Hunting Washington Forum

Equipment & Gear => All Other Gear => Topic started by: elkslayer069 on February 11, 2018, 08:48:36 PM

Title: Lowa hunter boots
Post by: elkslayer069 on February 11, 2018, 08:48:36 PM: Looking for some first hand info on these boots have kenetreks now my left toe is peeling and left heel is leaking I’m going to have them fixed but I don’t think I’m going buy another pair of them. I guess my main questions about the lowa’s is how water proof are they, their warranty, and where to try them on at ?
Title: Re: Lowa hunter boots
Post by: follow maggie on February 11, 2018, 10:25:45 PM: REI sells them
Title: Re: Lowa hunter boots
Post by: hollymaster on February 11, 2018, 11:21:39 PM: Love mine so far. Lightweight, waterproof so far (2nd season 40ish miles) and good off trail performance.
Title: Re: Lowa hunter boots
Post by: hughjorgan on February 12, 2018, 02:45:04 AM: I run a pair of the lowa Tibet’s. I think this about their fourth or fifth season. Very comfortable straight out of the box. Have used them backpacking and hunting. Never leaked and are very well built.
Title: Re: Lowa hunter boots
Post by: ffbowhunter on February 12, 2018, 11:27:45 AM: I have lowa renegades I have used the past two years. They are awesome, lightweight and keep your feet dry. I was hunting late season deer in 5 inches of snow with gators and I didn’t have a problem with keeping my feet warm or dry!
Title: Re: Lowa hunter boots
Post by: Wetwoodshunter on February 12, 2018, 12:33:07 PM: Quote from: ffbowhunter on February 12, 2018, 11:27:45 AM
I have lowa renegades I have used the past two years. They are awesome, lightweight and keep your feet dry. I was hunting late season deer in 5 inches of snow with gators and I didn’t have a problem with keeping my feet warm or dry!

+1 on the Renegades I have 2 pairs and wear them every day, hunting or not. For my foot it's the best fitting shoe I have ever had.

When it rains your feet get wet. Water comes in from the top. I used these in Montana last year too at 0 degrees and my feet were warm and dry. With gators/ snow pants.
Title: Re: Lowa hunter boots
Post by: trophyhunt on February 12, 2018, 12:44:28 PM: I see there are different models of the renegade? Which one? And isnt there s boot company that builds the boot to your specific feet?
Title: Re: Lowa hunter boots
Post by: syoungs on February 12, 2018, 12:55:50 PM: I have the Tibet GTX, absolutely love them, will buy them again when needed for sure.

couple these with some decent waterproof gaiters and some good merino socks (darn toughs for me), and you are set for about anything.

I think the hunters are closer to the tibets then the renegades, to me the renegades were not as stiff, and didn't provide as much support. They were VERY close to my low top danner pronghorns as far as support. build quality is great on them, and I wouldn't hesitate the run them.

The Renegades and tibets come in a GTX (gortex lined) model, and a LL, full leather lined model.
Title: Re: Lowa hunter boots
Post by: b0bbyg on February 12, 2018, 01:23:46 PM: I love the boots but after 2 years I got leakage in the pairs I have owned. But REI swapped them no question the first time that happened. The second time I just kept the old pair and bought a new pair to have 2 pairs. Early season has so many dry days I just run the old ones those days.

I did put a lot of miles on the pairs I owned and comfort wise they still feel good. Before I switched to Lowas my feet hurt pretty bad at the end of the day.
Title: Re: Lowa hunter boots
Post by: NRA4LIFE on February 12, 2018, 02:20:17 PM: I have never owned a pair yet. However, our best friends who do 5X the hiking I do swear by them. The only boots they own.
Title: Re: Lowa hunter boots
Post by: Wetwoodshunter on February 12, 2018, 03:52:45 PM: Quote from: trophyhunt on February 12, 2018, 12:44:28 PM
I see there are different models of the renegade? Which one? And isnt there s boot company that builds the boot to your specific feet?

Mine are full leather. I couldn't tell you how many miles I have in them. If you do a lot of side hilling you may want more support but I like a lighter boot.
Title: Re: Lowa hunter boots
Post by: CLARKTAR on February 12, 2018, 04:38:12 PM: Quote from: trophyhunt on February 12, 2018, 12:44:28 PM
I see there are different models of the renegade? Which one? And isnt there s boot company that builds the boot to your specific feet?
Lathrop and sons might be what you are thinking of.

I got a pair of whites built, wouldn't trade them for anything.

