LOWA Z-8S: My First Choice for a Tactical Boot

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I learned through experience; out in the field training, as well as hunting, camping, and hiking that LOWA boots and in this case the LOWA Z-8’s, are one of the toughest boots around.

You can beat the living daylights out of them and be completely comfortable doing it! After 4 years of hard use, my boots are still going strong and are in solid enough shape to pass dress inspections!

The Z-8 also ranks as one of my top three toughest boots in my “Toughest Tactical Boots of 2022: Conquer Every Challenge” article.

Lowa is the number one selling Military and Tactical boot in Europe and has been for many years.

Why do you ask?… Because of the amazing effort that Lowa puts into the quality and design of their boots! They’re tough as anything, as comfortable as pillows, and aggressive in design and appearance.

The LOWA Z-8’s are AR 670-1 and AFI 36-2903 compliant for the American military and airforce, as well as CANFORGEN 135/20 compliant for the Canadian military.

SPECS

Weight: 1.52lb / 690g / 24oz
Height: 8″
Colour: Coyote, Black, Desert
Upper: Split Grain Leather / 1000D Cordura Nylon
Insole: LOWA® Antistatic
Midsole: Double Injection DuraPU
Outsole: LOWA® TACTICAL Z TRAC
Lining: Moisture Wicking Textile
Toe Box: Plain
Branch Compliance: AR 670-1 / AFI 36-2903 / CANFORGEN 135/20
Fit: True to size
Warranty: Warranted to be free from defects in workmanship and materials for 12 months from the original date of purchase.

PRICE

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The LOWA Z-8S boots come in at a cool $330.00 at Lowaboots.com, which is a very decent price for some of the finest top-quality military tactical boots around today.

The Z-8S boots have the 8″ upper and are the model I bought as they meet military qualifications. If you’re not in the military and the height of your boot is up to you, lowaboots.com also offers the Z-6S which is the same boot but mid-height.

The Z-8S also comes in a GTX version, the LOWA Z-8S GTX C.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Look good, feel good is a saying that is true even in the military and the tactical world as a whole. So when I first started to see other soldiers walking around wearing the Z-8S, right away I thought they looked darn cool and I wanted a closer look for myself.

I went to my kit shop and asked for a size 11 of the LOWA Z-8S, as that is my shoe size and not knowing if they fit true to size simply figured I would start there.

The size 11 worked perfectly for me. I did try on an 11.5 to make sure, but it was just a little bit too big for me. The 11.5 gave me slightly too much room in the heel, toe, and around the center of my foot. I walked around my kit shop, the boots were obviously loose and my feet slipped around with each step.

I knew during any serious ruck march, or time spent in them, the 11.5’s would give me blisters. Everyone’s feet are different, but I highly recommend getting them in the same size as your regular shoes.

Finally, once I unboxed the Z-8s and had them on, they looked as good on me as they had on others. The rugged rubber soles, monowrap, and high front toe kick. The mix of suede leather and 1000D Cordura Nylon webbing mesh well together and looks slick.

FIELD FIRSTS

My first time out in the field with my LOWA Z-8s was for a course I was working on. After testing and wearing them out in the field for a few weeks there were a few things that stood out to me about the boots.

I’ve already mentioned it multiple times, but I don’t think it can be overstated the comfort. The Z-8s were extremely comfortable regardless of the terrain I was on, which ranged from jagged sloped rocks to mushy muddy marshes.

The cushioning provided by the boot’s insoles, midsoles, and outsole is top-notch, something noticeable right away when in rough terrain.

The ankle support and stability provided by the 8″ upper was fantastic, it was very sturdy. Lowa’s specialized Monowrap outsole was also great in aiding the support of my ankle and holding my foot tight in the boot to prevent my feet from slipping.

After wearing my Z-8s for several years I have yet to twist or sprain an ankle while wearing them.

