Best Hiking Boot? ($135 Merrell Moab 2 vs $240 Lowa Renegade GTX)
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- Опубликовано: 5 июн 2024
- Hiking boots are a must-have for every outdoors enthusiast. But, surprisingly, not every trail hiker has a pair. I myself have summited Half Dome 4 times, and have done every trek in a pair of trail runners. But my ankles are getting tired, and I need more support.
In this video, we identified two of REI’s best selling, top-rated boots and pit them head to head in a hiking boot bout to determine a winner. Should you go big with the $240 Lowa Renegade GTX Mid, or go home with the $135 Merrell MOAB 2 Mid Waterproof? Find out our take in this episode of “WhichWon?”
The funny thing about this shoe comparison is that the Lowa Renegade GTX boots aren’t really meant to handle trails the same way the Merrell boots are. In fact, if you run a RUclips search for Lowa Renegade, you’ll find many different creators labelling them differently, from a “hunting boot” to a “backpacking boot.” REI calls them hiking boots. But we found that wasn’t the best description for them. Still, they are one of REI’s top rated “hiking boots” available, so we decided to compare them to their most reviewed boot, the Merrell MOAB 2 mid waterproof. Will the hefty $240 price point carry with it premium performance?
Purchase:
bit.ly/SD_Lowa_Renegade
bit.ly/SD_Merrell_Moab_2
••••••••••••••••••
0:00 Introduction
2:00 Design
4:11 Comfort
5:40 Performance
8:48 Price
9:29 Which Won?
10:19 Keith Enters the Void
••••••••••••••••••
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I sold outdoor footwear, and I got both Merrells and Lowas for free. I always wore the Lowas. There's some things you don't seem to know. First, they are both good boots. They are comfortable and they have good treads. Second, they are both light hiking boots, because they are not as heavy as backpacking boots, which are heavier and have a stiff shank for extra support. Third, the extra $105 is for materials, construction, and labor, as well as brand reputation. The Lowas are made in Europe, and the Merrells in Asia, so the labor costs are higher. Gortex is micro-porous membrane, meaning it's breathable, whereas "waterproofing" is usually a PVC membrane (it could be another microporous membrane, but I'm going by what you said). The midsole of the Merrells is Ethyl Vinyl Acetate, which breaks down over time (about a year of normal use), and the uppers last about that length of time as well. The Lowa midsole is polly urethane, which does not break down. That's why the Lowas last years longer.
Thanks for the quality response and feedback :)
I’ve had a pair of the Lowas for 9 years. They are great for hiking, wearing in snow, or anywhere else you need grip, waterproofness, or support. Yes, you should wear them with hiking socks. I feel like you were dinging them because you didn’t buy the right size or use the right socks. After 9 years they are in great shape and still totally waterproof. I have owned Merrills, and they are comfortable but not supportive and don’t hold up over time.
I agree that this isn't really an apples to apples comparison. I have a set of Moab's. More of a one day trail boot and a great one for that. The Lowa's are a good multi terrain multi day boot. You want them loose so you can put on thick socks to give more cushioning for all of the gear you haul and the tall boot gives more support on rocky terrain.
True. The Lowa's are still a great boot but they weren't a great boot for the needs of Pete and this test (if that makes sense).
I've used both, Lowa's are hands down better in every way. I used to buy a pair of Merrel's every year, until I tried Lowa. My Lowa's are still going stong after 6 years.
I used merrel in trails and working. Best shoes as a military veteran who has rucked easily 20k miles in a few days is Lowa . Merrel is more of light trail running shoes . I have friends that are Dev group Special Op guys they said same thing.
Did you have to resole? Thanks.
@@W4V3Thunder The Lowa Renegade isn't resoleable since the sole is molded and glued. Great boot though, I was looking for something lighter but found the Renegade so comfy that I figured, when I can have this level of comfort and support in one boot, it's worth the higher weight. I had zero breaking in to do, after getting a better insole that locked my heel in.
