my village and surrounding farmland.
I’d wear them most days as I go walking in my local countryside every day and love walking/hiking so they would accompany on my travels wherever I go. A comfortable pair of boots are essential.
When I go hiking with my kids!
When walking around the Dorset countryside and coast
In Kielder Forest
We do a lot of walking up in Derbyshire with our dog peps
I would wear them everyday when I go for my morning stroll in the countryside…..would be far more comfy than my wellies for sure!!
I would wear them while out walking with my friends
I would wear them when I’m walking my 3 dogs
I would totally wear these boots any time we went hiking in the mountains here in NW Arkansas.
These would be great for my winter trout fishing on small lakes and on the shore sea fishing. Much more comfortable and warmer than wellies. Fingers crossed I’m the lucky one to win
On our many hikes around the Borrowdale.
One of our favourite valleys!
I would wear these everywhere as I’m not very good in icy weather and need sturdy footwear to keep me from falling over.
I walk a lot anyway..not only do I enjoy rambling, geocaching and hiking I can’t drive so not much option but use my only method of transport aka my two feet lol
On my trip to Ireland next year. Perfect for walking on the Wild Atlantic way.
I would like to climb the three peaks in the next year, so I would wear them for this.
One of our favourite places to visit each year is the Snowdonia area in Wales as my partner loves to kayak and we both love walking
on my holiday to devon
when I go hiking with my 2 boys
I would be walking the dogs around Rishworth Moors.
These boots look great. My walking boots are a few years old now so I’m in need of a new pair!
I would wear these when we go walking in the Peak District or the Lake District and probably daily when out with the dogs.
I would wear these on all walks, but would be good when down in cornwall walking the coastal paths!
I’d wear these boots to walk up Ben Nevis ( and lots of other places) during our holiday.
Heading to Austria in the Spring, the boots would be a great help!
My husbands hiking boots have seen better days. I would love to surprise him by winning these!
I want to start taking my daughter mountain walking so these would be fantastic. We want to start with Llanberis in Wales.
when going for a walk in our local forest
I’d wear them on my regular walks on Dartmoor
We’re going to the south of France next summer so they’d probably get a good workout there.
Me and my partner are off to Nepal next year, it would be great to have some new boots for the trekking!
Wow, have a great trip!
I would wear them on walks on Dartmoor when walking my two dogs.
I’d wear them for walking the dog around my local woodland. Fab giveaway would love to be your lucky winner
I would wear them whilst walking the dogs around the farm.
I’d wear these boots out on my walks and at the lake district when we go they look really hard wearing ideal for winter too
Pen Y Fan is my first place! I’ve taken up walking as part of a recent fitness regime and love it. Its a big challenge for me so these would be perfect! My recent love of walking is likely to take me to beautiful scenery and trails all over Wales after that, no doubt.
We live near the Lake District and love to go on hikes and walks. These would be ideal for me.
I live on the coast in NE Scotland and walk the hills, woodlands and beaches with my dog 🙂
would love them for my son, as he does a lot of rambling
peak district
derbyshire
I would wear these boots as a trundle around cornwall
All around north west England and southern Scotland
On the next stage of our coastal walk from Salcombe to Plymouth
I would use them in Wales when I am on holiday.
I would wear them on my holiday to Australia in March when i explore the outback.
I have beautiful countryside right on my doorstep here in Wiltshire I’d wear them out walking
I would wear them climbing the hills on the Isle of Arran, Scotland
I’d wear them every day during Winter walking my dog in the Brecon Beacons 🙂
When we go walking in the woods as a family
I’d wear these boots initially for hiking on the North Yorkshire Moors which is my local haunt and where we walk our dog. Occasional trips to the Lake District will be part of the plan, followed by a trip to the Scottish Highlands next Spring.
the lake district
Peak district & the Scottish highlands.
Has to be in the Highlands of Scotland
on our walks in the lake district
On long muddy walks with my dog
My son has just bought a tent so where ever he camps out I would use them there
Music festivals!
planning a trip to tour Scotland – so these hiking boots would be perfect
I would wear them to walk around the Lake District.
Around the Surrey Hills and views are beautiful x
Walking over the picturesque Exmoor countryside amidst the beautiful heathers and streams
Love to wear them in the Scottish highlands 🙂
They would come on many miles of dog walks in the countryside with me and hiking in Switzerland
great boots – would love to wear them on the north norfolk coast overlooking the sea
My boyfriend and I are going backpacking next year so I’d wear them all across the world!
i would wear them up to friston forest whilst i exercise my toddler
We’ve recently moved to Shropshire on the border of Wales so plenty of places for us to test these out! Great prize 🙂 x
They look perfect for those long weekend hikes with the family and for the daily dog walking 😉
I’m living in Exeter right now, so hopefully on Dartmoor when I can.
Hiking on the Brecon Beacons.
We’re off to Ardnamurchan in the Scottish Highlands so they would be perfect
My husband and i (and 2spaniels) love a good hike. I work as a Dietitian by day and spend much of my time in a hospital! We are outdoor people and these boots would be wonderful on my weak ankles!
I am about to move from South Derbyshire into north Derbyshire and the peaks. I’d wear them for some nice healing walks in the Peak District
I go on trail walk sometimes with a group I’m in and these would be perfect for those walks.
I’d use them whenever I needed them, although this tends to be Culmstock Beacon when visiting the family, or along the canal at home!
I would use these hiking in the Lake District. Such beautiful scenery
I would walk my local points which is the Pentlands, Midlothian
I would take this with me next time I go to the lake district. Thanks for the lovely giveaway, I would love a new pair of boots.
