Hey everyone, need a new pair hiking boots and have found a few options from Keen and Lowa. However, I’m not sure if they are worth the investment. I’m looking for something comfortable and durable for various terrains. Can anyone share their experiences with these brands or suggest other reliable options?
I have Lowa Renegade which I have used for general hiking but nothing extreme. The right boot will depend on your foot shape including the arch, and how wide or narrow they are.
Your best bet is to go to one of the outdoor shops and test a load of them. They usually have samples of different terrain, up and down, so you can get the feel of them in every angle.
It may be helpful to state what the upper end of your hiking activity is to define what type of shoes you need.
What about the left boot? 
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I had the same thought 
I swear by everything Lowa, all my hiking shoes have been from this brand. Not only nice/OK looking but also very comfortable and I think the prices are OK considering how long they last.
I have the Lowa Camino model for hiking.
Pros:
- It’s a rigid boot. Excellent support for the ankle.
- They’re warm.You laugh at -20°C temps (no wind)
- Superb grip: all the confidence you need to walk on wet roots and rocks.
- Compatible with crampons in spite of not being a dedicated mountaineering shoe.
- The shoe can be resoled. You’ll have the same shoe for a long time.
Cons:
- It’s a rigid boot. So, it’s a prison for the feet if you’re not used to shoes like this.
- They’re warm. Above 20°C they’re not comfortable.
- Superb grip: you have to get used to the grip or the knees will suffer if you don’t step carefully.
- Comparatively heavy to be compatible with crampons.
- The shoe can be resoled. You’ll have the same shoe for a long time and you’ll pay top price for it.
With all that said. I wouldn’t care too much about the brand. it’s much more important what you want to do.
Also, if you prefer heavy & rigid boots with leather upper or lighter ones with textile upper. If you’re into lighter boots, the hiking boots from Salomon are easily 100 francs less and 200 grams less per boot.
For me they must have the right arch(es) support of the foot and so far I resonated with few brands. (I’m very conservative; once I’ve found something I really like I stick with that brand…so I might be missing something, somewhere)
Me too when I read it back. 
And while this being a joke - the left one is always ruining it for me. In fact I started to try the left one on first just to not get too excited about new shoes.
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Well believe it or not approximately 60% of people have differently sized feet, with about 80% of those having a larger left foot. This common phenomenon can complicate shoe and boot fitting, as most footwear is sold in pairs of the same size. Individuals often need to choose between sizes or even buy two pairs to accommodate their feet. When purchasing boots, it’s generally recommended to size down by half a size compared to sneaker sizes, but personal comfort and fit should ultimately guide the choice.
Courtesy of my AI: Perplexity.
Too true.
To be honest, for a lot of hiking, especially in summer, a pair of trail shoes is fine.
If you are going high, in snow, with crampons, or going down scree then something sturdier will be more suitable.
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I am mostly wearing this now. The industry calls it “approach shoe” like in wearing it on the way to the real climb … Works well for most hikes. I personally find trailrunning shows a bit soft / slippery and want my Vibram sole.
Oh gross!
Yeah, who would buy blue crocs?
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My husband bought his first pair of Lowa Renegades over 10 years ago. When they wear out, he buys another pair. He’s quite happy with them. We’ve seen a lot of other people wearing them as well, so they certainly seem popular. Mostly typical wanderweg with about 20% white-red-white trails. Essentially light hiking.
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I like Quechua which perform well in independent tests and are a fraction of the price of other hiking shoes.
So with “typical wanderweg” you mean yellow-marked below wrw? I wear sneakers there.