Women's Lowa Renegade GTX Mid Review

Lowa has been making boots since the early 1920s, and the Renegade is their flagship model designed for covering serious ground over rough terrain with a full pack. I wore the women’s version of the mid-height Gore-Tex boot on the muddy and slimy trails of Vancouver Island and subsequently brought them to Patagonia for additional testing, where they deftly withstood multiple long day hikes and a three-night backpacking adventure. They’re not the lightest or most agile option for well-maintained trails, but the tough leather build, stable feel, and well-cushioned midsole were a great match for our more demanding objectives. Below I break down my experiences with the Renegade GTX Mid. To see how it stacks up to the competition, see our article on the best women’s hiking boots.

Editor's note: This review was updated on January 20, 2026, to ensure all information on product weights, specs, and prices was accurate. This review covers the past-generation Renegade, and Lowa has recently updated the design to an Evo version, featuring changes to the stitching and hardware. We have the latest boot arriving for testing and will update this review after our test period. All links for the Renegade reflect the most current Evo version of the boot, as the previous version is no longer sold. 
 

Table of Contents

• Comfort
• Weight
• Traction
• Waterproofing
• Breathability
• Stability and Support
• Build Quality and Durability
• Fit and Sizing
• What We Like/What We Don't
• Comparison Table
• The Competition

Performance

Comfort

Boots designed for backpacking are often stiff and rigid out of the box, but the Lowa Renegade GTX Mid broke in nicely and proved very comfortable on high-mileage days. I wore the boots on a few local hikes before bringing them to Argentina for testing, and it did take a few outings for them to loosen up and soften. But once I had a few miles under my belt, the leather softened and fit my foot well. The PU midsole is decently firm yet still well-cushioned, effectively isolating my feet from harsh impacts. The padding also extends around the ankle and heel to provide a secure fit.
 

All of this held true while backpacking in Patagonia, where I suffered no blisters or hotspots on the trail despite back-to-back days of 10+ miles with a full pack. One of my baby toenails grew sore after long descents, but it recovered without damage. I even continued to wear the Renegade at camp and reached for them right away each morning when crawling out of my tent, which speaks volumes to their overall comfort. The Renegade is overkill for day hiking on groomed trails, but it’s a great match for covering longer distances with a full pack. I still consider the Salomon Quest 4 GTX to be the more comfortable design, but the Renegade isn’t very far behind.
 

Weight

At 2 pounds 2 ounces for a women’s pair, the Lowa Renegade GTX Mid won’t be confused for a lightweight hiker. It's also worth noting that my pair of women’s size 9s checked in heavier on my scale (2 lb. 7.4 oz.), but that may have been an anomaly. Overall, the Renegade is a mid-range option for this boot style. Salomon’s Quest 4 GTX weighs 2 pounds 6 ounces, while Scarpa’s Zodiac Plus GTX is 1 pound 11 ounces. You can go lighter with a more streamlined design like Salomon’s X Ultra 5 Mid GTX (1 lb. 12 oz.), but you’ll sacrifice some stability and protection on truly rugged terrain. In the end, the Renegade did feel clunky whenever I quickened my pace to pass slower hikers on the trails in Patagonia. But when worn as intended for hiking and backpacking, the boots didn’t feel overly heavy or cumbersome underfoot.
 

Traction

I’m always hesitant when wearing new hiking boots, but the Renegade quickly became easy to trust over a wide variety of surfaces. The outsole is comprised of premium Vibram rubber (their EVO compound) with deep, aggressive lugs that are widely spaced with horizontal ridges running widthwise along the heel for added grip while descending. Before bringing the boots to Patagonia, I wore them on the steep and sloppy trails at home in the Pacific Northwest rainforest and gained confidence in their ability to grip on everything from packed dirt to mud to slick rocks. In Patagonia, they continued to hold firm on the dusty and rocky trails to Laguna de los Tres and didn’t falter under the weight of a heavy pack while navigating a tricky boulder field on an overnight backpacking trip in the Río Eléctrico valley. I did slip once while hiking over marble-sized rocks, but any shoe likely would have suffered the same fate, and my brief slide was easily controlled and did not result in a rolled ankle.
 

Waterproofing

The Lowa Renegade GTX Mid is made with a proven Gore-Tex membrane, so it came as no surprise that the boots were very adept at keeping water out. They kept my feet dry on wet trails rife with mud, puddles, and drenched foliage in the Pacific Northwest, and the same held true in Patagonia during shallow water crossings. Unsurprisingly, the Renegade did soak through and become heavy with moisture when submerged above the collar in deeper rivers during our multi-day backpacking trip. I ended up hiking with water sloshing and soggy feet until I could take them off and dry them. But this is a known downside to waterproof footwear, and the Renegade performed about as expected in terms of drying time.
 

Breathability

The Lowa Renegade’s Gore-Tex membrane and tough leather upper detract from overall breathability. To be fair, we were hiking in warm temperatures (mid-70s Fahrenheit) with little shade on our hike out from Lago Eléctrico in Patagonia, and my feet never felt overly hot or sweaty in the boots. But the lack of ventilation was noticeable, and I’d recommend choosing a lighter color to help with temperature regulation. Alternatively, if you anticipate doing most of your hiking in fair weather, it may be worth opting for a non-waterproof boot or shoe.
 

Stability and Support

As expected from the tough design, the Lowa Renegade GTX Mid is a stable and supportive boot. The high cuff effectively prevented ankle rolls on the trail, and the top lace eyelet is positioned high enough to really lock things in place. I wish the Renegade had a locking eyelet, as the one found on the Salomon Quest 4 GTX, to allow me to tighten the ankle while leaving the forefoot loose, but it didn’t have a major impact on support.
 

