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4.5
I have always worn Keens or Marrells (keens are better) but they just don’t hold up over time.I’ve heard predominantly good things about Lowa so I thought I’d give them a try. I typically wear a 10.5 (regular width). Their website and everywhere else says they fit true to size. However most of the reviews I’ve read/watched say they run a little on the small size.At a local Lowa dealer (they we’re pretty much sold out of every size and it would be 6 months before they could get more) they only had an 11 and a 12. The eleven seemed pretty snug around my toes and the twelve was way to big. So I ordered an 11.5, the width was good. But it was way to long. So, I returned them… maybe a 10.5 or 11 wide? Idk.I will say for the brief period of time I wore them around the house, they were comfortable and didn’t seem like there would be a long or difficult break in period.They also looked great and appeared to be very well made.I had a pair of Merrel hiking boots. Which I liked. But they began to fall apart after daily 7 mile hikes over 6 months. While I was searching for a replacement pair, I read a review where someone said well, what do you expect, they aren't lowa. I've only had this pair for a few weeks. But so far I love them. I love the high ankle support. I will have to wait and see how they hold up after a year of hard hiking. But so far so good. They also fit very well on me. I know everyone is different. But many times when I buy shoes they have a high in-step which causes a blister until I get them broken in. That was not the case with these. I'm a size 11. The boots are size 11. They fit perfectly straight out of the box.I have worn Lowa Men's Renegade GTXs (with Sole® Softec Casual Insoles) all day every day since about 2006.I wear them because they are one of the two things that cured my plantar faciitis. (The other cure being bare feet on a tray of ice cubes for 15 to 20 minutes which I only use to eliminate acute pain. And this ice treatment has only been needed when I've abused my feet by walking barefoot on hard surfaces because the Lowas completely eliminate my plantar faciitis pain.)So, obviously, I think very highly of these boots. And when they become too tattered for "business casual," I get a new pair and relegate the old pair to work boots and relegate my work boots to garden boots. So I always have three pairs of my Lowas on hand. And the business casual pair generally last 12 to 14 months of every day use.For those of you who also suffer from plantar faciitis:The sandals that I wear are the Chaco Z1 Vibrams. They're as supportive as the Lowas. I'm even able to run trails in them.The sandals I wear in the shower (I can't stand on hard surfaces anymore) are the Chaco Hipthong 2 Ecotreads which are also as supportive as the Lowas.And, my running shoes, they're New Balance MT1110s with the Sole Softec Ultra Insoles.Finally, since I can never walk barefoot on a hard surface again due to my plantar faciitis, the slippers I've worn in the house, also every day since about 2006, are Finn Comfort Men's Clogs.Notes:Although each of the pieces of footwear I've mentioned here seem to be quite expensive, they last so long and continuously perform so well that I view them as a bargain. For example, I've put over 200 miles on the MT1100s and only replaced them because the fabric was beginning to tear, not because they weren't supporting me properly anymore. And the Finn Comfort Clogs, my house slippers, if I'm in the house, I'm wearing them and I'm still on my first pair since 2006.Also, when I say I've *cured* my plantar faciitis with the above footwear what I mean is that I have no pain unless I do something known to cause pain like stand on a hard floor and cured also means that I've run 5K's, done a Sprint Triathlon as well as pedaled the entire 200K Horribly Hilly Hundreds bicycle event.To conclude, however, although Lowa claims that the Renegades are waterproof, I know that that's just a silly marketeer's dream/wish which has never been true of any of the 6 pairs I've owned. My proof involves standing in the water at the bottom of the driveway while busting up and removing the accumulated ice after a snowstorm. But if you want to test this, just take four steps through a puddle that's deep enough to reach the point that's just below the Lowa's laces. And then, of course, wring out your socks. ;-)Good luck!Sincerely,Scott WingerVerona, WII've had 2 pair of Lowas (both purchased at outfitters) so far; the first pair lasted about 10 years; the second I'm replacing after 5+; for the last 10 years I've pretty much lived in them for 3 months every year. I think the tread on the newer ones wears out faster than the older ones, but then what else is new. I also think the uppers on the newer ones are more susceptible to stitching tears.I like them because they fit me well, and seem to have a nice balance between rugged-ness and lightness. Another reason is that I am a bit clumsy and they protect my feet when I slam into a stone or root. However, I do seem to be between a narrow and a mid, which causes problems for my baby toes on a long tramp; I may just switch to a mid for pair #3 and see how that goes.I wear them in a variety of terrains: extreme wet/muck; rooty forest tracks; foreshore low-tide scrambling; dry stony tracks, etc. The footing is good, although no replacement for common sense in very wet conditions. Its possible to walk through water in them, up to the top lace, as long as they are waterproofed properly, something which I've found should be done every year. In a pinch they can be worn under dress pants and not look too out of place (tho that probably depends on where you are).In general, I do not like the lacing system; I think it is a bit out-dated. It takes a long time to get them off and on, for instance, if you pick up a stone. But it does have a bit of flexibility in how you configure it (you may find that different lacing setups are better for different terrains; but that is a characteristic of any decent boot, I think)Despite the decreased durability, and the lacing system, I think I am going to stick with them for pair #3. Although I have tried other boots, its only been in stores; and nothing I've tried has fit me well enough that I would think of taking it any further. With a boot, where its just me and the track and no help nearby, the devil I know is better than the one I don't.This is an update.For my third pair I ordered .5 size larger than I have in the past (I read something about this on a site that specializes in hiking footwear). This has solved all of my problems with blisters/pinching on smaller toes. Leaving behind the snug fit I was accustomed to took a bit of getting used to but has turned out to be a very good move.I have had these a while now and they are fantastic. They were very comfy first time out and keep my feet dry. Perfect fit after ordering a size bigger than my normal shoe size as recommended on the ordering website.Since writing this I have measured my foot carefully and the size works out 1 size bigger than all my old shoes which still fit. Either sizes have shifted or my foot has expanded with age and my old shoes have all stretched. My advice would now be to measure your foot, use a size to cm chart, and order the right size unless you like to wear extra thick socks. I use 1000 mile socks with size 8 boots and I measure a size 8.These are brilliant hiking boots. I ordered the wrong size (entirely my fault) but re-ordered the right size and took them out into the Scottish wilds and they performed beautifully! Was an incredibly wet weekend and they kept my feet dry and warm and I was constantly up to my ankles in mud and water for most of the hike.Have since taken them on several trips and they are really comfortable. The only downside is that I don't find them as comfortable on hard Road surfaces but some memory foam insoles sorted that.Well worth the moneyPurchased these boots as I already own another pair of lowa's and was looking for a quality pair of lightweight boots for summer use, put these boots on and wore them constantly for 3 days and I have to say they are probably the best boots I've worn in many years, sturdy enough for lengthy hikes but just as comfortable walking around town, really good build quality that feels like they will last year's, I would give more stars in the rating and would definitely recommend.tried these boots on in a well known outdoor store, but decided to buy online from amazon and save a few quid..Have walked about 25 miles so far around my local area to 'break in' the boots, but not really necessary as they were very comfortable straight out of the box.Not used them in anger yet but am about to embark on a 4 day hike in the scottish highlands, so time will tell. Am optomistic they will do the jobGreat boots, no breaking in required they are really comfortable straight out the box. I have had them a couple of weeks and wore every day for dog walking. As any dog walker will tell you, walking in long wet grass makes most boots leak. Not these, my feet are dry . Best boots I've had by a long way.
