Vladimir Onokoy 11.29.22
In the final 25 years, now we have all seen an unbelievable transformation in navy footwear. In the late Nineties, military-style boots have been the cream of the crop, however over time, particular items, and the whole tactical group began to maneuver towards trekking/climbing boots. By the early 2010s, it was already onerous to think about a Navy Seal carrying basic navy boots on a mission – it was all about Salomons, Oakleys, Merrels… Few tactical boots obtained legendary standing, and Lowa Zephyr is considered one of them.
I obtained mine in 2015, they usually have been already insanely in style, particularly in the SF group within the US and the UK, in addition to in Eastern Europe, particularly in Ukraine and Russia. Later on, I’ve seen Zephyrs all around the world, together with unlikely locations like Congo and Somalia.
The reputation of Zephyr boots began to create humorous conditions – as soon as I labored as a marketing consultant and actor on a film concerning the Syrian struggle, and we needed to equip a complete group of actors, together with myself, who have been purported to play the CIA GRS group. We have been planning to put on Lowa Zephyr boots, however the costume division explicitly banned Zephyrs for us, as a result of actors who performed Russian particular forces, our archenemies within the film, wore precisely the identical Zephyr boots.
Lowa model has been round since 1923 however was principally recognized for climbing and work boots, solely within the 2000s they began their growth within the navy and tactical market with Lowa Desert Elite, Lowa Combat, Lowa Patrol, and some different fashions. But Zephyr is probably probably the most profitable one. This mannequin has some actually revolutionary options, such because the Monowrap expertise, which basically creates a protecting body that’s related to the only of the boot, giving Zephyr its distinctive look.
The boot is available in 6 and eight inches in top, there’s a Gore-tex model and the model with no membrane, for warmer climates. I personally used two pairs of Lowa Zephyr, gray and black, and whereas I gave the black pair to a buddy years in the past, my gray Lowas been with me in every single place, from the mountains of Pakistan to Las Vegas on line casino flooring.
After utilizing them for 7 years, I might say that Lowa Zephyr is certainly very snug, has a fantastic lacing system, and is comparatively waterproof (as waterproof as climbing boots could be), however most significantly, they appear actually good. Many individuals nonetheless prefer to faux it doesn’t matter, however anybody who labored within the out of doors business is aware of how essential it’s.
Pros:
- The nice lacing system, which I feel needs to be the usual for all climbing boots at that time. You can simply soar in your boots, for those who’re in hurry, and tie them later when you might have time and alternative. After you get up in the midst of the night time due to the mortar assault siren, you begin to recognize the velocity lacing system.
- Comfort. Almost everybody who wears Lowa claims they’re as snug as sneakers. Personally, I can not attest to that, since I by no means put on sneakers and simply put on Zephyrs in every single place.
- The sole is actually fused to the higher boot, which is by far probably the most sturdy solution to connect a sole to any footwear. It may be very unlikely that you simply’ll ever see the only separating from the higher boot on Lowa Zephyr.
- The GTX model is fairly waterproof, particularly for those who often reapply water repellent.
Cons:
- Lowa Zephyr is a light-weight boot, so don’t count on them to final eternally. My pair lasted 7 years, however at this level, I wouldn’t put on them to any critical hike. Many customers skilled the identical downside – the boot would crack on the correct or left aspect the place your boot usually bends. Personally, I haven’t skilled that, however the issue is fairly widespread, and really occurred with just a few of my shut associates.
- Zephyr is nice for a lot of environments, however lots of people don’t understand that light-weight tactical boots are usually not the jack of all trades. While Zephyr is nice for mountain hikes, deserts, city environments, in heavy mud, Zephyr positively isn’t your best option. Mud covers up the sales space, it’s onerous to scrub it off, tougher than leather-based boots, and also you merely find yourself with two bricks of mud in your ft. Pick the correct software for the job.
- The lacing system is sweet, however the laces are usually not precisely heavy-duty. After just a few years, I changed my laces with gray paracord and was very proud of the outcomes.
- You can’t exchange a worn-out outsole. It is fairly typical for contemporary climbing boots, however nonetheless one thing to consider for those who’re used to changing outsoles each couple of years.
Even although Lowa Zephyr has been round for over 12 years, it doesn’t appear like these boots are going wherever. Newer tactical and climbing boots don’t actually supply any overwhelming benefits, and it appears to be like like Zephyrs will likely be round for a very long time, being a benchmark different boots are measured in opposition to.
