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Lowa Renegade GTX Lo

rated 4 of 5 stars
photo: Lowa Renegade GTX Lo trail shoe

I have had two pairs of these shoes and they are great. These are shoes that work well with khakis or jeans for casual attire, but these shoes can also take some serious abuse.

I used my first pair when I worked up in Alaska and used them with gaiters when the snow got deep. The rubber is pretty tacky and predictable on wet and snowy slick surfaces and the shoes really do a nice job of protecting your feet when walking in rough terrain. The rubber is also extremely durable and after 4 years on my current pair, they are still looking good!!

The only fly in the ointment with these shoes is that the seams where the rubber wraps around towards the sides in the flex zone end-up popping threads over a long period of use. I actually sent my first ones back to Lowa after this occurred within the first year of ownership and they sent me a new pair.

I have had my second pair for almost 4 years now and they have had the same problem for the past couple of years. I just kept wearing them this time and they don't seem to have gotten much worse, but its something that seems to be a design flaw. Fortunately this has never caused the shoes to leak or get too gnarly looking so I have just kept them and appreciate the value I have gotten out of them. Even knowing this I would still buy another pair.

Materials: Leather and cordura w/gore tex liner
Use: Casual, hiking, light backpacking
Break-in Period: Short break-in for these shoes.

The best pair of trail shoes I have ever owned, by far. I pretty much wore them every day, on trail and off, for two years. The Vibram outsoles held up extremely well, as did the uppers. When the shoes finally did buy the farm, it was because I had shredding the inner heel lining through both layers.

Performance wise, these shoes do almost anything...I do a LOT of off-trail stuff in a variety of terrain. The shoes handle wet and dry equally well, and I was quite comfortable using them as approach shoes on some fairly exposed high angle rock.

The support was excellent...when I combined these with an ALINE insole, the result was ankle support that equaled or surpassed that of a full high-top backpacking boot. And of course in a much lighter, more manueverable package.

I really have nothing bad to say about these shoes, and I can usually find something wrong with any shoe. So there you go...for me these pretty much the ultimate outdoor footwear.

Materials: Mixed upper, Goretex, Vibram outsole
Use: Everything except backpacking
Break-in Period: 1.5 weeks
Weight: unknown
Price Paid: $110

Very comfortable shoes, but with weakpoints and too expensive for not repairable shoes.

I have had several pairs of these shoes of several model years. The foam/fabric heel cushion is not durable and falls apart soon. More than once the upper-shoe leather tears apart on the outside sole line. Worn sole cannot be replaced while there's nothing beneath the sole.

Pros

  • Walks like heaven

Cons

  • Weak heel cushion
  • Leather breaks at sole line
  • Sole not replaceable.

Too expensive for non-durable shoes.

Source: bought it new
Price Paid: 160 EU

The shoes walk perfect, but in only four months the sole is completely worn out. Never again shoes so expensive and no guarantee from Lowa.

Pros

  • Walk and fit are good

Cons

  • Soles are very bad, not replaceble and not repairable.

I walk daily 8-10 miles on the road, nothing special. The shop did send the shoes back to Lowa, but they didn't do anything for me. The shoes cost me 179,95! So for me never again Lowa shoes!

Background

Bad experience

Source: bought it new
Price Paid: 179,95

I bought these four years ago while working for an lowa dealer along with a pair of Scouts. These boots have been wonderful. I use them for day hikes, around the yard, and even through our Michigan winters. The Gore-Tex lining keeps my feet dry. The boots fit my feet great and I could walk all day in them. Even after four years of use they are still holding up quite well, I mean I don't wear them everyday but often enough. Would highly recommend to anyone looking for a lo-cut waterproof boot.

Materials: leather with Gore-Tex lining
Use: day hikes, and everything else
Break-in Period: none
Price Paid: $70

I use them everyday. I use them at work in my dental practice. They are perfect. I've owned 3 pairs already, but all break at the seams. But I do use them constantly and not just on hikes. They are also great for traveling.

Materials: Gore-tex
Use: work and daily living
Break-in Period: none
Price Paid: $159.95

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Men's
Price Current Retail: $148.99-$240.00
Historic Range: $99.96-$240.00
Reviewers Paid: $70.00-$110.00
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Reviewers Paid: $159.95