I am going to be upfront and honest here, I swear by my Lowa Z-8N GTX tactical boots. In fact, I’ve owned 4 pairs and have solely been using the Z-8N GTX tactical boots for work. With that said, Lowa has never endorsed me or no did they sponsor this review in anyway.
With that out of the way, let me tell you a little bit about the company behind the Z-8N GTX tactical boots. Lowa was founded by Lorenz Wagner, who named the company “Lowa” as per the first two letters of his first and last names. Lowa was founded in the Bavarian village of Jetzendorf, which is right next to Munich in Germany in the mid 1920s. Wagner built such a great boot using a manufacturing process that stemmed from traditional techniques used in Bavarian mountain villages that demand exploded. Since then the company has continued to grow and innovate the boot industry but has always remained in Germany.
Today specifically, I am reviewing the Lowa Z-8N GTX tactical boots. Lowa markets these boots as a tough, all weather, supportive boot. They also specifically market the Z-8N GTX boots for law enforcement and military use. As a result, the Lowa Z-8N GTX boots are certified according to CE EN ISO 20347:2012 standards which gives it the following characteristics:
- Antistatic sole
- Waterproof upper
- Heat resistant
- Fuel resistant
- Slip-resistant outsole
Lowa also notes the Z-8N GTX boots are 100% made and sourced in Europe, with the main manufacturing process taking place in Germany.
Taking a look at the boot you can see they really are well put together. The upper portion of the boot is made from Suede material while the lining is Gore-Tex. We have discussed Gore-Tex on here in great detail in the past, so all I will say is that it is incredibly tough and something you would want your boots to be made out of. The lacing is a closed hook system, and the sole is injected and slip resistant. They are offered in a variety of colors, so you can get anything from a Coyote brown to a standard black.
I especially like the stability and support the Z-8N GTX provides. The upper material is made of a tough suede leather which gives lots of support. To ease any stress placed on ligaments, muscles, and/or joints, there is a durable polyurethane material for the sole that creates cushioning and stability at the same time. This sole is really important as the rest of the Z-8N GTX bases the support structure off of it. The Gore-Tex membrane stitched around and into the footwear provides the rest of the base for one heck of a boot.
As I’ve already mentioned earlier here, I have relied on the Z-8N GTX boots for quite some time now. This is mostly because they are easily the most comfortable boot I have ever worn for any extended period of time while doing work (law enforcement). It feels like it really doesn’t matter what the terrain is, or how rough or even it is, the boot just adjusts to the terrain so your foot doesn’t have to. The best part is that the Z-8N GTX does this without really a “break in” period. From the first minute you put them on, your foot will feel comfortable inside. There might be a few steps that you have to take before you really feel them to be broken in but I think you’ll be surprised you don’t have to wear these for 6-24 hours to really break them in like a traditional boot. I also have found them to keep my feet dry in wet conditions yet also cool and warm in hot and cold weather. If you are going to be out in really cold temperatures, then possibly consider something different or some thermal socks.
Otherwise, I’m telling you that you cannot go wrong with the lowa Z-8N GTX boots. Be aware there is a cost to owning these and they aren’t cheap. But they are easily the best pair of boots I’ve ever owned and I can assure you they will be the boots I continue to wear unless I can find something better. 9.5/10.
Ben