Sturdiness was the last big thing that stood out to me. Thanks to the solid rubber outsole and deep lugs on the Z-8S I always felt sure of my footing. Even when on loose ground, I never felt as if my boots were losing their grip.

QUALITY DESIGN

UPPER

MATERIAL

The uppers of the LOWA Z-8’s are made from two of the best boot materials around today Suede (Split Leather) and 1000D Cordura Nylon. Suede is thinner than full leather (Danner uses full or rough-out leather on their boots) which makes it less pliable.

The suede used on the Z-8s is one of the main reasons why the break-in period for the boots is so short and why you can get such a comfortable snug fit out of them. When you tighten the boots, the suede easily snuggles tightly around your foot and ankle.

The 1000D Cordura nylon is also a very nice addition to the Z-8s. Generally, tactical boot companies use 600D, 800D, or 1000D nylon for their boots. 1000D nylon is the strongest, toughest against tearing, and most waterproof, but…it is also the heaviest.

600D nylon comes in on the other side of that spectrum and is another great material that simply provides slightly different qualities. However, I would argue that the difference in weight between the nylons is negligible.

I can tell you after several years now wearing these boots at home and work, the upper parts of my boots are still in great shape and I am by no means someone who babies my boots (unless I’m in garrison, then I hate getting my boots muddy).

So even though, suede isn’t technically the toughest leather around, believe me, it’s tough enough to get the job done again and again and again.

LACE SYSTEM

The LOWA Z-8s use a closed loop for their lacing system, separated into two separate speed lace sections by a nylon closed loop right at the ankle.

The speed lace system is pretty standard in tactical boots these days. They’re awesome because they’re strong and as the name implies make it easy to do your boots up quickly when you’re in a pinch.

It’s nice that the Z-8 offers a dual-zone speed lace system, so you can pull once at the top of each zone to tighten each zone quickly and effectively. I really like this feature of the z-8’s.

In my opinion, the weak link in the lacing system of the Z-8s if there was one, would be the nylon loop right at the ankle.

I think it is kind of supposed to act a bit like a locking loop, but it only kind of works and it’s the part that will tear out first as you tighten your boots. They’re still pretty strong, but I have had one break on me which is super annoying because then you can’t use the other one either as your laces obviously won’t tighten properly.

I wouldn’t let the nylon loops of all things deter you from these boots however, as I’ve only had one beak on me in the all the years of I’ve worn them.

WEBBING

LOWA, in my opinion, has done a great job of intermingling the suede and nylon to create a strong upper.

LOWA has put nylon all along the rear of the ankle which offers a really nice cushion as you walk and move. The nylon also moves with you as you move so it never pinches the back of your ankle.

Being 1000 Cordura Nylon, it is also very strong so you never really have to worry about it ripping on you.

Suede is placed in the areas that take the most abuse and therefore need to be the strongest. Along the side of the boots, toe, heel, and laces.

Being split leather it combines nicely with the nylon to provide comfort by being easy to manipulate and moving as you move. Overall the webbing on the Z-8 again looks good in my opinion and performs very well.

The webbing is also never something I have had an issue with on my Z-8s. With dual stitching everywhere, it is held together very strongly.

TONGUE

The Lowa Z-8 and many other Lowa boots come with a gusseted tongue.

What is that you may ask?

It means that the tongue is connected to the upper of the boot on both sides, by nylon fabric.

This is an aspect I truly love about some tactical boots and am glad that Lowa has used it on the Z-8. The gusseted tongue prevents debris from entering the shoe around the tongue and it keeps the tongue centered in the boot.

As you’re making your way through the forest or dry dusty terrain, none of the environment will sneak into your boots making your boots, socks, and feet dirty. Also nothing hard or sharp can get into your boots this way either, (better luck next time annoying painful little rocks).

SOLE

MONOWRAP

Lowa’s patented Monowrap stability frame is honestly one of a kind. I’ve started to see lesser-known brands try to copy the appearance, but it’s just a knockoff of the real thing.

