Lowa Renegade GTX Mid Hiking Boot,9.5 W US

UPDATE APR 19, 2014 Just took these on a two week Annapurna Circuit trek in Nepal. Overall, they did great across a variety of terrain. However: 1. I did get two blisters on my right foot -- not bad for 2 wks of trekking. 2. Water proofing was fine for stream crossings and light rain. But we unexpectedly got a foot+ of snow before crossing a high mountain pass -- after ~6-7 hours walking through snow, the waterproofing finally gave in. Wet feet in <30 degree weather was not fun. 3. The sole is flexible. I was only carrying about a 15 lb pack, but at the end of certain days on rock/scree, my feet felt tired. Had I realized how much scree and snow we'd be on, I'd have worn the Tibets or a heavy dutier boot. Still, the Renegades held up really well and I can only recommend them. ____________ Fairly light weight, with good ankle support. Breathable and yet still feel pretty rugged. I got them this summer and had been looking for a lightweight summer day hiker. While these are not as light or breathable as the Vasque Breeze and Merrill Moab, I found that they felt much more durable, comfortable, supportive and roomy in the toe box. Very comfortable out of the box with no breaking in required for 6 mile day hike. They have done well since on day hikes and scrambles ranging from 5-15 miles with no hotspots, blisters or foot/ankle pain. As for fit: I wear a 5.5 M in street shoes/heels and typically wear a 6 M in true to size hiking boots with a thick pair of wool Wigwam socks. I like a roomy toe box and was surprised that the 6 felt a little snug around the toes and upper portion of my foot (my previous, ancient Lowas were a 6). I ended up going with the 6.5 M (size 37.5 european) and have been happy with the fit on my hikes. As returns are free for footwear, I suggest ordering a few different sizes so that you can compare on the spot. Boot fit is really personal. I'd done a lot of research and the Vasque Breeze gets great reviews -- I was very surprised how uncomfortable they felt compared to the Renegades. The Ahnu's also get great reviews, but for me they were far too narrow and did not feel breathable. The Moab Mid's were too low, as I need good ankle support, and felt like more like a sneaker than a boot. All three felt sort of chintzy and not very durable. If deciding between boots, try to get to a store and try the various boots before ordering, or order all the boots in various sizes at once so that you can compare on the spot. The Renegades have a semi flexible, somewhat sneaker-like sole. I have bad ankles and for big loads, I prefer stiffer ankle support and heavier soles -- I would not personally use these for multi-day backpacking with anything heavier than a 20 lb load. I have the Lowa Tibet for backpacking, and also had to go up to 6.5 / 37.5 in those. Interestingly, the Tibet feels slightly larger than the Renegade (perhaps because the boot is stiffer and has less give?). As I plan to use these for a long distance backpack where my feet will swell, I decided the roomier fit would be fine. I experimented with Superfeet Insoles to compensate for the difference, but found the Montrail Enduro Sole much more comfortable. I'm very pleased with the Renegades. I've owned Lowa's in the past and find them to be very comfortable and durable. These have not disappointed.