Lowa boots are built to withstand the test of time. My previous pair lasted me a decade. During two of those years, I was employed by a gardening company, donning them daily for demanding tasks in heavy rain and snow. Nearly all my colleagues wore Lowas as well; in fact, I'm unfamiliar with anyone whose shoes didn't endure for years. This durability is exactly what justifies the higher cost.
Lowa Renegade hands down would be the go to boot . They will outlast the Moab made in china boot 5x or more longer . Once you break them in they are super comfy . If you have soft feet and are just soft in general yes buy the Moab they will suit your soft feet needs .
Merrells are a Subaru. Lowas are a 4-Runner. Light hiking vs down and dirty. Also, if you have a bad ankle and want to roll it coming down on a rock at an odd angle, go with the Merrells. Super comfy, just not very supportive
What about all the videos of old Subarus beating out every other off road vehicle?
You won the comment section with that one
I've had both also-big guy and firearms instructor with lots of hours on pavement and hiking. I'll grant that Lowas are better construction, but I never felt as comfortable in mine (bought in 2014) as the "walking on pillows" feel of the Merrells. Also I always see the Lowas in "best wide hiking boots" articles and reviews but the toe box on mine was way small-never comfortable. Have ordered one new pair of Merrel Moabs and now that I see they have the all leather (Prime) I'll be ordering these soon.
I have a pair of the Moab by Merrill. I wear a wide size to accommodate my feet. The Merrells were comfortable right out of the box. The midsole and heel fit are perfect! I excellent arch support too! I have worn these “boots” just about every day now for over two years and there is no noticeable wear. They are superb for walking, hiking trails and light backpacking trails. I would buy again if these ever wear out!
10/10 on My Merrel hiking boots have close to 1k miles on them this year. They are still holding together. Mostly waterproof still. My main issue is the heel is detaching from the inside of the shoe but that's better than a hole wearing in it. I work landscaping and walk at least 60 miles a week.
which model?
I have both boots. The low as are winter/mountain and wild camping wear and the merrells are for summer/straight forward footpaths in Britain. It’s not that they are small it’s more of a difference between a basic sock and a thick trekking sock and possibly a liner sock too, stick a pair of bridgedales on and you’ll be surprised how much room they take up, even my Salomon shoes are a size bigger for that reason. And on the subject of fitting I always go in the afternoon as your feet are a little bigger. To end for me both are super comfy and grippy. If I was only going to use one pair, I’d go for the lowas they are a good all rounder.
I'm just getting into hiking, Never bought a pair of hiking boots and I'm starting at mount woodson, so this video was AMAZING for me lmao
To be fair, there’s a big difference between hiking and trail walking. If you think the renegades are stiff, try the combats 😂
I used the Merrils. Of all the boots I have tried so far these have been one of the tougher ones. I work my ass off. My only complaint was the top lace clip collapses easily. When I was done with the shoes I used them to do a roof torchdown job and it turns out they are flame resistant too.
Both are great boots but they are made for different terrains and tracks. The Moabs are as you said more for general hiking in well maintained trails. If you're going for a little more off beaten track the Moabs are just way too soft for that. And as you can see the Moabs are way lower in the ankle.
I have had both models, well kind of. I actually had some Moabs Adventure which are a version more "normal" with a leather upper. I absolutely beat the shit out of them and used them in easy hikes during my travels around the world. Loved those boots, but again, I was using them in well maintained trails and for my backpacking through Europe trip, so a combination of city and forest use (besides a month long stint in the Polish Tatras).
The Renegades I bought some years later and I was going out for hikes almost every week. After a year and a half the upper separated where it meets the rubber rand in the front outer side. They still had plenty of sole left so I was not happy with that, the next boots I bought (Salomon Quest 4) failed similarly so I guess I am just too hard on boots. But if you're not gonna be hiking almost every weekend I think the Renegades do a good job because they offer a lot of stability in more varied terrains, and they are a tad higher than the Moabs, which again offers a more snug sensation around the ankle.
