Vasque Mantra GTX Hiking Shoe Review

The shoe strings that come with the current Renegade II model are round and woven of a polyester material. The laces in my old shoes appear to be made of similar polyester and never showed any wear of the miles. While it’s a small thing, I prefer the flat shape of the old laces, which in my experience are less prone to slipping the knot.

Shoe Body

The body of the shoe is full-grain Nubuck leather, very smooth, tough and attractive. The leather pieces are sewn together with stitching that is so precise it's amazing. The well-padded collar around the ankle is well formed and supportive as well as protective of that sensitive area. The sturdy leather over the heel has two fingers that extend up on the sides of the Achilles padding to help limit lateral movement in that area.

I have no complaints about the service the outsole on my old Renegades gave. The Vibram soles are often considered the gold standard for all kinds of footwear, but especially for hiking boots. The Vibram EVO sole on the new Renegade II shoes and boots is advertised to provide "sure-footed traction in rugged terrain." Based on past personal experience, the Vibram reputation and a quick glance at the actual sole on the shoe, I have no reason to doubt the claim. The sole on the new Renegade is deep and rugged-looking under the ball of the foot and most of the heel. At the extremities of the sole under the toe and the back of the heel, the sole has more material to give longer wear in the high friction areas.

Now for a few words on the GORE-TEX membrane, the midsole and the shank, parts of the shoe which are not visible. The waterproof feature is an absolute must here in the wet Pacific Northwest and its performance is well-known from years of use world-wide. I suppose that there are some locales that would not benefit from GORE-TEX in boots and save a little cash and a little weight and breathe a little better. But overall, if there is the slightest chance that your natural trail will cross a stream or a snow bank, or a remote chance that you will get caught out in a sudden rain shower, you might end up believing the membrane is essential, as I do.

There is not much to say about the PU (Poly Urethane) Midsole, or the full length nylon shank. These two features help give the shoe form and contribute some shock-absorbing capacity. In a recreational hiking shoe such as the Renegade these components are man-made materials in order to keep the shoe light, while contributing enough stiffness to give support to the feet. This is basic stuff, but part of the foundation on which Lowa has built a lot of good shoes and a great reputation.

So there you have it, a light hiking shoe that this light hiker likes a ton.