Lowa Women's Renegade Pro GTX Mid

This is a sturdy and supportive boot, great for hiking rocky terrain and keeping your balance. The boot has rigid ankle support from your heel up through your lower calf, which I find helpful when climbing mountains uphill.

I've used these boots for many long hikes in the Arizona desert for about 6 months now and I have not experienced any blisters from the boots. Another good feature, they are also waterproof, so you can hike anywhere in the Lowa Renegade!

I love these boots! I have owned a few different pairs of hiking boots in the past, but on my last major backpacking trip, my boots were the cause of so many blisters on my feet, that I was unable to fully enjoy the journey. My feet were a mess for the remainder of the trip and I didn't want my boots to ever ruin a trip for me again. My past boots were not even comparable in that they fell into a completely different price point and I believe that may have been my downfall in the past. Word to the wise: Invest in quality gear! 

While shopping for my new pair, I went to many stores looking for the perfect boot. One that wasn't too wide, too tight, too loose or too expensive. After trying on almost every brand that I thought had ever existed, I found the Lowa Renegade on the shelf. Maybe it was the price tag that had previously discouraged me, but I was almost out of options for new hiking boots, so I asked for the Renegade in a few sizes and hoped for the best. 

As I laced up the boots and began to walk around, I knew they were the perfect pair of hiking boots for me. My feet didn't slide around inside the boot, my ankle didn't have any extra wiggle room, my toes were comfortable and my ankles were protected. I danced around on the "off-road testing area" inside the store and knew I was going to buy them. Way to show them my poker face, huh? 

Every hike has been better ever since I bought these boots. My friends who don't have nice hiking boots, can't always keep up and sometimes fear twisting an ankle on the trail back down. When I wear these boots, I feel more sure-footed and balanced than a pack mule. I must also add that boot's rubber sole is very thick and has kept my feet safe from stepping on cactus needles that pierced directly through my friends' pair of Nike's. That's a good reason to wear hiking boots, right there! 

The Lowa Renegade did take a hike or two to break in, as they are stiff boots by nature, so you need to lace them up and move around to get the right fit. I feel that the boots provide a plenty of traction on rocky or wet terrain and have helped me feel more balanced on my hikes.

I recommend wearing a pair of ankle height wool socks with these boots to give you more support and wool is better choice than cotton, if you plan to get wet.

I have owned these boots for about 6 months and have worn them to hike different mountain ranges in Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Paradise Valley, Arizona. I have not seen any wear or tear on the boots and I expect them to continue to be a durable pair of hiking boots for the next year or so.