Evaluating LOWA Zephyr TF GTX Military Boots

LOWA Zephyr GTX Mid TF (Task Force)

U.S. Air Force Special Forces

U.S. Army Special Forces

FBI Hostage Rescue Team (FBI HRT Team)

German soldiers

German police forces during exercises, all wearing LOWA, supporting “national products”

German GSG-9 Border Guard Unit, black LOWA Zephyr TF

Austrian police forces, all wearing LOWA + UF pro

Austrian mountain troops snipers, again wearing LOWA military boots + UF pro

Austrian mountain troops snipers, again wearing LOWA military boots + UF pro

Hong Kong Counter-Terrorism Special Duty Team CTRU, again wearing LOWA military boots + UF pro

Even in the famous Battlefield series by EA, there is a character model of PLA engineers wearing LOWA Zephyr TF military boots.

The famous tactical style brand TAD has also always designated the Zephyr TF as the rhythm…

What makes the LOWA Zephyr TF series military boots the choice of military and outdoor enthusiasts worldwide? Ultimately, it boils down to — lightweight, flexibility, durability, comfort, and high aesthetic appeal. How so?

This is reflected in the weight. The Zephyr GTX Mid TF with Gore-Tex waterproof sock liner weighs only 638 grams for size 44. This is relatively lightweight among 6-inch military boots.

Flexibility comes from the combination of the shoe last and shape — the upward-curved toe design provides greater flexibility and maneuverability. It breaks away from the heavy and stiff feel of traditional military boots.

The softness of the second-layer suede upper provides good wrapping protection while being very suitable for extensive tactical movements of the foot and ankle.

The upward-curved toe allows for greater agility during hiking, effectively conserving energy.

Lightweight and flexible do not equate to cutting corners; solid craftsmanship and materials give the LOWA Zephyr TF its durability. Originating from Slovakia, it has been battle-tested and its reputation continues to grow.

It is worth mentioning that the founder of LOWA is a German who originally established the LOWA factory in Slovakia. The Zephyr GTX Mid TF is produced in Slovakia, thus it has a solid heritage.

For those interested in the history of the LOWA brand, you can read our article “What Does a Pair of Regrettable Hiking Shoes Look Like?” which discusses the development history of the LOWA brand and the research and development story of its most famous hiking shoe, the Renegade.

Upper: Suede leather + CORDURA nylon; military-grade paracord laces.

Lining: GORE-TEX waterproof sock liner

Just to reiterate, Gore has changed its latest GORE-TEX® trademark in the past two years, and the new logo has a small red dot on top of the letter “R”. If you encounter the old GORE-TEX® logo, it is likely old stock shoes. Here, I remind everyone to pay attention to the purchasing channels and choose reliable dealers to avoid buying old stock shoes.

LOWA Zephyr continues the classic LOWA Monowrap® patented PU cushioning midsole, combined with a unique external frame structure, making the Zephyr GTX Mid TF not only visually appealing but also improving lateral stability of the upper.

The injection-molded external frame also provides protective toe cap.

The outsole uses Lowa’s own Cross outsole. Regarding the actual wearing experience of the outsole, the author will discuss it later.

Several details:

The boot collar has a mesh lining to enhance wearing comfort.

There is a pull tab at the back of the boot for easy on and off.

The military version of the Zephyr GTX Mid TF has fully enclosed laces at the top, unlike the civilian outdoor version which has quick-release buckles.

I have worn nearly 20 different military/tactical boots, and the Zephyr TF’s fit is among the best in its class (lightweight military boots). The Zephyr TF shoe last is European standard width 0, suitable for most people except those with particularly wide feet who need to wear width 4EE shoes. Friends with slightly wider feet will experience a very high fit after a break-in period.

The Zephyr GTX Mid TF not only has solid materials and excellent craftsmanship, but also stands out for its high aesthetic appeal among military boots. The unique external frame upper combines performance with stylish design, making it versatile for pairing with jeans, cargo pants, or camouflage pants.

Having read this far, I believe you have a good first impression of the Zephyr GTX Mid TF. But is this shoe really as good as it seems? The only way to find out is to take it for a spin.

Starting with the outsole

The Zephyr TF series uses LOWA’s own Cross series rubber outsole, which is highly wear-resistant. The image below shows the wear after 50 days of use (5 outdoor trips, two camping trips + one long hike and two short hikes + over 20 days of commuting).

I have a pronated foot, and from the actual wear, there is no significant wear on the outer tread of either shoe. The tread thickness exceeds 6mm, and conservatively estimating, the outsole’s lifespan should be around 600 kilometers or more under normal use.

The tread pattern on the forefoot includes both upward climbing lugs and downhill braking grooves.

The tread pattern on the heel is similar. Notably, the midfoot arch area has a guide groove for rope descent.

The forefoot tread pattern combined with the upward-curved toe provides strong traction. Walking on soft sand amplifies this effect.

