Hiking Boot Showdown | Keen Durand II Mid Waterproof Vs Lowa Renegade GTX Mid comparison review

[@mypriusisfaster]

Keen is my brand for life. I have wide feet, low arches and keen just fits out of the box the best. Merrell, lowa, nike, new balance and salomon all are either too narrrow or too much arch support. I'd recomment keen revel boots. Ice grip outsole and insolated. Honestly 2 pairs is the best way to go. A winter boot and a 3 season boot. Keen durand and revel polar.

[@Western-Wild]

Thanks for sharing your experiences! Nice to hear that others are struggling with non-Keen boots as well. We'll look into the Revel Polar for next season!

[@CD_-ur2lk]

I am on my 2nd pair of Keen Durand 2s and I have to say that I never had any issues with waterproofing. I wore them every day at work for 8 months and all the way till the end, I could walk in water and not have wet feet. When I retired them, the soles were worn through the grey section of the sole. The reason I stopped wearing them was that one of the eyelets came off and the stitching was coming apart on the inside of the boot right by the ball of the foot.

[@Western-Wild]

Glad to hear you had a better experience with them! This last set was probably purchased around 2021 and run hard into 2024. Maybe they have improved the liner? Or my specific use case wore the liner out earlier. Either way would love to go back to Keen someday, so I'll be tracking on reviews like yours.

[@smaksim]

I looked at a lot of reviews and they all said that the Lowa Renegade holds up well on packed snow. but I just saw them slide for the first time. And this is very important to me. crap! and I just ordered them! 😅

[@barronjames.]

anything vibram is slippery

[@ervinslens]

Great upload bud, you elaborated this and reviewed so professionally! Love it especially Durand II

[@Western-Wild]

Thanks for the kind words! Yup, if the Durand II was more waterproof I'd buy it again in a heart beat!

[@OverlandAdventureTimes]

EDIT: I see the Sportiva's only go to 47.5 eu, which is typically a 13.5. A wide might still be worth a try, my 45.5/11.5's are a bit long/wide on me, compared to most. I usually backpack in trail runners (INOV-8) , but when boots are needed we've loved the La Sportiva Nucleo. Nic got a pair first, and after I got mine, they quickly became my everyday wear, also. Almost two years in, and plenty of life left, if not quite as amazingly comfy as when new. The second gen has a wide option, as well.

[@Western-Wild]

Haven't given the Sportiva's a go yet, 13.5 might be enough! Thanks for the recommendation!

[@Woodsman1956]

I'm surprised, my Durand ll have been dry. No problem yet. Very pleased with my first Keen boots.

[@Western-Wild]

It’s possible that they made improvements to the liner (hope they did!) or the waterproofing will give out over time (hope not). Would love to see Keen improve and eventually return to them. Super comfortable boots.

[@malliadan1]

I have also large feet and also flat so always a challenge. I am currently using lowa tibet for all my hiking (they also come in wide) had them in wide for a few years now i went for normal width and fit great including wool socks + liners + custom orthotics. When i go on multi days sometimes i have to fine tune the laces but that's more an issue with my low arch messing the structure of the any shoes i wear. I just ordered the Renegade evo ice primarily for cold evenings around the city maybe some easy hiking, let's see. The Tibet is the bulldozer of boots but not great on ice and when it comes to GTX they will still wet through after a few days of being constantly wet.

[@darylhill9400]

In my experience, all great boots have to be broken in. It’s a sign that when they’re fully broken again, their custom to your foot! shoes or boots that are already comfortable usually gets sloppy in my experience.

[@Sportdog1000]

Here is the actual conversation I had online with the rep from Lowa. Let me know how you would have reacted. I removed my last name for security. System (LOWA Boots USA) Oct 11, 2023, 17:01 EDT (16:47:45) *** Don S joined the chat *** (16:47:45) Don S: I have a pair of Lowa Renagade GTX3 mid height hikers in size 15 and both shoes have the soles disintegrating and are no longer wearable. What is your policy on either fixing or replacing the shoes. there about 3 years old but just weren't used much the lugs on the soles show no wear. (16:49:51) Ursula: Hello Don, this is sole separation. PU contains softeners (which is used in many hiking boots etc), and hydrolysis is the process by which these softeners evaporate from the sole. It loses flexibility over time and gradually becomes brittle. It is better if hiking boots are used on a regular basis. (16:51:24) Ursula: If the boot is used only sparsely and stored away this is what could happen. we do not warranty hydrolysis. The boot cannot be fixed because the sole is a molded / injected sole (16:52:06) Ursula: Please see our warranty policy: www.lowaboots.com/about-lowa/warranty-and-repair (16:54:41) Don S: Okay, I wish the shoe shop would have told me I spent well over 250.00 on this pair. I normally buy Colombia hikers, it's a mistake to trust that cost alone will insure quality. (16:55:27) Ursula: I know it once happen to me as well while hiking. OUr boots in the backpacking section can be resoled. (16:55:42) Ursula: sorry that this happened to you. (16:59:37) Don S: Well I'm sure you'll understand I'll never buy or recommend the Lowa brand to anyone. I have a pair of hikers that are over 6 yrs old and are still usable. Your design is built to fail and that's not quality. (17:00:06) Ursula: Sorry about that. have a good evening. (17:00:51) Don S: Yeah I loveacompany that's out to screw with it's customer base. (17:01:41) *** Don S left the chat ***

