LOWA Renegade vs Kenetrek Elevated Extreme: Which Boot for Your Hunt?
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A light GORE-TEX hiker for miles versus a 1000-gram insulated leather boot for cold sits. Gear compare, updated Nov 2, 2026.
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- LOWA vs Kenetrek
- 2 boots, 12 specs
- Amazon prices checked Nov 2, 2026
Short answer: These boots are built for different jobs. The LOWA Renegade GTX Mid ($279 on Amazon) is an uninsulated, 1,170 g per pair GORE-TEX hiker that shines for scouting, early archery and warm-weather hunts where you cover miles. The Kenetrek Elevated Extreme ($454.95 on Amazon) is a 10-inch, 4 lb leather boot with 1000-gram Thinsulate and a 7 mm full-length nylon midsole, built for long, cold stand and saddle sits.
Specs from lowa.com, lowa.co.uk, kenetrek.com and the Amazon listings. Amazon prices checked Nov 2, 2026 and change often.
30-second verdict
- Early season, scouting, miles: LOWA Renegade GTX Mid. Light, broken-in feel, GORE-TEX.
- Late-season stand or saddle: Kenetrek Elevated Extreme. 1000 g insulation plus a stiff 7 mm platform midsole.
- Budget: The Renegade is about $176 less on Amazon.
- Wet, snowy, deep cover: Kenetrek, with 10-inch uppers and rubber toe and heel guards.
Manufacturer and Amazon specs, side by side
| Spec | LOWA Renegade GTX Mid | Kenetrek Elevated Extreme |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 1,170 g per pair, UK 8 (LOWA UK); 555 g per shoe | 4.0 lb per pair (Kenetrek); 64 oz (retailer) |
| Shaft height | 115 mm inside / 147 mm outside (lowa.com) | 10 in all-leather (Kenetrek) |
| Upper | Heinen terracare nubuck leather | 2.8 mm full-grain leather, one-piece vamp, no tongue seams (Amazon) |
| Waterproofing | GORE-TEX lining | Windtex waterproof breathable membrane |
| Insulation | None | 1000 g 3M Thinsulate |
| Midsole | Double-injection DuraPU, MONOWRAP frame, full-length stabilizer | 7 mm full-length nylon midsole |
| Stiffness | Moderately stiff (lowa.com) | Stiff platform, built for standing on tree steps |
| Outsole | Vibram EVO | Kenetrek Grapon |
| Protection | Nubuck with leather panels | Reinforced rubber toe and heel guards; forged alloy hardware |
| Fit / sizes | Standard (medium) last; wide versions sold separately | Medium 8–14, wide 8–13, whole and half sizes |
| Made in | Slovakia | Europe (per Kenetrek) |
| Amazon price (Nov 2) | $279 · 4.6★ from 1,182 reviews | $454.95 |
Sources: lowa.com Renegade GTX Mid technical data; LOWA UK spec table; kenetrek.com/products/elevated-extreme; Amazon listings B0042AN9MA and B0DVC5TJS4.
What the spec sheet means in the field
Warmth decides it for most hunters
The Renegade has no insulation. That is a feature in September, when an insulated boot turns into a sauna on the climb to a bugling bull. The Elevated Extreme carries 1000 grams of Thinsulate, which Kenetrek pitches for “when you have to stay stationary for long periods.” If you sit a stand in November rut cold or glass a frozen bench for hours, that insulation is the whole point.
Midsole and platform comfort
LOWA builds the Renegade on a double-injection DuraPU midsole inside its MONOWRAP frame with a full-length stabilizer. It cushions and flexes like a trail boot. Kenetrek’s 7 mm full-length nylon midsole is far stiffer and exists to stop the arch soreness you get standing on a narrow saddle platform or tree step for hours. Hikers will feel that stiffness; saddle hunters will thank it.
Weight and miles
At about 2.6 lb a pair the Renegade weighs roughly 1.4 lb less than the Kenetrek. Over a 10-mile day, that is a lot of extra lifting. If your hunt is mostly walking, the LOWA is the easier boot to live in.
Height, water and cover
Ten inches of 2.8 mm full-grain leather with rubber toe and heel guards keeps snow, creek crossings and brush out better than a mid-height nubuck hiker. The Renegade’s GORE-TEX lining is proven, but the 147 mm shaft lets water in over the top sooner.
Fit
LOWA calls the Renegade a standard-width last and sells wide versions separately. Kenetrek offers the Elevated Extreme in medium and wide, whole and half sizes. Order your normal hunting-sock size and try them indoors first.
Our picks
- Top pick for cold sitsKenetrek Elevated Extreme
1000 g Thinsulate, 7 mm nylon platform midsole, 10 in full-grain leather with rubber toe and heel guards. $454.95 on Amazon (Nov 2).
Check Elevated Extreme on AmazonAffiliate link
- Strong valueLOWA Renegade GTX Mid
About 2.6 lb a pair, comfortable from day one, GORE-TEX and Vibram EVO. $279 on Amazon (Nov 2), 4.6★ from 1,182 reviews.
Check Renegade GTX Mid on AmazonAffiliate link
Who picks which
- LOWA Renegade GTX Mid if you hunt early season, scout a lot, cover real miles, or want one boot that also works on the trail and in town.
- Kenetrek Elevated Extreme if you hunt from a stand or saddle in late season, sit still for hours in the cold, or need tall waterproof leather for snow.
Q&A
Is the LOWA Renegade GTX Mid warm enough for late-season hunting?
Not on its own for long sits. It has no insulation. It works for active late-season hunting with warm socks, but for hours on a stand an insulated boot like the Elevated Extreme is a better fit.
How much does the Kenetrek Elevated Extreme weigh?
Kenetrek lists it at 4.0 lb per pair. The LOWA Renegade GTX Mid is listed at 1,170 g (about 2.6 lb) per pair in a UK 8.
Do Kenetrek boots need a break-in period?
Expect some. The 2.8 mm full-grain leather and stiff 7 mm midsole soften with wear. Put miles on them before season.
Are these boots waterproof?
Yes. The Renegade uses a GORE-TEX lining and the Elevated Extreme uses Kenetrek’s Windtex membrane. The Kenetrek’s 10-inch shaft keeps water out over the top better.
More: elk hunting boots compared, late-season socks, Sitka vs KUIU and season gear.
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