The Lowa Renegade GTX – A straight forward hiking shoe with an understated look and high performance right out of the box. From Laos to Everest, over months of travel through a variety of activities, terrains, and climates, the Lowa Renegade GTX kept my feet comfortable and feeling great, letting me focus more on the pleasures of adventure. (This is a Lowa Renegade Review)
If you’re in search of a high performing hiking shoe with a subdued look for your travels, I can’t recommend the Lowa Renegade GTX more.
Contents
- Overview of the Lowa Renegade GTX’s
- My Experience with the Lowa Renegade GTX’s
- Pros
- Cons
- Traveling with the Lowa Renegade GTX
- Hiking
- Trekking to Everest Base Camp with the Renegades
Verdict on the Lowa Renegade GTX
A Lowa Renegade GTX Review
My Experience with the Lowa Renegade GTX
I initially stumbled on the Lowa Renegade at REI when I was in search of a hiking shoe that could perform well enough for the 1 week+ long trek to Everest Base Camp but looked subdued enough that I could comfortably wear the shoe around town in South America and Southeast Asia without drawing attention. As a kicker, I was leaving in mere weeks, so I wouldn’t have time for a proper break-in period. After searching through hundreds of shoes and boots online and in stores I finally found the Lowa Renegade GTX…and it appeared to fit all of the traits I needed in a hiking boot for travel as well as any shoe could.
See the Lowa Renegade GTX at REI.com
Initial Performance of the Lowa Renegade Hiking Shoes:
Upon
Aesthetics of the Lowa Renegade GTX:
While I may not get into any Las Vegas rooftop lounges or 3 Michelin star
While I may not get into any Las Vegas rooftop lounges or 3 Michelin star
Performance on the Road in Southeast Asia, motorbiking and backpacking with the Lowa Renegades:
In the 4 months preceding my trek to Everest, I walked, hiked, and rode across Southeast Asia. The highlight of the tour was a
Though I wasn’t hiking (the Lowa Renegades’ forte) the shoes took it all in stride. They kept my feet comfortable and dry far longer than I expected. On the days off from riding, the shoes continued to be awesome during hikes on sketchy, muddy, and slick trails up mountains, between fields of unexploded bombs. Through it all, I can’t think of a single day that my feet hurt in these shoes.
Trekking in the Lowa Renegade GTX’s:
From day hikes
The final test (before the Everest Base Camp Trek) was a
The Final Test: The Everest Base Camp Trek
After 4 months of wandering
The Everest Trek should have taken between 11 and 14 days to walk the 80 miles. With the Lowa Renegade’s I finished in 7, carrying all of my own gear (~25lbs). No guide, no porter. I wish I could say my feet didn’t hurt a single step of this journey, but there were times they did – but at no fault of the shoes. I’ve walked plenty of miles before and I can say that, given the task, these shoes performed better than any others I’ve owned.
With the Everest Base Camp Trek as the final trek, I can state clearing that these are my favorite hiking shoes I’ve ever owned.
Pros of the Lowa Renegade GTX
- Extremely comfortable: Felt amazing for hiking right out of the box, even with weight
- Subdued and neutral look (for a hiking shoe)
- Stays snug (horizontally) and comfortable through a variety of activities and movements
- Perform remarkably well in all weather
- Durable
Cons of the Lowa Renegade GTX
- Price – a little more than counterparts, but you get what you pay for
- Gore-Tex, may not be the best for hot, jungle climates as it traps in moisture in heat and humidity and takes forever to dry once wet. Consider bringing a sports sandal like
the Xero Trail - Won’t fit gaiters, due to being low tops
Who I recommend the Lowa Renegade GTX for
Travelers whose travels lean more towards trekking, hiking, and lots of adventure, accumulating more miles than rooftop cocktails. If you have weaker ankles and plan on doing multi-day treks or carrying heavy loads, I recommend opting for a more supportive, hi-top boot instead.
For travelers who adventure equally between the city and the backcountry and want a more fashionable shoe that’s still capable of adventure, consider the Altama OTB Maritimes, possibly the most balanced travel shoe I’ve ever encountered. Though they don’t hike as well as the Lowa Renegade GTX, the tradeoff gets you a great looking shoe that performs well in nearly any environment (even swimming) and still looks good enough for a photo shoot.
Recommendations
Consider pairing these with the Xero Trail minimalist sandal, great for hiking, running, walking, and everything else you can think of. With these two pieces of
Specifications
- Price: $210
- Weight: 1lb 7oz.
Verdict on the Lowa Renegade GTX
Highly recommended. From beginning the beginning of my adventure to the end, the Lowa Renegade GTX was one of the most comfortable shoes I’ve ever adventured in. Well worth the price, high performing, and in a very understated package.
Click Here to Purchase the Lowa Renegade GTX at REI
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Carlos is a nomad, slow traveler, and writer dedicated to helping others live abroad and travel better by using his 7+ years of experience living abroad and background as a management consultant and financial advisor to help other nomad and expats plot better paths for an international lifestyle. Click here to learn more about Carlos's story.