I am an archaeologist so I would wear these on excavations, a good pair of boots is essential and the ones I have are reaching the end of their life
What a fantastic job!
Around the brecon beacons
I would wear these to work
Wow, you must have a fun job!
IN THE PEAK DISTRICT
hiking in the peak district
I have been in the market for a new hiking boot. I hope I win!
Walking the Norfolk broads near to where we live
The Mourne Mountains in Northern Ireland are amongst my fav hiking trips close to hope. Looking to walk the West Highland Way in Scotland next year, so these boots look like they could be the perfect companion!
I go walking in the Peak District so I would take them up some big hills!
This would be perfect for a ramble on the Bodmin Moors, Cornwall
These look amazing boots for all round use, the dogs would certainly benefit too!
I would explore the state park across the street from me with these. I just moved here and I can’t believe I live across the street from a huge state park.
Being fortunate enough to live on the doorstep of the Lake District I’d make great use of the awesome Lowa boots
Us too, it’s a great place to live isn’t it 🙂
Next year I hope to walk as much of the Cornish coastline as possible. Hopefully whilst wearing the fabulous Lowa hiking boots. x
They’d be great for this, Cornwall isn’t quite as flat as people think is it 🙂
I’d wear mine walking the Shotley peninsular in Suffolk
I’d wear them walking the Pendle Witch trail
I’m an all weather, all year round walker in the Peak District! I’d like to put these to the test up on Howden Moor, the most challenging place I know!
Great choice!
going to the brecon beacons in march so these would be great for that trip
Would wear them daily when walking the dogs over the farmers fields, but also when we go camping a couple of times a year! 🙂
I would wear them to walk up to stoodley pike.
Everywhere! I love walking, and I love to be comfy! I am lucky to live near the Peak district, so I often walk near Matlock, Derbyshire, and pretty local jaunts! Lovely boots!
Great choice! I grew up near the Peak District, definitely one of the best places to hike in the UK.
I’ve got this dream of hiking over the alps, from Salzburg to Triest. My old boots went the same way as yours did, while on vacation in the states last year, and I’m still a little sad…
Sounds like you need a new pair 🙂 That’s a sign of well loved boots! And what an epic adventure that would be, do let us know if you ever do it!
In the Dales or the Lake district x
Your photograph of the Ullswater Way reminded me of Nahal Yagur in Israel. I would wear my Lowa hiking boots while hiking in Nahal Yagur.
Sounds like a beautiful place, would love to visit some day!
I would wear these (to be accurate my wife would wear them as hers are just worn out) walking the South Downs.
Having just moved to the Highlands of Scotland these would be perfect for bagging my first munroe
Oooh, jealous, love the Highlands! Good luck with the Munroe bagging.
To our winter walking holidays in Dartmoor, perfect ! Thank you….
my family like to go to Scotland as often as we can. i’d get a lot of use out of these when we’re there.
When we go hiking on holiday.
Love walking round the Saddleworth hills!
The Brecon Beacons would be the perfect place to use them with all that uneven terrain, to support our ankles. They look amazing, thank you for such a brilliant giveaway!
I’d wear them on our next trip to the Peak District.
To Ireland, along The Wild Atlantic Way.
I’m off to stay in a castle in the Scottish Highlands soon so these would be perfect for that.
Wow, that sounds amazing, nowhere does castles better than Scotland!
I would wear them everywhere, love them!
I’d wear them every weekend when I go hiking in the Yorkshire Dales with my hubby
Camping, walking the dog……school run ….lots of places….love them!!
I’d wear them when I go out walking across Epsom Downs. I currently wear trainers as I do not own a pair of boots.
Around the Dorset coastline with dog
I would wear them for my weekend walks in the countryside
I would wear them in the Yorkshire Dales, especially around the Malham area
Oooh, love Malham, it’s not too far from where we live now, beautiful place!
we go hiking in the cozia mountains each summer id take these with us!
I’d love to win some for my hubby. Now that he’s semi-retired we have taken up walking around the Yorkshire Dales and Moors – but he doesn’t have proper boots yet.
The Cornish coastal path would be fabulous to break a new pair of boots in.
Everywhere on my walks
PERFECT for walking in Wales when we visit my parents next month
Over on the Isle of Arran, where we have our family holiday home – we go walking lots over there!
some of the Spanish natural parks
I would wear them on my walks around Cornwall.
everywhere
Walking in the Shropshire Hill for now maybe somewhere exotic in the future.
I’d wear them hiking the amazing mountains in Utah!
The Lakes
Good choice!
camping and visiting all of the national parks in the USA!
In the Torres del Paine National Park in Chile.
Now that would be amazing!
Walking the South West Coastal Path in spring 2018
when i go metal detecting in yorkshire
Out bird watching
I would love to wear them hiking up the Wrekin in Telford
Will wear mone around the meadows where I live.
The great thing about these boots is that they’re perfect for all sorts of terrains, meadows included!
I would wear my boots while walking around Shropshire.
I am sure I would wear them everywhere I go when I go hiking, but I would love to wear these on a trip across South America, they look like they could withstand the heavy duty experience of walking a varied and rugged terrain.
Great choice Karl! We’re just back from Peru where we hiked some of the Inca trails, wish we’d had the boots with us then!
I would wear them in the Pacific Northwest, Cascade Mountains area. They’re really nice!
That sounds like an awesome place to hike!
I am planning to walk the Cami de Cavells in Menorca in the Spring and will need some new walking boots. Will break the in in the Malverns though.
Sounds like a great plan! The Malverns are a beautiful part of the UK!
This post is all about these amazing boots with perfect review 🙂 These boots looks really good & it would be too comfortable too.