LOWA Renegade EVO GTX
For some, the hiking season is just getting started, while others have been hiking all winter long. All of us want a hiking shoe that covers all seasons, all terrains, and all conditions. The LOWA Renegade Evo GTX may just be that shoe. I have spent a few months hiking in the LOWA, starting with the snow still deep in the mountains, to the spring melt and even into the dry trail conditions. I have thrown a lot at this mid-cut hiker and tested as hard as I could. Here is my review of the LOWA Renegade Evo GTX.
As a disclaimer I would like to mention that I was sent this product so that I could write this review. All opinions on this page are my own and based on my own experiences with this product. I am not compensated for the opinions on this review. Your experience with the shoes may be different. This site uses affiliate marketing links. If you click on a button or link and make a purchase I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.
From LOWA
Before I get into my review of the LOWA Renegade Evo GTX, I like to share what the brand is saying about their product. Directly from the website LOWA says this about the Renegade, “The RENEGADE EVO GTX MID is the next generation of our bestselling, most acclaimed hiking boot. It retains the same comfort, fit, durability, and performance that made the original RENEGADE a global best-seller with strategic updates.”
Here are some more specs before I get into my review:
Specs
Price*
$280.00 USD
Sizes*
Men: 7.5, 8, 8.5, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 10.5, 11, 11.5, 12,13, 14, 15, 16
Width*
- Wide and normal fit are available.
Features*
Upper Technology
| 2-ZONE LACING | Independently adjustable lacing zones, on forefoot and upper, allow user to customize the lacing tension. |
| MODERATELY STIFF | We build our boots with varying degrees of flexibility depending on intended use. |
Underfoot Technology
| LOWA DURAPU® | Extremely durable polyurethane midsole absorbs shock and rebounds well. |
| LOWA DYNAPU® | Extremely lightweight polyutrethane midsole material provides ideal support, durability and rebound. |
| DOUBLE INJECTION | Softer PU layer provides flex, cushioning, underneath a denser supportive layer. |
| MONOWRAP® Support | PU frame supports the arch and helps stabilize the heel. |
Weight*
590g per single shoe
Colors*
Deep Black (shown), Olive/Mustard, Navy/Blue, Stone/Redwood, Dark Brown/black, Smoke Green/Gray, Espresso/Seaweed, Dark Grey/Black, Black/Dune, Anthracite/Steel Blue
*All spec information directly from LowaBoots.com and subject to change.
What I liked
There is so much to like about the LOWA Renegade Evo GTX boot. They are a nice sturdy pair of boots that are ready for any terrain or condition. They are waterproof but don’t get overly hot. Plus, they are just a really comfortable fit for hiking and the outdoors. Here is a bit more that I liked about the LOWA Renegade.
Fit
A hiking boot has to be comfortable or all of the other technology won’t mean anything. The first time I put on the LOWA Renegade Evo GTX felt like a boot I had for years. They fit my foot really well and felt like they were already broken in. There is a good heel capture so my foot does move around during inclines or declines and the cushioning is really nice. I have the mid cut of the boot and the top fits my ankle and provides support without being restrictive. Overall, a very comfortable hiker.
The Renegade is on the stiffer side but does allow a bit of flexibility through the step. I found the stiffness to add a nice layer of support for each step. It has enough give to allow for stepping up inclines without locking your foot in place which is good. They are a bit heavier than some but nothing that is super noticeable. I think the best description would be that these are just a real sturdy pair of shoes.
I will mention that I found the toe box, even in the wide, a bit small for me but I do have a very weird shaped foot that is extra wide. More on that later in the post.
Waterproofing
Colorado doesn’t get a ton of rain but the winters and spring can have plenty of water between the snow, snowmelt and spring rains. I was able to test the LOWA Renegade boots in the winter/spring season so was able to see how the waterproofing held up.
First test, the snow. I hiked a bunch in the snow with these boots and I was very happy to say that they never had a problem. As the boots are buried in snow and it gets caked on and melts onto different areas, a lot of boots get some leakage but the LOWA’s never had problems for me. When the snow started to melt and turned into slush, which is a challenge for all waterproofing, they still held up extremely well. I was really impressed that none of my snow hiking showed any signs of moisture penetration.
The second test was with the spring rains and snow melt season. This season also includes the spring muds that are thick and wet in the day and then refreeze at night. This is by far the sloppiest of seasons in Colorado and the Renegades did wonderfully. I hiked through small creeks, melt streams, and tons of muddy trails and again, had no moisture penetration to speak of.
LOWA uses a Gore-Tex lining for their waterproofing combined with a leather upper that really do a great job of keeping the feet dry. The nice thing I have found with Gore-Tex is that even while waterproofing, the lining still maintains breathability. I found this true with the LOWA Renegade as well. My feet never got too hot while wearing these boots and they were dry with every hike. I was definitely impressed with the waterproofing.
