Lowa Renegade II GTX Lo Review: Women’s  Hiking Shoe.

Since becoming a fan of Lowa
footwear while on a walking vacation in Europe several years ago, I have kept
up on changes in their line via the on-line web site at lowaboots.com.

When I learned that they had an
update of their Renegade model, it had to be investigated. The Renegade became
my favorite trail shoe when the athletic shoes I brought to Austria for walking
proved to be no match for the daily rains and muddy trails that greeted me in
the forested hills around Seefeld. On a day trip to Innsbruck, searching for
suitable footwear led me to a sports store with various brands of light hiking
shoes. The Lowa Gore-Tex Renegades that I tried on felt comfortable right away,
and proved to be exactly what I needed for the soggy terrain throughout the
trip. But not only were they great on trails because of their sturdy
construction, waterproof lining, and traction-gaining soles, but they were also
my most comfortable shoes for walks on sidewalks and asphalt, or for just
standing around for extended periods on hard surfaces. I liked the Lo, below
the ankle, shoes so well for light to moderate trails that I purchased a pair
of the Renegade Mid boots, which extend above the ankle, for walks in the
mountains around my home in the Pacific Northwest.

Now, several years later, the
original Lowa Renegade Lo pair has carried me many miles and
kilometers in great comfort. There are still miles left on these shoes, but I
for one cannot resist a new pair of shoes or boots now and then. We move on then,
to the new Lowa Renegade II GTX Lo.

Style
and Color.

It’s ironic that when I began
searching for a pair of hiking shoes/boots in Austria those several years
ago, I felt that a brown pair would be the right color for hiking on natural
trails. As unlucky would have it, the only pair in my size was in the grey/blue
color combination. Perhaps that was not so unlucky, as I often wear them for
comfort in the grey urban jungles. Ironic then, that when I went looking for
the new model I envisioned a sleek, sexy-looking black pair. As you can
probably guess, the only pair in my size I found right away was….that’s right,
brown. But the Lowa web site assures me that the men’s version comes in
Espresso/Brown, Dark Grey/Navy, and Black. The women’s version is listed in
Stone, Taupe/Sepia, and Dark Grey/Navy. I was too impatient to hunt for a black
pair, and my Espresso/Brown is a nice milk-chocolate shade that is actually
very attractive.

The Lowa ad reveals that the
Renegade II shoes are handcrafted in Europe, and a look at the size tag
confirms that fact, stating “Made in Slovakia.” I would add that the
craftsmanship is excellent, and obviously made by hands with considerable
experience.

Insoles.

Let’s begin with a look at the Lowa
“Climate Control” insole. I’m a long-time user of after-market
insoles for increasing walking comfort, and while the Lowa removable insoles
are not top of the line, they were good enough that when my old pair had been
pounded down to the depth of a sheet of notebook paper, I replaced them with a
new set of the same insoles, ordered on-line directly from Lowa. That is
something that is unique in my experience- being able to order original factory
insoles for shoes that are years old; very impressive. Some time ago I vowed to
never buy another pair of a well-known athletic shoe brand due to their
horrible insoles. The shoes themselves still had a lot of wear left, but the
crummy insoles wore out in a matter of weeks. I was told at their local factory
store that it was not possible to obtain replacement insoles, and the style of
shoes made after-market replacements difficult to fit. I felt cheated by the
cheap materials in these expensive sneakers, and still haven’t bought another
pair of that brand. There is little chance of that happening with Lowa quality shoes
and boots, and easily obtainable original insoles.

Seamless Lining.

Lowa says “the seamless,
waterproof GORE-TEX lining reduces hot spots.” A careful visual and
tactile inspection of the shoe interior reveals that while not literally
seamless, the few seams present, for example under the insole and high up on
the well-padded tongue, are joined so well and so flat, that no raised, rough
or potentially irritating surfaces are apparent. After examining my years-old
Renegade Lo shoes I have to conclude that the seamless construction of the
Renegade II is very similar, if not identical, to that of the older model. Both
the older model and this new model have a seamless construction, and I have
never had a seam in my well-worn shoes cause a hot spot. Like trying to prove a
negative, it is not possible to definitively state that this way of internally
mating materials prevents hot spots, but it seems only reasonable to conclude
that, it in all likelihood, it is at least a factor in eliminating hot spots
when wearing these shoes.

The interior side of the tongue is
well padded and the gussets connecting the tongue to the body of the shoe are
of sturdy construction and extend high enough along the tongue to keep out
water until you wade in ankle-deep. The lacing has been changed from D-ring
type, which has served me adequately for a lot of miles. The current Derby
style lacing promises to ensure a great customized fit for a wider variety of
feet. As with the D-rings, the Derby style lacing looks to be entirely adequate
to keep you from walking out of your shoes under all but the most unusual,
extreme circumstances.

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