I was particularly impressed by the level of stability when rushing down a rocky and uneven section on our hike from Laguna de los Tres. The trail felt precarious, but I had no close calls when jumping down the steps on loose rocks. My experience was similar during our trek to Lago Eléctrico, where the boots allowed me to confidently navigate the off-camber boulder field with a full backpacking pack weighing around 40 pounds. Again, the boots are too stiff and rigid for shorter day hikes, but they’re well-equipped for rough, demanding travel with a heavy load.
 

Build Quality and Durability

After putting well over 120 miles on the Lowa Renegade GTX, including over 40 miles of backpacking with a full pack, the boots are almost no worse for wear. To be sure, they do look worn: The leather upper has absorbed some mud and grit, and the boots have a few scuff marks. But the integrity has not been compromised, and all of the smaller details—from the stitching to the rubber rand—are holding up well with no issues. The Vibram rubber outsoles remain unscathed and look new, despite the abuse I’ve put them through on rough, rocky terrain. It's worth noting that the Renegade's leather upper is slightly thinner than that of some competitors, including the Salomon Quest 4 and Scarpa Zodiac Plus GTX. And we did experience some separation between the toe rubber and the leather upper while testing the men's model. But thus far, my women's pair is holding up admirably, and I expect it to fare well for many seasons to come.
 

Fit and Sizing

I initially tried on the Lowa Renegade GTX Mid in my standard women’s size 8.5, but found them to be tight in the forefoot. Sizing up to a 9 did the trick, with just enough room both lengthwise and widthwise when paired with midweight merino wool socks. The fit was snug but not overly tight, which was great for maximizing security and stability on the trail. It’s easy to customize the fit with the well-executed lacing system, which includes a top eyelet positioned high enough to effectively lock the ankle in place. As I mentioned, I would prefer a locking eyelet as you get with the Salomon Quest 4 to dial in the fit at the ankle while leaving the forefoot loose, but that’s far from a deal-breaker. Finally, if you have high- or low-volume feet, Lowa also offers the boots in wide and narrow widths, so most people should be able to find a good all-around fit.
 

Other Versions of the Lowa Renegade

I tested the women’s Renegade GTX Mid for this review, and the boot is also sold in a men’s model for the same price. Compared to the women’s version, the men’s Renegade GTX Mid is slightly heavier, weighing 2 pounds 9.6 ounces per pair, and is available in different colorways. However, the overall construction and feature set remain identical. For more, see our review of the men’s Renegade. Given the popularity of the boot, the larger Renegade collection also includes several other options, from the low-top Renegade Evo GTX Lo Hiking Shoe to an insulated design for winter hiking. 
 

What We Like

• Highly comfortable and supportive for high-mileage hiking and backpacking over rough ground, and the leather upper broke in nicely after just a couple of outings.
• Quality and confidence-inspiring build, including a premium Gore-Tex membrane, tacky Vibram outsole, and hardwearing construction.
• Solid and stable feel while hiking over off-camber terrain with a full pack.
• The lacing system is highly customizable, and the top eyelet is positioned high enough to really lock the ankle in place.
• Sold in a wide variety of colors and sizes, including dedicated wide and narrow models.

What We Don’t

• Overkill for shorter day hikes on well-maintained trails.
• Leather build and Gore-Tex membrane detract from overall breathability.
• Leather upper is thinner than some of the competition and may be more prone to wearing down over time (although I haven't had any issues to date).
• The boots run a little small, so I had to go up a half size to get a good all-around fit.
• I would prefer a locking eyelet to secure the ankle while leaving the forefoot loose.
   

Comparison Table

The Competition

Lowa’s Renegade GTX Mid has been a mainstay in the hiking boot market for years and remains well-loved for its excellent overall performance for demanding backpacking objectives. Salomon’s Quest 4 GTX is another popular option in this category and surpasses the Renegade in a few key areas. The Quest has a higher listed weight of 2 pounds 6 ounces, but it’s hard to beat for stability and protection on technical terrain. We also prefer the Salomon’s lacing system over the Renegade’s, including locking eyelets that secure the heel in place and allow you to tailor the fit at the forefoot and ankle. The Salomon Quest also has a more performance-oriented fit and uses thicker materials. On the other hand, the Renegade feels sturdier and more planted, and comes in a wider variety of sizes and widths, which may be the deciding factor for those with hard-to-fit feet.
 

Next up, Oboz’s Bridger Mid Waterproof stacks up favorably to the Lowa Renegade GTX Mid. Like the Renegade, the Bridger is nicely cushioned and protective underfoot with good all-around stability and support. In testing the Oboz boots, however, we found that they felt much heavier and clunkier than their 2-pound, 3.4-ounce weight would suggest, and the in-house B-Dry waterproofing membrane runs warmer than the Lowa’s Gore-Tex design. Overall, we think most committed hikers and backpackers will be happier with the nimbler-feeling Renegade.
 

Lastly, if you're looking for something lighter for less intensive hikes and backpacking trips, Salomon's X Ultra 5 Mid GTX is one of the most popular hiking boots. It's competitively light at 1 pound 12 ounces, and the boot holds its own in terms of stability and protection. The Renegade's heavier build is a better match for technical terrain, and the Salomon's thinner sole means you'll feel rocks and roots below more. Finally, the X Ultra has a pretty flexible feel, which means less support on uneven sections of trail under the weight of a full pack. But there's a reason the X Ultra 5 is ranked so highly in our hiking boot articles: It provides a hard-to-beat combination of weight and nimble performance for everything from day hiking to lightweight backpacking.
Back to the Lowa Renegade GTX Hiking Boot Review  See Our Women's Hiking Boots Guide