In addition to general wear I have now had the chance to take my LOWA ZEPHYR MK2 HI Coyote OP combat boots somewhere ‘hot & dusty’, writes Bob Morrison.
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When the Task Force Distribution Team, who market the LOWA Military and Police footwear models in the UK, offered me a pair of the new MK2 version of the popular ZEPHYR combat boot for review I opted for the non-membrane version in a high leg cut. For more than a decade I have tended to rely on boots which use one of the new generation Gore-Tex breathable laminates, originally conceived to keep out pathogens as well as water when operating ankle-deep in unsanitary conditions such as often found in Afghanistan and Iraq, but of course membrane-free footwear will usually suffice for many ‘hot & dusty’ (i.e. desert) theatres.
Most of the time these days I tend to wear mid-height, rather than high leg, boots as I find the lower cut to be more comfortable for everyday work and play, though of course sometimes a taller boot can be necessary for both better protecting the ankle / lower leg as well as keeping out sand and dust in desert environments. If all goes to plan (and my health continues to improve after my run-in with cancer last year) I should get in two more assignments in Arab countries this year (insha’Allah, as my friends in the region would say) so my recent trip to the Emirates served as a dress rehearsal for the MK2 ZEPHYRs.
As previously noted, at first glance the LOWA ZEPHYR MK 2 boot does not appear to be all that different from the original LOWA ZEPHYR boot, which is very popular with European Special Forces. However the lacing system has been updated to give a better and snugger fit, complete with a clamping eyelet at the fourth position to give positive two-zone adjustment, and the laces can now be tucked away into a stretchy tongue pocket. A two-layer polyurethane midsole MONOWRAP frame again supports the foot, but the slip-resistant rubber outsole has a different tread pattern designated LOWA X-TRAC Military.
According to the LOWA spec sheet, “The ZEPHYR MK2 HI is a particularly breathable combat boot with an ideal compromise between agility, lightness and stability. The upper materials used consist of a combination of water-repellent and tear-resistant suede and abrasion-resistant and breathable CORDURA material. The particularly breathable textile lining is highly abrasion-resistant and ideal for use in dry and hot and humid climates.” It is also stated that the raised shaft provides the necessary support for skydiving and fast-roping missions.
Tipping the scales at 701g, compared to 930g for my leather and textile LOWA Breacher GTX MID, my EU 45 / UK 10.5 size ZEPHYR MK2 HI boot is comparatively light; though about 150g heavier than my regular wear super-light LOWA INNOX PRO GTX MID TF boot. By way of comparison my quite similar YDS TORNADO GTX weighs 820g, though of course that Turkish-made combat boot has a Gore-Tex laminate lining so one would expect it to be a little heavier than the non-membrane ZEPHYR.
For the record, the maximum recorded temperature during my recent visit to the Emirates was about 27°C, so although nothing like I expect to encounter in the Arab world on my mid-summer assignment it was still around 20 degrees higher than back here in Devon until relatively recently. Lately, however, the thermometer here has been up in the high teens and I have also worn the ZEPHYRs out and about on much less dusty terrain, where the boots performed as well as I have come to expect from the German company (though this pair was actually made in LOWA’s Croatia factory).
I found the ZEPHYRs to be really comfortable and well up to expectations with my only negative with these boots, and it is a relatively minor one, being that the standard LOWA insole is a little basic for what is otherwise a very high quality boot. However as I almost always fit orthopaedic insoles (usually Svartz or Superfeet) once my test phase is over, this won’t be an issue.
The boots reviewed here are the high-leg non-membrane version of the LOWA ZEPHYR Mk 2, but a Gore-Tex version is also produced, as are mid-height versions both with and without the laminate lining. The current off-the-shelf ZEPHYR MK2 colours are Coyote, Black and Brown but not all versions are presently available in every colour.
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