The LOWA Renegade Boots are very versatile footwear. I feel comfortable wearing them in a broad spectrum of hiking scenarios.  I have worn them while hiking along the PCT in the Marble Mountain Wilderness, the Russian Wilderness and Klamath National Forest. I have worn them while spelunking in the lava tubes at Lava Beds National Monument, while climbing scree-sloped volcanoes, while tracing a river eddy for a fish survey project, walked through dense forests in all kinds of conditions, explored thermal features and even wore them on fire assignments.

For the past few months the LOWA Renegade Boots have been my everyday footwear for both work and play. At work they have been put to the test doing surveys and site examinations for the Forest Service. This sometimes involves hiking with equipment where motorized vehicles can’t go. Whether it’s hiking up a mountain or rock-hopping along a river the LOWA Renegade have been there with me. I have spent some long days in the Renegades at work and I am glad they are comfortable to wear.

On rocky surfaces they do a great job cushioning my feet from the pounding terrain. Every mountain in Lassen Volcanic National Park is a volcano and, not surprisingly the ground is covered with volcanic rocks. Hiking there was great with the LOWA Renegade. Whether I was summiting mountains such as Lassen Peak or Cinder Cone, exploring the thermal features of Bumpass Hell, tracing the shorelines of Snag Lake or exploring the backcountry the LOWA Renegade provided great protection from the rocky terrain and adequate cushion while hiking.

The Renegades have definitely been exposed to the elements over the past few months. They have been drenched in mountain rain, spent some time rock-hopping (and sometimes missing the rocks) along the river, been through tons of mud and even been on snow and ice. Moisture wasn’t the only thing tossed at the LOWA Renegade boots. The Renegade Boots spent plenty of time hiking in sun-exposed areas with limited to no shade and the boots were even covered in fire-retardant for a brief time. In every condition, except completely submerging my foot in the river (where water came in from the top of the boot), the Renegade keep my feet protected and dry.

The tread on the outsole of the Renegade Boots is pretty aggressive. It’s hefty enough to handle almost any kind of terrain. The only true problem I had was its inability to grip on wet rocks along the river but I believe most footwear would have struggled because those rocks spend a good portion of the year completely submerged and everyone in my group was having the same problem I was. What amazes me is how well the tread has held up. After several months of everyday use in the woods it looks worn, but not worn down. I have no doubt this will hold up for a long time after this report is published.

The LOWA Renegade GTX Mid Boots provide great protection for feet in almost any environment they need to adapt to. They are comfortable, durable and a great choice for feet when going into the backcountry. While the Renegade Boots can help you leave civilization they are one item I, for sure, won’t be deserting.