Ultimately it really depends on what kind of feeling you are looking for, if more like a running shoe then Moabs, stiffer "bootier" feeling, Renegades. Pricewise the Moabs beat any and all competition too.
If you had looked at the Lowa sizing chart, they do advise going a full size up.
Got moab for morr than 4 years, still in good shape worth every penny
I had Lowa GTX for 7 years now . I love them .
I had both and I had nothing but problems with the renegade gtx. The toe delaminates significantly faster than the moab. I got a warranty replacement and the same exact thing happened to the replacement. What made things worse is the leather actually shrank on the replacement despite treating it with the Lowa spray and boot cream. I called the company and they refused to replace them a second time because I said the boots shrank. They offered me a discount on another pair and I told them I will never buy another pair of Lowas ever again. The moabs are cheap crappy boots that will delaminate on the sides but they hold up better and are more comfortable. They're also half the price depending on what pair you buy.
delaminate?
What did you do that they shrank?!
I have had several pairs of Moab2. Never again. The sole always seperated in 8 months
At the top brand range, most boots are the same performance wise. Lows, Scarpa, Salamon are all pretty much the same. It just depends what brand you like. Having worn all types of boots during my military life and civy boots are the same.
Lowa are the best boots I've ever had and they beat Merrell Moab and Salomon Ultra X in every area except comfort.
For that reason I only wear them in Winter.
Just an added, my Salomon have a 2yr warranty which is better than both but the outsole for sure wont last that long.
Thanks
I have been using lowa for almost 20 years, tbh is one of the best boots.
Your comparison is totally wrong, just comparing by review or total sold is not a good thing.
If you want to do a correct comparison, you should wait for 6 months of using both boots in differents weathers, then provide comparison.
I own Merrell moab 3 gtx shoes for the trails.. I own the Lowa renegade gtx for going up in the mountains being off trail in very rugged terrain.the stiffness of the Lowas help with steep climbs.. you can't really compare Lowas as trail boots IMO.
Seems like an odd comparison. Merrell has other boots that would have been a lot better pick for this. For example, the Merrell is a lower cut boot vs a higher boot, so the difference in support will be substantial, just because of the higher ankle support. Apples to oranges.
We chose these two, as we mentioned in the video, because they were two of the top rated “hiking” boots at REI by number of reviews
@@slickdeals oh, I get that. I just would've picked two top rated boots that were more similar. That's all. Thanks for your response!
Lowa boots are bomb proof .
And water proof really waterproof. Even in wet grass .
In my experience merells are not water proof.. I hate wet feet . And I’ll keep my Lowa boots .
I can't really tell a Hightop from a 6 inch boot. Only get Good support from an 8 inch but I've always ran the bush in combat boots.
I've never gotten more than a year out of a pair of Merrell. I have Mammut and Scarpa boots that go on for ages. Merrell make very comfortable light hiking shoes but they're designed for comfort rather than durability or outright performance.
Their mesh degrades, goretex liner develops holes and leaks at the seams, the heel fabric rips and the sole starts to wear out. They are comfortable because of design and not being a tough rigid soled hiking shoe or boot. The flip side is faster wear.
Lowa are simply a better made boot but they won't feel as comfortable for an occasional day hiker.
Merrell are very comfortable. But I think I've worn mine out. My feet started hurting this week. It's been 11 months and I've walked roughly 1,200 miles in them. I guess it's time for a new pair?
@@tachometer-flac at roughly 2000 steps per mile that's about when mine start to fail. They don't become uncomfortable until say about 1500 miles for me but they will have lost some traction, the sole will have obvious wear and the waterproofing will be degraded, even after reproofing.
They are light hiking shoes designed for people who do some hill walking but don't intend to climb mountains. They also work much better in urban environments than say Scarpa because they have softer more cushioned soles. Proper approach shoes tend to be too stiff, not cushioned enough and have too aggressive lugs for casual urban use.
If you want to investigate the more durable and pricey end of the footwear market then check out Mammut, Scarpa, Garmont, La Sportiva etc. If you want a half-way house between the toughest footwear and Merrell then consider Salomon.