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Lowa hunter boots
Post by: elkslayer069 on February 12, 2018, 04:55:20 PM: Thanks for the input i think im going to try them they cant be any worse than kenetreks i have a couple pair of kuliens (like whites) made in centralia for work and would trade them for anything either but they are not hunting boots at least not for me
Title: Re: Lowa hunter boots
Post by: pianoman9701 on February 13, 2018, 06:54:13 AM: I have the Ranger GTXs. I never knew before what a difference fine footwear makes. about 5 seasons and never looking back at other boots.
Title: Re: Lowa hunter boots
Post by: elkslayer069 on February 15, 2018, 07:14:56 PM: Well i bought a pair tried them out for about an hour around the house. Their to narrow and lowa doesnt make a wide so back to the drawing board i guess
Title: Re: Lowa hunter boots
Post by: HntnFsh on February 15, 2018, 09:32:03 PM: Caleb, I bought a pair of Renegades during muzzy season. I realize they are different model. But they started out fitting good. Just uncomfortable as hell. After 2 days of hiking they stretched like crazy. Especially in the heal cup but also in the foot bed. If the boots you got are comfortable you might try wearing them for awhile to see if they stretch out. I ended up returning mine!
Title: Re: Lowa hunter boots
Post by: Duckhunter14 on February 16, 2018, 11:32:07 AM: Tagging. I'm never giving Kenetrek another dime. I wore out a pair of boots and sent them in for evaluation. They said they could be resoled/rebuilt for 175$, so I sent them a check and then got them back and my feet got soaked the first time out. I sent them back and they said the boots were shot and could not be repaired. I explained I had just paid to have them rebuilt and they said too bad. They wouldn't give me a refund or a credit towards a new pair.

They also have a return policy, if you wear through a pair of boots in under a year and they deem it manufacture defect they will replace the boot. I am on my fourth pair of bridger ridges, yes my fourth! After the they sent me the 4th pair they informed me that it would be the last pair they would send me due to the "way I walk." Customer service said I walk with a pronation and wear the boots out too fast and I will have to buy their 420$ hikers for my next pair. They wont send me anymore. What a joke.

So I'm looking at other boot companies for this coming fall. lots of good info on this thread. Thank you for sharing.
Title: Re: Lowa hunter boots
Post by: walleye1 on February 16, 2018, 12:22:53 PM: Lowa tibets awesome boots last along time but never had much luck with waterproof after a couple seasons.although I have never had leather boots hold up with waterproofing.dont get me wrong they hold up well but the wrong conditions your getting wet feet.
Title: Re: Lowa hunter boots
Post by: Cylvertip on February 17, 2018, 10:13:22 PM: Caution on Lowa's
My Wife's Renegades souls fell off. She loved them and had them for several years. They looked like they where new. She had the same thing happen with the renegade low's. Lowa has this listed on their warranty page - Boot Sole Separation (Hydrolysis)
https://www.lowaboots.com/about-lowa/warranty-and-repair/ (https://www.lowaboots.com/about-lowa/warranty-and-repair/)

I have also had the leather fail prematurely at the toe bend on a pair of Zephyrs. I was able to glue it back shut, but now they are work around the house shoes, I can't trust them for much else.

I won't be buying more.
Title: Re: Lowa hunter boots
Post by: HntnFsh on February 18, 2018, 11:18:48 AM: The sole on my Renegades starting coming apart within a week.
Title: Re: Lowa hunter boots
Post by: actionshooter on February 23, 2018, 10:32:11 PM: I'm running Tibets, going on 3 years....so far so good
Title: Re: Lowa hunter boots
Post by: northwesthunter84 on February 24, 2018, 07:59:37 AM: Elkslayer- Lowa does have wides and also narrow in different models, I just checked there website for the Tibet GTX and Renegade GTX. But I also found that if I went up a half size I wasnt smashing my toes on the down hill so I went with a 12 vice an 11.5W.
Title: Re: Lowa hunter boots
Post by: Ironhead on February 24, 2018, 08:39:06 AM: I have used nothing but Lowas for the last 9 years. I got 5 years out of the Sheep Hunters and I am going on 5 years with the EVO hunters Extreme GTX. They are a perfect fit for my feet, and very durable.
Title: Re: Lowa hunter boots
Post by: Magnum_Willys on February 24, 2018, 08:40:30 AM: Sounds like the Renegades are a gamble and the tibets a maybe. Good info !
Title: Re: Lowa hunter boots
Post by: branches on February 25, 2018, 07:46:09 PM: I bought the Tibet GTX and I hiked about 20 miles on short hikes to break them in for elk hunting. They seemed to fit just fine and I had no worry's about them for the up coming elk season. I went for a long hunt one day with the Tibet GTX My feet were killing me. By lunch time I had already made up my mind that when we got back to camp I was going start a fire and burn these boots to the ground that is how pissed I was about these boots. I can see that they are a very well made boot and I have read nothing but good reviews about them. I went back to my Zamberland boots and had no boot problems for the rest of elk season. I would keep an open mind on what boot to look for. Some boots fit very well for one person and not for somebody else. I still can not talk bad about the Tibet GTX because they are a well built boot with good features but every persons foot is different. so try as many boots on as you can. I hope this helps.
Title: Re: Lowa hunter boots
Post by: Tundra on March 01, 2018, 07:45:53 AM: Boots are so user specific its hard to match our experiences against what you will end up using them for as we all wear them differently. I seem to get 2-3 years out of a boot and then it fails on me (soles wear down, inside liner tears, blisters go crazy, etc.). After a few cycles of this I realized it was more how I used the boots than that the boots were bad boots.

