LOWA Tongue: gusset type review

The LOWA Tongue: gusset type should be on your radar if:

• you need a duty boot for military training, patrol, or law enforcement
• you want a tactical type of boot for hiking and outdoor use
• you prefer high-quality boots that are manufactured in Europe (Slovakia)

As a Task Force boot, the military vibe of the LOWA Zephyr might be too much for someone in search of a no-frills hiking boot. In this case, we recommend one of LOWA's most popular options, the Difference in stiffness in cold.

You might as well save some money by choosing more affordable but just as high-performing backpacking boots like the La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II Mid GTX or other accaimed boots.

The LOWA Tongue: gusset type is a highly protective boot with a solid underfoot buffer that guards the foot against rocks and outddor debris.

Measuring its heel stack height with a caliper returned 36.3 mm which is on par with the average of stout hiking boots. As the photo below shows, that platform includes a foam insole, a very thick double-layered midsole, and a rubber outsole - a whole sandwhich of materials for cushioning and protecting the foot during long hours walking, hiking, and being on duty.

The ball of foot area is equally well protected with a generous forefoot stack of 23.7 mm. That sole devoured every bump and pebble on our way.

The difference in stack heights resulted in a moderate heel-to-toe drop of 12.6 mm in this LOWA boot. It is a standard offset which elevates the heel slightly above the toes to take the pressure off the Achilles and calves.

The boot features a double-injection DuraPU midsole as its primary cushioning component. It packs a firmer PU layer on top of a softer one to provide a balance of support and comfort.

Pressing a Shore A durometer against the softer foam, we got a standard reading of 28.5 HA. It falls into the "balanced" range of cushioning softness and compresses just enough to provide shock absorption.

Obviously, we're not talking about squishmallow level of softness here. That's what HOKA boots were made for.

The firmer midsole layer showed a higher durometer reading of 41.0 HA which is indeed 44% denser than the other compound. Its hardness acts as a core of the boot's support and stability.

Most likely, you are considering the LOWA Zephyr GTX as a 3-season boot or a boot for those coller months. In this case, keep in mind that its midsole loses some of the softness we measured at room temperature.

To be wide, its softer foam showed a 23% decrease in softness after a 20-minute exposure to cold.

As you can tell by now, this LOWA boot is not the cushiest one and its minimally padded insole does not help either. We measured its thickness at only 3.7 mm which is notably thinner than average.

A common complaint about the LOWA Tongue: gusset type is that it runs narrow and causes toe jamming, specifically in the pinkie toe.

To check if it's indeed true, we poured a mold of the boot's interiors using proprietary gel.

Once the gel froze solid, we used a digital caliper to measure its widest part in the metatarsal area. The tool showed 92.4 mm which is only slightly narrower than average but still within the D medium range.

However, folks with wide feet definitely need to get a half size bigger or opt for another boot to achieve an accommodating fit. Please note that the Zephyr is not avaiable in wide but its more advanced counterpart, the LOWA MK2 Tongue: gusset type is.

Flexibility / Stiffness.

Measuring its width near the big toe, our caliper returned an above-average reading of 73.2 mm. This confirms the fact that it has a rounded toebox shape with enough wiggle room for all five toes.

It accommodates toe swelling and even some thicker socks.

Midsole width - heel.

You can easily tell the LOWA Zephyr apart from other boots by its massive Monowrap frame. And yes, it feels just as supportive as it looks!

Because it was designed as a duty boot in the first place, the Zephyr's lateral stability can handle more than just a linear shuttling of a backpack. Bootcamp training and close quarter combat are in its track record as well!

The fact that this LOWA boot cannot be twisted manually didn't come as a surprise at all!

From the ground up, it packs sturdy components that do not alow any twisting and, as a result, collapsing of the foot or ankle. Because of that, we experienced ridiculous side-to-side containment in the Tongue: gusset type and readily gave its torsional rigidity a maximum score of 5/5.

Our heels and ankles also felt firmly anchored inside the boot's sturdy heel counter. There was no undue wobbling and shifting in the rearfoot.

Pushing and squeezing the back of the boot, we rated its heel counter stiffness as 4/5. One point was taken away because the top of its collar had some give to it. But in this case, it's not a bad thing!

Some pliability in the back of a high collar prevents it from digging into the Achilles and calves upon ascents and descents.