[@nathanwaite9580]

Great video dude. It’s great to see I’m not the only one struggling. I have been through probably about $10k USD worth of boots cuz nothing fits right. I wear a 15EE in Keens and they are still pretty narrow for my forefoot. Look at Hanwag and their StraightFit Extra lasted boots. Unfortunately they are about $430 but they seem to know what they are doing when it comes to building a boot around an actual foot and not a 2x4 stud….. I hope this helps and all my wasted time and money can help at least 1 other person out lol.

[@Western-Wild]

Thanks! Glad to know others are struggling as well. I actually looked at some Hanwag boots in Germany last year and am kicking myself for not buying them on the spot since they were perfect and way cheaper than in the U.S. I'll probably track down a pair for winter here, thanks for the tip!

[@craigcoak8483]

I have been using Salomon X-Ultra mid boots for all of my hiking and backpacking for the last 5+ years (but not for snowshoeing - use insulated boots for that...). I checked their web site and they do have a wide version in sizes up to 14. I find their Contagrip soles (Continental?) to do very well with conditions here in Central Oregon and have not had any problems with waterproofness. They are lighter than the Keens and Lowas, so are probably not as durable. I was going to suggest their Quest 4 Gore-Tex boots, since they are much sturdier, but unfortunately do not appear to come in wide. I have pairs of both if you want to check either of them out...

[@Western-Wild]

May have to take you up on that offer, possibly over a beer haha. Still need to grab your footage from the weekend trip too!

[@frederickbakarich6953]

The Lowa boot is not made for wide feet, even in the wide width (owing to the toe box issue brought to light in the review). Went through several sizes (all wide) trying to get a decent fit and felt the same constriction as referenced in the video (great review, by the way - spot on). Wore them inside for weeks trying to get a "soft" break in, but as soon as I trail tested them, the hotspots lit up like flares. Like WW, I cannot endorse Lowa, as cool as they look. Mine will be going back.

[@Western-Wild]

Thanks for the feedback! Sounds like a lot of people are having the same problem. We'll be looking at Han Wag boots next, but may run into the same issue.

[@OverlandAdventureTimes]

Also, I had a pair of Lowa's, not Renegade but very similar, and they pinched in the same area. And I'm only 11.5 and trend narrow.

[@B_r_u_c_e]

Thank you.

[@Western-Wild]

You're welcome!

[@stevenroche9874]

I own both LOWA and KEEN hiking boots (and other high quality brands). The fit of these two brands is very different. I prefer the athletic and snug blister free fit of LOWA boots. For a long day of walking, I do not want too much extra room in the toe box which can cause excessive movement and blisters. I suggest you try a pair of Topo or Altra hiking boots. Both are foot shaped brands. I have come to believe through experience that foot shaped makes an odd looking boot, not a better fitting one for long walks. Best regards and thanks for the video !

[@bendercs]

Shoe struggle is real.

[@powersww1reset]

You aren’t shittin bro, that’s a big ass boot! That Lowa is damn near the size of your torso 😯. Definitely a shame, because those Lowa’s are certainly a fine looking boot, and I’ve been planning on trying them, until I saw this. Keen remains the champ, if you have wide feet and low arch! What a pain! I remember being super stoked about the Salomon quest 4 Niner gtx part 8’s, but then I tried them incredibly narrow ass things on, and couldn’t believe how skinny and bumpy they felt! It was terrible. That’s like the most popular and recommended hiking foot vice on the market, and the price tag isn’t shy about reminding you of this fact. I really thought wide feet was much more common and therefore, we would have a much larger selection of brands to choose from. Thank goodness for Keen, is all I can say! Been rockin Keen for about 15 years now! Pittsburgh’s were my introduction to the brand, and I haven’t owned a single pair of Keens that I didn’t like. Well, maybe the looks of the original Targhee’s, because I got a lot of “hey dad, nice shoes” comments lol, and I’d have to agree, they were a bit frumpy. But damn sure comfortable! They’ve come a long way, in my opinion. And in a positive direction. Thanks for the review bro!

[@Western-Wild]

Thanks for watching and glad to hear that you have had a similar experience with Keens. At this rate may have to stick with the brand but look for better aftermarket waterproofing treatments. They are far too comfortable to leave!

[@barronjames.]

all vibrams slip I dont know why companies use them

[@Western-Wild]

That's funny, we're about to publish a two more reviews on boots with Vibrams. With that input I don't have high hopes for the winter review follow ups 😬