Meindl and Lowa: hiking boots, lasts and models

Meindl and Lowa are two German makers of hiking boots with a long history. Meindl offers the Comfort fit last, with more room at the forefoot, on selected models; Lowa offers the Renegade and light multi-purpose shoes such as the Innox. Which brand suits you better is decided above all by your foot: the two build on different lasts, and a boot has to match the shape of your foot, not the other way round.

Where do Meindl and Lowa come from?

Both were founded by families with roots in the shoemaking trade. Meindl is based in Kirchanschöring in Bavaria; according to the company history, Petrus Meindl is mentioned there in the late 17th century as the family's first shoemaker. In 1982 Meindl launched the Trailer, its first boot with a GORE-TEX membrane, and in 2002 the company developed the Memory Foam System, MFS.

Lowa was founded in 1923 by Lorenz Wagner in Jetzendorf, north of Munich. Since 2015, under the motto "Made in Europe", Lowa has produced across Europe with partner factories, and since 2019 it has had its own factory in Slovakia. According to Lowa, Jetzendorf remains the site for mountaineering and trekking boots.

What is Meindl's Comfort fit last?

The last is the foot-shaped mould a shoe is built around. Comfort fit is a particular Meindl last that the manufacturer uses on selected models, not on all Meindl shoes. Meindl describes it like this: compared with a trekking last, it has more room at the forefoot while holding the heel firmly. This is meant to give more space for the toes and more width across the ball of the foot; the big toe sits straighter, and the wider sole offers a broader base.

For people with a wide forefoot, that can be a reason to try Meindl. You'll find Comfort fit, for example, in the Meindl Mondello GTX, made of suede and mesh with GORE-TEX, in the Mondello Lady GTX for women and in the mid-height Quebec Lady Mid GTX. For long walks and fitness walking there's the Power Walker 3.0, with quick lacing and a strongly rolling sole with a soft EVA wedge.

Which Meindl models are suitable for hiking?

For hiking trails and easy mountain walks, Meindl groups its boots under mountain and hiking. The Meindl Ohio 2 GTX is a light hiking shoe made of nubuck with GORE-TEX and a leather footbed; for women there's the Ohio Lady 2 GTX. The Meindl Borneo 2 MFS is a leather boot with a leather lining instead of a membrane, a Vibram sole and MFS: according to Meindl, a foam in the upper adapts to the shape of your foot through body heat.

If you prefer something sportier, the Meindl Lite Hike GTX from the Trail Activity range is a lighter shoe made of suede and mesh, with a shock-absorbing EVA wedge and a heel stabiliser.

What makes the Lowa Renegade special?

According to Lowa, the Renegade is one of the brand's most popular models, a multi-purpose boot that has been made for over two decades. Lowa has refined the Lowa Renegade EVO GTX Mid with small details, with an eye on fit and enough room for the toes. As a low-cut shoe there's the Renegade EVO GTX Lo.

For women, Lowa builds some models on a dedicated women's last, recognisable by the suffix Ws. The Lowa Taurus Pro GTX Mid Ws is a light multi-purpose boot for easy hikes and surfaced paths, with a suede and textile upper and a GORE-TEX lining; according to Lowa, a pair in size 5 weighs 820 g. For men there's the Taurus Pro GTX Mid.

Which Lowa models are made for fast hikes?

For sporty hikes, Lowa has lighter shoes. The Lowa Innox Evo II GTX follows the motto "Light and fast": a textile and microfibre upper, GORE-TEX, a PU midsole for cushioning and the Enduro Evo II rubber sole with sharp-edged lugs, designed for light hiking and speed hiking. For women there's the Innox Evo II GTX Ws.

The Lowa Maddox Pro GTX Mid is a dynamic lightweight hiking boot with a sharply lugged fast-hiking sole, a DYNAPU midsole and a ripstop upper. The Ventierra GTX Lo has flexible lacing at the forefoot, a soft collar, a DYNAPU midsole and a stiffened sole for more stability.

GORE-TEX or leather without a membrane?

Most models from both brands in our range have a GORE-TEX membrane; the abbreviation GTX is in the name. The membrane keeps out wet from outside, which helps in the Eifel, where paths often stay wet and muddy for long periods in autumn and winter.

A leather boot with a leather lining, such as the Borneo 2 MFS, is the alternative for hikers who value the foot climate of leather. It needs regular care with boot wax or a waterproofing treatment so that the leather repels water. Which option suits you is explained in our article on waterproof hiking boots.

Meindl or Lowa: how do you decide?

Decide by the last first, then by the intended use. A boot that slips at the heel or pinches at the toes won't get better on even the most beautiful trail.

• Wide forefoot, want plenty of toe room: try a Meindl model with the Comfort fit last.
• Classic all-rounder for the Eifelsteig and low mountain ranges: Lowa Renegade or Meindl Ohio.
• Light and sporty: Lowa Innox or Maddox, Meindl Lite Hike.
• Prefer leather without a membrane: Meindl Borneo 2 MFS.
• Mid or low-cut: depending on terrain and load; see Boots and a jacket for the Eifelsteig.