Lowa Renegade III Lo GTX Review

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As most of you know by now, Lowa has long been known as a footwear brand that provides reliable hiking shoes and boots for almost any foot and almost any activity. Drill down one layer and the Renegade has been a staple in Lowa hiking boot line for years. This shoe originally started out as a mid and new to this years line is the Lowa Renegade III Lo GTX.

As someone who doesn’t love wearing boots that wrap around my ankle sometimes referred as mids or high tops, I almost only wear hiking shoes that are low tops. This primarily comes from my running background as I typically find running shoes can handle most activities and I like them because they are light and minimal. And while running shoes can be your solution in most activities, a low top hiking shoe such as the Lowa Renegade III Lo GTX is a better option on long day hikes or backpacking trips. There are a number of reasons for this which will be outlined in the feature descriptions listed below

Lowa Renegade III Lo Outsole

As with many high end hiking shoes, the outsole of the Renegade III Lo is made with a very high quality rubber. This isn’t something that will wear down after 20 hikes and I can attest to this. I’ve hiked in these shoes over 20 times and it hardly looks like I’ve worn them. The tread pattern is setup to help you climb uphill on the forefoot which is where you spend most of your time when hiking uphill. On the heel of the shoe, there is a reversed tread pattern that will help keep you control on the downhills as you are often on your heels. Aside from durability, I found these shoes to provide great grip for hiking on rock which I often do so in Colorado.

Midsole

The midsole of the Lowa Renegade III Lo is made from PU which holds up well over long term, meaning the midsole won’t break down fast. This particular midsole wraps around the heel  which helps with stability on uneven surfaces. Through my testing, I’ve found the Renegade III Lo’s to keep me plenty steady on the trail whether it was wet and muddy or dry and rocky.

Upper – A Classic look that performs

I’ve always liked the look of Nubuk suede leather and the Lowa Renegade III Lo keeps my love alive for Nubuk Leather on hiking shoes and boots. I tested out the gray/rust color combo which I find to be the most attractive among the color combos. The Rust color is subtle but it gives the shoe a little life. If you want more traditional colors, this shoe comes in black, brown, and a gray/dark blue color.

As for the Lowa Renegades III Lo GTX upper performance, this shoe will leave most feet secure, comfortable, and protected. One of the most important aspects of a hiking shoe when keeping your foot stable while hiking is the upper. While we all take it for granted, if you get the lacing system, heel cup, and shaping of the shoe wrong, many things can go wrong that can make long awaited hike not so enjoyable. The good news is that the Lowa Renegade III Lo was able to get all those important designs correct. This means the toe box fits well for the average foot, the heel doesn’t slip for the average foot, and there are no hot spots for the average foot.

Gore-Tex Lining

Gore-Tex Lining

For those who want to keep their feet protected from the elements such as rain, snow, and sleet, the Renegade III Lo is has a Gore-Tex liner. Most of us at this point know how nice it is to have a Gore-Tex lined shoes in the rain and the Renegade III Lo is no exception.

Final Thoughts

Overall, I was very impressed with the Lowa Renegade III Lo GTX  for the performance of the outsole, midsole and upper. For an added bonus, the shoe has good styling to it that looks good with with shorts and jeans alike. For more information, please visit www.rei.com or www.amazon.com/lowaboots.