My cycle with the Lowa Tibets was similar. Great initial boot, then after 2-3 seasons they tore my feet up. Was not happy with how the soles wore down and I had multiple tears in the leather and bottom rand. But, I beat the tar out of them hunting in Alaska too.

Looking back with some perspective; I don't think they were any better, or worse than my previous boot the Cabela's Alaskan Meindls. I am now running a pair of Crispi Guide boots. I'd recommend all 3 with the above caveats in mind. :) Try these three and then run whatever one fits your foot best. IMO they should fit well from the get go.
Title: Re: Lowa hunter boots
Post by: luvmystang67 on March 01, 2018, 07:58:18 AM: I have some Lowa Tibets and have used them probably 3 years now. In year two they started leaking in wet conditions. I have tried different types of high end products on them to try to improve their water shedding, but it hasn't really helped. They're still MOSTLY dry in damp conditions, but in heavy rain they 100% leak around the toes. They're pretty stiff and it took me a while to break them in, I wouldn't really consider them broken in until probably the 50-100 mile mark, I had blisters initially, but its been fine since.

I wish they didn't leak, because they finally fit and work well. Even if I get a new pair for something similar I assume I'd still keep these for non-rainy days.

I honestly expected a little better when I bought them, but they've been fine. I'm talking VERY wet environments. I just expected they could handle it. I guessed wrong.
Title: Re: Lowa hunter boots
Post by: Tbob on March 07, 2018, 01:18:56 PM: I’ve had two pairs of the Renegade’s and really like them. The first pair went about 5 years with some serious abuse and were always comfy for my feet. Just opened the 2nd pair a few weeks ago. I got a smokin deal on Camofire for the 2nd pair though. I’d like to try some of the Nevada boots next.
Title: Re: Lowa hunter boots
Post by: Calvin Rayborn on March 09, 2018, 01:48:58 AM: Never heard of em - Cool :tup:
Title: Re: Lowa hunter boots
Post by: SGTDuffman on March 09, 2018, 06:05:10 AM: I’ve been wearing a pair of Lowa Uplander GTX boots since 2009. Most comfortable boots I’ve ever worn, they’re like sneakers. For whatever it’s worth I wear Thorogoods every day for work. Of that time my hunting is usually about a week to ten days of elk/deer hunting during September. Sometimes I’ll make it out for a late hunt. My feet have never been wet (though it’s usually nice out in September) and I make no attempts to avoid any water shallower than the height of my boots. I’ve done rifle season only twice in that time. Once in 2009, and this last year. So I’ve been out from 0-100 degrees and my feet have been fine. Probably put about 100 miles a season on them.
Title: Re: Lowa hunter boots
Post by: yakimanoob on April 02, 2018, 11:40:06 PM: I loved my Lowa Vantage boots. Wish they still made them.

When they gave up the waterproof ghost after almost two years, Lowa sent me a brand new pair of boots no questions asked :tup:

Sadly they didn't make the Vantage model anymore, and the ones they sent me (I forget the name now) didn't fit my feet as well and lost their waterproofness after about a month :(. Not sure what went wrong on those. Being free, I never even tried to take it up with Lowa.

Found a good deal on some Scarpa Zodiacs and HOLY HECK they're amazing. Light, nimble, and tough-as-nails.

Long story short, I still recommend Lowa boots. My lady had some Renegades that served her well for a long time too. They make good stuff.
Title: Re: Lowa hunter boots
Post by: T-Dozzer on April 19, 2018, 09:05:13 AM: IMHO if you were a fan of support kenetrek had, I would look at Crispi or Scarpa.
Lowa are comfortable, but didn't last long for me.