Boot question

[Bob Frapples]

Shoe buy had a sale the other day and I got a lowa gtx high top and a lowa renegade to try. The gtx was the 2013 best buy in outdoor life last year and appears to be the best build boot I\'ve ever seen, the renegade is a mid boot has a cloth type top 1/3. The renegade came in wide while they were out of the wide in gtx I thought I\'d compare them anyway.
For me the renegades feel like shoes that won\'t need much to break in, the gtx are stiff and will require some time, but fit snug on my feet, appear much more water resistant and have lots of ankle support, which is where the stiffness is at. I could use either of these but don\'t need to keep both.
What do you guys recommend? How important is the ankle support? My first hunts will be backpack bivy style hunts, who knows where I\'ll go from here?

 

[Bullnuts]

Kind of depends on the terrain, but ankle support is always important! I don\'t like boots with stiff ankles that feel like ski boots, but I do want a boot that will keep my ankles from twisting on a side hill.

 

[OldMan]

I agree. I like some ankle support, but not too much. I wear a pair of Meindl Perfeckt boots. They\'re 7 years old, and still going strong. Best boots i\'ve ever had to this point.

 

[elkmtngear]

Bob, not sure which model \"GTX\" you tried (Lowa has a lot of styles designated \"GTX\")

I bought the Renegade GTX mid hikers in January. Best Boot I have ever owned hands down! :upthumb:

Even though they feel stiff, they are very comfortable. I probably put 12 mountain miles on them last weekend. Virtually no break in.

I have always been a fan of \"light and low\" when it comes to elk hunting boots, because I tend to do tons of \"elk aerobics\"...I\'m always on the move.

Waterproofing has been fail-proof so far.

 

[Bob Frapples]

I just looked again and the ones I thought were gtx are Tibet GTX the other are actually renegade gtx both are mid height.
The box labeled the Tibet as \"backpacking\" whereas the renegades sell as \"all terrain\". turn key the renegades are more comfortable and are lighter, but ankle support is non existent in the renegade when comparing the two. The Tibet are maybe 2\" higher I\'m leaning to the renegades just for shear comfort out of the box but worry about the ankle support.

 

[elkmtngear]

I just looked again and the ones I thought were gtx are Tibet GTX the other are actually renegade gtx both are mid height.
The box labeled the Tibet as \"backpacking\" whereas the renegades sell as \"all terrain\". turn key the renegades are more comfortable and are lighter, but ankle support is non existent in the renegade when comparing the two. The Tibet are maybe 2\" higher I\'m leaning to the renegades just for shear comfort out of the box but worry about the ankle support.

Yeah I see your point. I will sacrifice ankle support for weight and comfort, just because elk hunting for me is such an athletic process...but that\'s just me

I\'ve always got a walking stick in hand to help save me if I do something stupid...so it\'s a little insurance.

 

[otcWill]

I just bought the Lowa Cevedale Tech lite hunters. They are the best I\'ve tried yet, a bit smaller feel than the ones your in. If you try any more, I\'d highly reccommend these. I bought mine from Lathrop and Sons and had the custom footbeds put in.