From the distribution of the tread pattern, the LOWA Cross outsole is more suited for dry, gravel roads. For example, it is ideal for terrains like Afghanistan.

It is emphasized that the “dry” gravel roads are important because once encountering wet and muddy terrain (especially after rain), the LOWA Cross outsole’s grip will drop significantly (most outdoor soles, including common V soles, behave similarly). At this point, one can only rely on experience to navigate cautiously. A troublesome aspect is that the LOWA Cross outsole’s tread design does not have “self-cleaning channels” between the grooves, making it easy for wet and sticky mud to adhere to the outsole, ultimately filling the entire outsole.

Now let’s talk about the LOWA Cross outsole’s anti-slip grip performance in urban commuting. Basically, it is the outdoor version in reverse: as long as it doesn’t rain and the ground is not wet or oily, whether on concrete, asphalt, brick, marble, carpet, or wooden floors, the grip is quite good. However, once the surface is slippery, one needs to be particularly careful, especially on surfaces with oil or water; it’s best to avoid those areas.

Does this stylish external frame actually serve a purpose? The answer is definitely yes. Many people are misled by previous incorrect interpretations on certain platforms, leading to misunderstandings.

This external frame wraps around the entire midsole and the front and rear toes, supporting the lateral sides of the upper, preventing excessive lateral twisting, while also transferring some pressure to the outsole. From the actual wearing experience, it indeed achieves the above effects. To say that the external frame’s material is soft and thus lacks support is simply keyboard warriors’ speculation. However, LOWA’s type of external frame “support” is relative to lightweight hiking boots, not compared to the high-support, full-leather + TPU-wrapped heavy hiking shoes.

For example, the now-discontinued classic Blackhawk model 83BT06 also uses a multi-panel leather upper for higher comfort and flexibility, but the lateral support of the upper is weaker than that of the LOWA Zephyr GTX Mid TF; on the other hand, I have a certain brand of mountain boots that use full leather + TPU wraps, providing very strong upper and ankle support, but completely lack the flexibility of the Zephyr GTX Mid TF.

Should you choose to have the GTX waterproof sock liner? In my view, you can choose based on your needs. For those who require breathability, I recommend choosing the version without GTX. If you are in an arid, less rainy inland city, choosing the non-GTX version will provide better breathability; if you need to deal with winter wind, snow hiking, or rainy conditions, choosing this model will allow you to adapt more comfortably.

The Zephyr Mid TF comes in both GTX and non-GTX versions; the Zephyr GTX Mid TF uses a GORE-TEX® Performance Comfort Footwear half-sock waterproof membrane lining, which is the most common type of Gore waterproof sock lining. It can resist wind, rain, and snow while providing only average breathability.

During the National Day holiday, I traveled north, and the cool autumn weather was perfect for wearing the Zephyr GTX Mid TF. However, upon returning to the south, I clearly felt a stifling heat (after all, it was not officially autumn yet in the south). Wearing the GTX version during summer commuting is definitely not sustainable.

Some say that the GTX waterproofing of LOWA shoes is poor; based on my own experiences and the feedback from friends who wear the Zephyr Mid TF, I have not encountered this issue. It should be an isolated case. I once tested the shoes by immersing them in water while cleaning the upper and found no leakage.

The upper is treated with a water-repellent finish, showing a clear lotus leaf effect. Based on current wear, the water-repellent effect should last about six months to a year.

The desert-colored suede upper is not small test for long-term dirt resistance, but this is a military boot, not a delicate dress shoe, so a clean and pristine look is less important.

The original insoles provided with the Zephyr GTX Mid TF are relatively thin, thus the cushioning effect is average; after long-distance walking, one can noticeably feel the hardness of the footbed. After several days of continuous wear, the insoles’ sweat-wicking and antibacterial effects are not particularly outstanding. It is recommended that those who can should replace them with Ortholite insoles. Buy a size larger, trace the original LOWA insoles, and cut off the excess edges. You will find that your Zephyr TF’s comfort level will improve significantly.

Looking back at the early days of the anti-terrorism wars, special forces personnel wore heavy, oversized standard military boots. By around 2008, more and more special forces soldiers began to purchase lightweight outdoor hiking shoes, sports shoes, or even trail running shoes, and the LOWA Zephyr Mid TF was one of the most successful representatives of this “lightweight trend.” With outstanding comfort, a focus on flexibility while maintaining basic protective durability; the rich color options have made the Zephyr Mid TF increasingly popular worldwide. You can see soldiers wearing Zephyr in the world’s most dangerous war zones, adventurers in the wild mountains, military enthusiasts in wargame survival competitions, and even in daily commuting. On weekends, meeting friends at the subway station, you might find everyone coincidentally wearing Zephyr, haha.

In summary, the LOWA Zephyr GTX Mid TF is an excellent military boot that you should own.