Also a reflection on this test, these boots are so different that they're barely comparable. The trail depicted in this video simply didn't need the Lowa boots so their stiffness, bulk and weight are disadvantages. A lot of lowa owners change their insoles for something more cushioned for these kind of lighter trails so they get more use out of their boots. Even then, this trail without a heavy pack isn't a good tear for the Renegades. A winter hike through the Swiss Alps and the Lowas would save your life while the Merrell would be destroyed.
I have had a lot of Merrell’s over the years. I have gotten 2-3 years of daily wear out of them ( only some time hiking). But I had to replace the insoles every 6 months and bought the upgraded Elite insoles.
I just ordered Lowas because they are higher and my ankles roll on rocks on steep trails and I wanted a higher boot again. A number of people recommended these to me.
Thanks for your reiew I ordered the Merells 2 on Amazon for $73 on Amazon and I wnet 1/2 size up.
I have several pairs of Merrells and I always have to go up 1/2 size to 11.5 D when I wear a 11 D in every brand and boot/shoe style imaginable. Nike sneakers also run 1/2 size small for me and I had to get 11.5 D in the past on those as well. So there might be a clue there for people wondering about sizing. What size do you wear in Nike sneakers? Buy that same size for Merrell as well.
I own seven pairs of LOWA boots. You need to glue the insoles in or they will move around. LOWA is the only brand I own with this easily fixed problem.
Which colour ist the Lowa boot
This is the silliest boot review I have ever seen. The lowas are not meant for hiking? Lol, what? Of course they are. They are terrific for hiking mile after mile, day after day. Indeed, they do require a little break in period, after which they are more comfy.
The lowas are better than the merrils in every category. In this case (not always btw) you do get 100 bucks more worth of a boot...
And?...yes the word again 'and?' the most important question for hikers? what is the 'weight' of each boot?
Klunky-perfect description of the Lowa Renegade.
For the price tag you are paying for the Lowa's you are getting in the ballpark of Goodyear welted sole boots that are much more heavy duty and tougher. The Merrells are half the price and fit the same role for lightweight hot weather boots that breath. If you need more than that a glued on sole "sneaker" type boot isn't your best option. Start looking for Danner, Red Wing, White's, Chippewa, Belleville etc etc etc. For me I am wearing the lightweight Merrell Moab Ventilators the same as my Bates Desert Warriors and for the same purpose. When that isn't making it I use my Belleville 590s, Danner RATs/RECONs, Red Wing 899/218s, White's Smoke Jumpers etc etc.
I can't tell if twins, or edited in.
These guys are clearly related. I too look like my cousin
You guys need to wave your arms more, try waving them over your head like you are signaling an airplane, this will increase views
The Lowa Renegade is made from nubuck leather, not suede.
Wait, who is this guy and why does he look so familiar?
looks and sounds like Unnecessary Inventions
You look like they guy from HAM RADIO CONCEPTS LOL
why are they looking off camera?! Looks weird.
Potato chip rock, ah yes, more publicity!
Lowa! But size up
Never buy loose boots that’s how you get blisters and welts on Achilles! Should’ve slightly fitted enough just to double sock them that’s it!
@@johnsmithe498
I wear a 12 to 12 1/2 and those Lowa boots run small on my feet and a little narrow. Size 13 worked good
@@johnsmithe498 If you look at the Lowa sizing chart, they advise going a full size up.
This video was brought to you by Merrell.
Purchase:
bit.ly/SD_Lowa_Renegade
bit.ly/SD_Merrell_Moab_2
0:00 Introduction
2:00 Design
4:11 Comfort
5:40 Performance
8:48 Price
9:29 Which Won?
10:19 Keith Enters the Void
I don't even need to watch this to know the Lowa is a superior boot.
Moab dosn´t mean Mother of all boots. Moab is a place. The name it´s like north face, also a place. Do a better job recearching
Uhm yeah I’m sure they know that. That’s literally their naming of it they did it as a pun. Literally eating your own words, so hilarious.
Oh....and REI sucks.