The monowrap besides looking super tough aids in the support and stability that the Z-8 offers your foot and ankle.

It also helps prevent the boot from widening over time making sure that the initial snug fit you had lasts the entirety go the boot. Before the Z-8s I had never seen this before, basically where the outsole extends right up the sides of the boot and feet.

A secondary function it performs equally as well is adding some solid abrasion protection to the sides of the Z-8. The hard rubber protects the suede upper from wear and tear and also provides a cushion for your foot when humping it through tough terrain.

Lastly, if you don’t notice either of the first two advantages, again, it at least looks (in my opinion) very tough and rugged.

OUTSOLE

I love the deep lugs and rugged grip on the Z-8s.

The outsoles on my boots performed very well over the first few years of me using them, I honestly couldn’t have been more pleased. You name the terrain, they performed like a rough country lift on an old Bronco, amazing!

However, up until my last leadership course, I had never done a lot of drill in my Z-8s. When you do military drill, there is a lot of turning 90 and/or 180 degrees. Whenever you do this you’re consistently grinding your boots into the ground.

Now I don’t know if it’s Lowa’s soles, or soles in general that can’t handle months of constant day after day grinding into the ground, but after the drill portion of my course was done I noticed I had pretty much worn off all the tread on my boots.

I can only imagine all that drill would have done a number on the soles of any boot, however.

FUNCTIONALITY

The Z-8s are a great functional boot for anyone and everyone regardless of your desired intent for them.

If you’re a first responder or are employed by a private security firm you will almost certainly have a black boot policy. Thankfully, Lowa makes the Z-8 GTX in straight black, which will meet your uniform needs.

For everyone else they also offer the Z-8 in Dark Brown and Coyote, so everyone’s colour desires can be met.

The Z-8 is easy to get on and off whether wet or dry. If you do happen to get them wet, there is no need to fret as they dry decently quickly with air holes on the outsides of the upper. With both the HW and GTX versions, there’s a Z-8 for every environment you will find yourself in.

The Z-8s although extremely tough, still come in on the lightweight side of tactical boots giving you everything in one package. They come in hot weather and GORTEX versions, as well as mid (called Z-6S) and HI boot heights (I had the Hi boots for work).

COMFORT

Throughout my career, I have gone through maybe 10-15 different sets of boots (I couldn’t remember them all). They have ranged from extremely uncomfortable to wearing pillows on your feet.

I previously mentioned that one of the defining features of the Z-8 was how comfortable they are, but where would they fall on that very arbitrary scale you may be wondering?

Well in comparison, one of the last pairs of boots I was issued by the military I would have said felt like wearing boards on my feet or if I was to give them a comfort rating out of 10, I would have rated them as a 2/10.

The only time I ever wore them, was the first week after I got them, then never again. So if that’s what a pair of issued boots felt like, where do the Z-8s line up?…

Imagine if the winged Greek god Hermes had taken off his winged sandals, given them to you and you took your first steps in mid air how soft that would feel…the Z-8’s feel kinda like that.

So right up around the pillow mark on my previously mentioned scale. I would probably give them an 8/10. All that’s to say, theres no doubt about it, they are a heck of a comfy boot!!!

CONCLUSION

LOWA did an amazing job with the Z-8S C tactical boot. There is a reason why LOWA is the market leader in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, producing close to three million pairs of shoes a year.

The LOWA Z-8S offers stability and toughness with their monowrap frame, PU midsole and insole, and full rubber outsole. They truly are EXTREMELY comfortable to wear and are loved by service men and women, hikers, and trekkers worldwide. On top of that, they look great!

Any need you have, the Z-8S can meet that need. If you’re not looking for the lightest boot on the market, or the absolute strongest, but that solid in-between boot that can check off all your expectation boxes, then the LOWA Z-8S or the Z-8S GTX is the boot you need to check!

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