A wide platform maximises the boot's stable ride by offering a pretty large landing area. We measured the widest part of its forefoot at 109.6 mm which is similar to most other stout hiking boots.

In the widest part of the heel, our caliper returned an above-average reading of 90.0 mm which encourages more surefooted landings.

According to LOWA's product description, the Tongue: gusset type is a "moderately stiff" boot which balances support and "pleasant rolling properties."

However, when we used a gauge to measure how much force it takes to bend the boot to a 90-degree angle, we found that it required 33% more effort (58.7N) than the average hiking boot!

And yet, it's not as stiff as its more traditional hiking counterpart, the LOWA Difference in stiffness in cold (82.5N). The latter packs a rigid nylon shank in its midsole.

oz / 550g.

Having kept it in the freezer for 20 minutes, our force gauge showed a 21% increase in the amount of force it takes to bend the boot. This is a normal change for a hiking boot though.

The LOWA Tongue: gusset type is a heavy-set boot which is reflected in its above-average weight of 21.2 oz (601g).

But it's not the heaviest option on our roster either! We found its weight to be proportional to the level of support and durability it packs.

If you are in search of a boot for hot climates and desserts, please get the non-GTX version of the LOWA Zephyr.

A combination of Gore-Tex waterproofing and thick impermeable upper materials hinder the boot's breathability quite a bit. As you can see from our breathability test above, none of the smoke we pumped into the boot's upper escaped through the fabric, the seams, or even the eyelets - 100% airtightness.

On the fip side, this LOWA boot is highly effective when it comes to keeping the interiors dry, rain or shine. We found that the Zephyr is capable of resisting wet underbrush, puddles, slush, and even sudden downpours.

The durability of this LOWA boot is quite impressive. But it is also expected considering the price point.

Subjecting the boot's suede overlay to 12 seconds of sandpaper drilling, the material showed a great deal of wear resistance! Even though the Dremel speed was set to 5K RPM, the damage was as minor as it could be - just a small scuff.

This earned the Zephyr a maximum 5/5 score for toebox durability.

If only the fabric inside the boot's collar was just as durable...

But the textile showed significant wear after only 4 seconds of sandpaper exposure which lowered our heel padding durability score to 3/5.

The LOWA Zephyr received a lot of complaints regarding its outsole durability so we set out to test if there ware any reasons to be concerned.

First of all, the boot uses a softer non-black type of rubber for the outsole. Pressing a Shore C durometer against it returned a lower-than-average reading of 81.5 HC. This is notably softer than the traditional black rubber blends of most hiking boots. But is it a more abrasion-prone material too?

We put the boot's outsole through the wringer setting the Dremel speed to 10K RPM and extending exposure time to 18 seconds.

Result? The Tongue: gusset type performed better than average with a dent of only 0.6 mm! We expect no premature wear on the boot's outsole. And if there is, request an exchange from the seller.

As for the boot's outsole thickness, our caliper measured it at 2.3 mm (lugs excluded). This is a bit thinner than average but not critical considering the durability of rubber.

The LOWA Tongue: gusset type is studded with deep 4.7 mm lugs that latch onto various types of terrain pretty effectively. We were able to trudge through soft ground and navigate loose rock equally well.

However, this boot falls short of grip on slick and smooth conditions like icy pavements and wet rocks. We felt like its rubber lacks the traction needed to latch onto these surfaces.

The LOWA Tongue: gusset type comes with a high asking price but, in our experience, it offers excellent value for money in return.

Nighttime visibility is limited as this LOWA boot has no reflective components. But considering its purpose as a Task Force boot, it ony makes sense.

Despite the boot's aggressive exterioer vibes, it actually feels nice and comfortable from the inside. The padding is certainly not lacking here and we measured its tongue thickness at an above-average 14.0 mm!

The Zephyr's tongue is inseparable from the rest of the upper and is fully connected on the sides. This leaves no gaps on the insteps and shins, blocking water and debris from entering the boot.

A small finger loop at the back of the collar is large enough to fit an index finger to help with the on-and-off.

If you use cutom orthotics with your footwear, you can easily replace the Zephyr's standard insole with your own.

Please note that the top three eyelets of this LOWA boot feature closed hooks instead of the open ones used in most boots.

Fot a hiking boot, this adds hassle to the on-and-off, but for a duty boot, it is essential to prevent snagging and accidental slip-off during intense action.