At OR I had a chance to catch up with German brand Lowa to find out about their new Z-6 and Z-8 series boots coming later this year. Leveraging the technology of the Zephyr, the new Z-6 and Z-8 (the number denotes the height of the upper) utilize the well-proven and patented PU MONOWRAP® frame technology but are beefier with a medial sole wrap and heavier duty lug pattern to protect against rope abrasion during fast rope descents. The goal was to produce a boot that offers the walking comfort of light hiking boots combined with the support and protection of backpacking boots. LOWA further toughened up the design up with a full-length nylon stabilizer and an aggressive rubber outsole. Lightweight metal closed hooks allow for speed lacing and meet requirements for airborne operations so no more taping up your eye hooks.
Below you will notice two suffixes in the full list of models names which denote the leather choices of split (S) and Nubuck (N). GORE-TEX® linings provide waterproof comfort, breathability and warmth in damp weather. Quick drying fabric linings are offered for hot and humid climates. LOWA’s patented Climate Control System pumps heat and moisture away from the foot, keeping feet dry and less prone to blisters.
Available in six-inch and eight-inch heights and in black, desert and sage.
Z-8N GTX® – Black
Z-8S GTX® – Dark Brown, Desert
Z-8S – Desert
Z-6N GTX® – Black
Z-6S GTX® – Desert, Black, Sage, Dark Brown
Z-6S – Black
These boots are awesome, the lightness of the Zephyr with the rigidness of the Lowa Combat. Great boot (I got the Z-8S GTX Desert.
Dave, Do me a huge favor and bend the boot hard and see if it bends at all in the midfoot. I own several different Lowas and ordered/sold them for a while too, and am having a hard time finding one stiff enough that is not a trekking or backpacking option. They changed their catagory structure in that the hiking stuff is not as stiff as the old Tanark and Tigre for example. I am 6’4′ and 200 pounds so rigidness is crucial. Thank you sir
They look fantastic. A chance Lowa will be offering them in wide sizes?
Does the “Dark Brown” color look like the UK’s new “MoD Brown”? I saw a pair of boots on the Lowa booth at SHOT that looked like that – so just wanted to check if these were they.
Updated it for you.
Awesome – you’re the best!
And yes, those are the ones I saw – sweet!
I have a pair of Lowa Banffs that are almost a decade old, and a couple other par of Lowas that are holding up nicely.
My Zephyrs lasted a year before the soles wore through.
Glad to see Lowa saw what it was doing wrong.
Can you expand on the split and Nubuck options?
Split leather is leather created from the fibrous part of the hide left once the top-grain of the rawhide has been separated from the hide. During the splitting operation, the top-grain and drop split are separated. The drop split can be further split (thickness allowing) into a middle split and a flesh split. In very thick hides, the middle split can be separated into multiple layers until the thickness prevents further splitting. Split leather then has an artificial layer applied to the surface of the split and is embossed with a leather grain (bycast leather). Splits are also used to create suede. The strongest suedes are usually made from grain splits (that have the grain completely removed) or from the flesh split that has been shaved to the correct thickness. Suede is “fuzzy” on both sides. Manufacturers use a variety of techniques to make suede from full-grain. A reversed suede is a grained leather that has been designed into the leather article with the grain facing away from the visible surface. It is not considered to be a true form of suede.
Nubuck is top-grain cattle hide leather that has been sanded or buffed on the grain side, or outside, to give a slight nap of short protein fibers, producing a velvet-like surface.
Looks like a great combo between the Uplander, Renegade, and Zephyr.
14w please, for the love of god and everything holy. I’ll pre pay.
Lowas are great, super comfortable, but I have had serious issues with the grip/slip ok mine. I was doing a vertical search in public housing with patrol officers while wearing these and I almost busted my ass on wet stairs. I have the zephyr gtx. I guess nothing beats vibram…
Does anyone know what sole they are using? Is it the same Lowa sole used on the zephyr gtx’s?
This. I’ve got Zephyr GTX Mid TF too and my God are they slippery. Literally the week I got them I slipped and fell on the outside stairs of my office as they were wet because it had rained all morning. No kidding. At first I thought it might have been my fault but nope, as time went by I realized that they get seriously slippery when walking on wet surfaces. Too bad because that’s the only thing I dislike about those shoes.
The sole in Z-6/Z-8 is different and looks more robust than Zephyr’s one.
It’s not about the robustness of the sole, but rather the material used. Don’t get me wrong, the Zephyr GTX are one of my favorite dry environment boots, even with the gortex, but as soon as there is any water, they are like ice skates.
C’mon Lowa…get rid of the brown sole accents on the Tan. It’ll skyline the boots to ignorant uniform nazi CSMs who *Still* think that silly example poster is the be-all and end-all of acceptable boots for Soldiers.
Do the Lowas’ still fit like they are made for people with skinny 2×4 feet? I dig the design and the construction is great, but every Lowa pair I have ever tried needs to go up nearly 2 sizes to fit width; especially the Zephyr line.
I have the Zyphryx GTX, and I am a 14D, bordering on a wide, and I wear a 14D in my lowas. I am definitely not a small guy either at 6’2 250.
I really hope they come back out with low-top, regular shoes in this style–I loved my low-top Zephyrs.
I’d ideally also like a 4″ (something a little lower than 6″ but with more ankle support than the regulars).
I want a pair of 6’s, they look outstanding.
Are they 670-1 compliant? I sent lowa an email asking them which models were and they told me they didn’t know!