GREAT GEAR RECOMMENDATION - Lowa Renegade GTX Mid Hiking Boots
The Lowa Renegade GTX is light, soft and flexible but is still supportive and waterproof. Best of all, for those seeking stealthy footwear, they are very quiet and offer excellent tactile feedback.
I got to spend some time with my brother on his elk hunt this year. This hunt was special because it was a bow hunt, in a great unit during the rut. That's mating season for you non-hunting readers. We would be snooping and pooping very close, within feet at times, of bulls weighing 700 pounds or more. The normally wary and elusive animals let their guards down once a year due to a hormone induced fog that drives them to seek the company, albeit for a short time, of the females of their species. Noisy, slobbering, stumbling bulls are all over anything that even sounds or smells like a female. Yea, you're right. It is just like college.
Anyway, stealth was the order of the day so camouflage, scent control and noise discipline were critical to our success. Not so much for the bulls, they were pretty much oblivious, but for the cows because they are the ones that will give you away. I took a little criticism from our ace caller, Jay Scott, because my boots were "too loud" as I trailed him and Cody. See, I was the designated greenhorn camera man on this little adventure. I brought three sets of boots to test over the week that I planned to be up there. Danner Pronghorns, Danner Blade GTX and Cabelas Meindl Alaska Hikers. The Meindls are a big, heavy boot that makes a low clunking noise when they hit rocks so they never even made it out of my bag. What surprised me was that even the Danners with their lightweight and soft soles, were deemed too loud.
This quiet boot discussion got me to thinking. One of the top bowhunters in the country, Dr. Randy Ulmer, lives here in Scottsdale and I know he sometimes wears a Salomon trail running shoe. I have tested that shoe and it doesn't have nearly enough support for me on the trail let alone for elk hunting. Don't get me wrong, I am not putting myself in the same class as Randy Ulmer for anything but I am astounded that he is able to use such a light, unsupportive shoe. Anyway, like I said, the question got me to thinking that I needed to find a good boot for bowhunting. I'm pretty sure I did.
A good bowhunting boot should be lightweight but still supportive and it should be waterproof to keep your feet dry and warm. Most importantly though, it has to have a flexible, soft and quiet outsole for silent sneaking around. Immediately the Danner Talus came to mind but that was about it until I tried the Lowa Renegade GTX which is the subject of this article. I think that you bowhunters out there will really like the Renegade.
These are genuine Lowa and they come with everything you would expect from a renowned bootmaker. Quality construction, good design, nice features in a light, comfortable hiker. They are not as burly as say the Ranger GTX but they aren't supposed to be. These are made for a different purpose. Nice lacing system.
Here are the particulars.
Class-light hiker
Height-7 inches, 7 loops/cleats
Materials-Nubuck leather with a Cordura ankle band
Insulation-none but the low to medium thickness lining is uniformed throughout and conforms and holds the foot well.
Waterproofing-leather is treated for water repellantcy and there is a Gore-Tex waterproof breathable liner. Mine are leak free so far.
Cushion-good, nice balance between comfort and support for light loads and day hiking on the trail. The mid and outsoles are thick enough to blunt sharp rocks but you can definitely feel the road.
Flexibility-excellent, very pliable but not flimsy. These boots are very easy to walk in.
Tread-Vibram Vialta provides good shock absorption and grip but the best characteristic is that it is very quiet on most surfaces and terrains. Lugs are descent and appropriate for the intended purpose.
Volume-medium to full. Arch support is good and the heel cup is roomy.
Width Availability-Yes, the Renegade GTX is available in wide and narrow widths and extended sizes.
Weight-my 45s (Mens 11.5US) weigh 1 lbs 8 ozs per boot
Crampon Compatibility-no.
Quality-high, made in Slovakia.
Break In-none, they are comfy and trail ready right out of the box with no problems. A lightweight but sturdy boot.
Nothing fancy but the interior is uniformed, smooth and comfortable for long periods of time. The fully gusseted tongue lays down nicely. The collar wraps the ankle well but also has a nice Achilles notch that is cut out.
The Lowa Renegade GTX Mid is not a heavy duty boot but it is a sturdy all purpose light hiker that is made well. It is great as a knock around town boot that can also do double duty on the trail for day hiking. If I were going to put on some jeans and tour the city all day or go for shorts and spend the day on the orienteering course, this would be an outstanding choice. These boots are that comfortable.
However, both the pedigree and construction of the Renegade allows them to be used for more serious activities and as I said they have an incredibly quiet but grippy outsole. Even if you are not one of the very few people that hunt big game with a bow and arrow the Renegade might work for you. I even think that they would make great patrol or urban tactical boots and they come in basic black.
EDITORS NOTE - This boots has been recently upgraded and is even better now.
Thanks.
Wade Nelson
Editor
Sorting through the fads and fashion of the outdoor equipment industry to identify and promote the very best wilderness gear for high end recreational users, backcountry professionals and government agencies.
Hardcore Outdoor is dedicated to those who can't or won't turn back.
Posted by Wade Nelson at Monday, January 12. 2009 
Categories: Feet, GREAT GEAR RECOMMENDATIONS
Tags: bowhunting boots patrol boots quiet hiking boots light hiking boots
Categories: Feet, GREAT GEAR RECOMMENDATIONS
Tags: bowhunting boots patrol boots quiet hiking boots light hiking boots
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