Lowa Zephyr GTX Mid TF in Ranger Green
SPECS:
Weight: 560 grams, also known as 19.7 oz, also known as 1.2lbs
Outer: Mix of leather and fabric
Inner: GORE-TEX ®
Insole: ATC (All Terrain Classic) designed to reduce fatigue and provide comfort.
Midsole: Double Injection DuraPU ® (Click HERE for more their Technology Guide)
Outsole: LOWA Cross II (Great traction)
COMPANY BACKGROUND:
In 1923, a Bavarian cobbler named Lorenz Wagner starts making work shoes for his neighbors…. About 10 years later he becomes mayor of his village (Jetzendorf). However, despite his moustache, he was NOT a big fan of the 3rd Reich so he was quickly replaced… During the war, the company was forced into making alpine boots for mountain infantry.
In 1946, the company gets back to making shoes for civilians, but they also start branching out into street shoes and ski boots. When Lorenz passes away, his daughter Bertie steps in and the company starts sponsoring mountaineering expeditions …and in 1963, LOWA provides the boots to the 1st ever American to summit Mt. Everest, Jim Whittaker!
And now, over 100 years after a creative Bavarian cobbler decided to hook his buddies up with some sweet shoes, LOWA is cranking out some of the most premium footwear in the outdoor industry.
I think nearly every of our Engearment Writers in Denver has at least one pair of LOWAs that they wear regularly. For a team that tests a lot of shoes, I think that says a lot.
LOWA’s lineup has expanded into Hiking, Trekking, Leisure, Trail Running, Mountaineering, and TASK FORCE (TACTICAL). The Zephyr is part of that TACTICAL line. Fun fact, President Zelenskyy is also apparently a big fan of LOWA as well as he’s been seen frequently wearing the TACTICAL line.
Lowa Zephyr GTX Mid TF Review
Although the Zephyr comes in low, mid, and high (depending on your needs) the core design is the same with each. Each version features their “Monowrap ®” frame construction for solid support (and sweet style points). However, I believe you can only get the Ranger Green in the Mid.
The website will tell you that these are “Comfortable combat boots with first-class functionality” and I’d have to agree.
As a prior military man, I appreciate the professional and tactical look of these boots, even though I’m not engaged in any sort of security operations…
TESTING:
To put my Zephyrs to the test, I thought it would be a good idea to do a 10 mile ruck with a 35lb pack. A ruck is essentially a weighted brisk walk for an extended period of time. I’ve also been experiencing some metatarsalgia (pain in the ball of the foot just below the toes) so I wasn’t sure how this would go. I was pleasantly surprised at the comfort of a “combat” shoe. I would have much preferred these to my standard issue Navy boots… The terrain covered was a mix of concrete, packed dirt, and mud. The traction performed well in each. I’m also always a bit nervous about GORE-TEX being too hot, but this was a non-issue. The Zephyrs were more breathable than anticipated. For reference, the temperature was in the high 50’s, low 60s on the day of the ruck.
After three hours of rucking, my body was tired, but my feet actually felt pretty decent.
While I didn’t end up with any blisters, I did experience a hot spot on my pinky toe of my left foot and if I would have done another mile or so I would have probably developed a blister. I should also note that I have two different size feet (My left is a 9 and my right is a 7.5). I typically wear an 8.5 in most shoes (The Zephyr in this review was an 8.5). This causes my left foot to always be a little cramped and my right foot to be a little loose.
SUMMARY:
I wouldn’t necessarily recommend breaking these shoes in with 35lbs on your back for 10 miles…but I feel like now they’re ready for anything. For an everyday boot, they’re comfortable, sturdy, stylish, and extremely well-made. Side note, although the Zephyrs do not have a steel-toe, I do feel like I could kick a door in with them if I needed to 🙂
And speaking of things that I don’t need to do, anytime I test a shoe I ask myself “Could I squat in this shoe?” Not because I would actually use them to squat in (I usually squat barefoot), but because I want to test their stability and balance.
The short answer: Yes, you can absolutely squat in these shoes. Knowing this gives me confidence that I would be able to lift heavy things in a very stable position while wearing the Zephyrs.
Over the years I’ve switched the majority of my daily shoes and hikers to wide toe-box, zero drop so I was a little nervous about the smaller toe box (or what looks like one) but overall I didn’t feel cramped. Other than my pinky toe getting rubbed a little extra (which was likely due to my size 9 foot in an 8.5 shoe) I had no issues with the toe beds. The bonus of having a non-zero drop shoe is that if you’re vertically challenged like myself, they’ll give you an extra inch!
If you’re looking for a “rucking shoe” specifically, I wouldn’t necessarily recommend the Zephyr. Instead, I’d gravitate towards something in the Trail Running lineup like the FORTUX GTX. (I’ve not tested the FORTUX GTXs, but looking at the specs and knowing the quality of LOWA shoes they look like a great option.)
The LOWA Zephyr GTX Mid TF performed just as expected: Comfortable and sturdy, but not overly rigid. The style and innovation that LOWA has become known for also shines through. I feel like Lorenz Wagner would be proud of where the company has gone and how they’ve grown.
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Ryan Humphries
Growing up in southeast Missouri, Ryan spent most of his days playing in the woods, swimming in creeks, capturing wildlife, and dreaming of adventure. His asthma kept him from playing a lot of sports as a kid, but it didn’t stop him from achieving the ranks of both Eagle Scout and a Black Belt in Taekwondo by the age of 16.
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