I did my research and wanted to purchase a cold weather hiking boot. After a lot of internet searching I decided on the Renegade Evo Ice GTX from LOWA Boots. These boots are designed to keep feet your warm, comfortable and protected on snowy outing. They are designed with a taller shaft for so that you can walk through snow without any snow getting in through the top.. It features a cozy Partelana® lining for extra warmth, and VIBRAM®’s acclaimed Arctic Grip Trac® outsole for outstanding traction on slick, wet ice. Durably waterproof/breathable. Made on a women’s-specific last.
Upper Material: Nubuck/Full Grain Leather
MONOWRAP® Frame® Inverted MONOWRAP®
Insulation: GORE-TEX Partelana®
Sole: VIBRAM® Arctic Grip Trac®
Lacing Hardware: Eyelets
Lining: GORE-TEX
I wore these boots for the first time this past weekend where I hiked the Tupper Lake Trifecta and Sawyer Mountain. I wanted to wear them on a short hike (like these) in case they started to bother my feet - I even kept my vasque every day boot in the car in case I needed to switch after one of the hikes!
Good news for me (and for anyone interested in these boots) - I had no issue breaking them in. I started hiking and felt no rubbing or anything uncomfortable at all. They were comfortable right off the bat, warm, cozy, and clearly very waterproof while I was stepping in mud puddles.
The only thing that took me a minute to get used to was the higher shaft on the boot. Not because it was uncomfortable - but simply because I wasn't used to hiking with this tall of a boot shaft. After a .5 mile or so, I was used to them and hiking just like I would with any other boot.
I am SO happy I chose these boots, and I cannot wait to wear them this entire winter season - they really are some of the most comfortable boots I've ever worn.
Here is a link to the boots I purchased: https://www.lowaboots.com/womens/cold-weather/renegade-evo-ice-gtx-ws-navy you can also get them through Sawkill Creek Outfitters where I get almost all of my gear/outdoor apparel from! https://www.sawkillcreekoutfitters.com/