The Look
I have said it before and I stick to it, but I am definitely a function over style person. However, I do know that looking cool is just as important to hiking well so I have to talk about the style of the LOWA Renegade Evo GTX. I think these look pretty slick. I was sent the Anthracite/Steel Blue color to test out and the contrast is the snow was really cool. Anthracite is a form of coal and this off black color on the white snow was great.
I also liked the design of the kick plate and midsole and the way it shaped my foot. The color scheme didn’t last too long before I had it covered in dirt but the lines stayed really slick. The upper section is thicker around the tongue and splits off to a separate compartment that wraps around the back of the ankle. I thought it looked a little space aged, but like I said, I love the function and style is the bonus!
The Grip
To me, traction is the most important part of a hiking boot. I hike mostly in the rocky terrain in the Colorado Mountains. There are steep inclines and declines, rocks and boulders to contend with and the terrain is changing constantly. It is important to have a boot that can handle constantly changing conditions and treat them all the same.
I was really impressed with the LOWA traction. They use Vibram with for their outsoles which are known to have very strong traction properties. This includes 14 center lugs alternating direction from the heel and front of the foot. The inside and outside of the show also is lined with traction to keep you on the trail no matter what angle. These lugs are so deep that I even collected a bunch of pebbles in the lugs! Here is a breakdown of the conditions that I hiked in with the LOWA Renegades.
Slip Scale
On a slip scale from worst to best of: Oh-HOLY COW–NO NO NO, Woah, Not Bad, I Got This, No Worries!
- Flat Dry ground that is dirt or rock: No Worries
- Flat ground that is a little damp or muddy: No Worries
- Loose dirt: No Worries
- Walking across rock boulders: No Worries
- Declining down a flat rock: No Worries
- Scree: Not Attempted
- When bottom of shoes are wet: No Worries
Overall Grip
The overall traction with the LOWA Renegade is excellent. I would probably rank it among the top 3 that I have ever tested. They are versatile and work well in any condition and I was really impressed how well that it handled snow.
Bouldering and Rock Walking
The LOWA did really well on bouldering. I mostly was walking on flatter boulders but did get a couple with inclines and the boot held really well against the solid rock surface.
Snow, Slush, Ice
I was really impressed with how the Renegade handles the snow. This was the first surface I tested them on and felt really confident in hiking in the snow. I went longer without spikes than I usually do. Ice is terrible and I won’t rate on ice. Remember to always wear a traction device if you are hiking on ice or really slick snow/slush.
That being said, I was really impressed with how well these did on trails with packed snow. No little slips or balance checks. It felt like I was hiking on soft grass.
Damp Tread
After hiking through some slush or a creek, some boots will turn slick with the water on the tread. The LOWA Renegade handled this really well. I saw no difference hiking with slightly damp tread than when I was on dry trail.
Dry Trail
Perfect, no complaints.
Mud
Mud is one of my least favorite trail conditions. It is slick and unpredictable. I think the Renegades did as well as possible on muddy trails. However, mud is still terrible to hike on!
What I didn’t Like
There is so much to like about the LOWA Renegade Evo GTX but if I don’t find something that I didn’t like they take my blogger card away! For me, the only thing I didn’t love was the toe box. I have a wide foot that is shaped a little funky so it is hard to find a toe box that fits just right. While I got the Renegade in a wide, I did feel there was stiffness around the toe box that pressed on my pinky toes at times. Mostly when I was heading downhill and all the pressure was moving forward but still enough that I noticed.
I’m getting a little nit picky there but I did want to mention it for those who have a really wide foot like myself. Otherwise I was really happy with the Renegade.
Video Review of the LOWA Renegade Evo GTX
Before my final thoughts here is a quick video review of the LOWA Renegade Evo GTX. If you enjoy the review make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel to be the first to see my new content.
Wrap Up of the LOWA Renegade Evo GTX
I was really impressed with my first experience with LOWA and now realize why they have sold so many of the Renegade line. I found the shoes ready to go right out of the box and they had superior traction and waterproofing. The LOWA Renegade Evo GTX come in 10 color combinations and I thought had a sleek, almost futuristic look to them. I do confess to being more function over style which may be why I think they looked so good, because they performed so well!
I tested these boots in the late winter through the spring and think that is a perfect time to wear them. The waterproofing keeps you dry through the snow and slushy melt and the traction helps to keep you on the trail even with snow around. In the late spring, the Renegade has enough breathability to stay comfortable while keeping top notch waterproofing for those summer storms.
I was very happy with the LOWA Renegade Evo GTX and can’t wait to try another pair of LOWA’s in the future.
More from the Fatman
For a list of other products that I have reviewed you can check my Product Review page here. If you have any products you would like me to review or any comments you can email me at fatmanlittletrails@gmail.com or you can follow me on any of the below social media platforms. Happy Hiking!