THE RESULTS OF OUR FULL-SCALE WEARER TRIAL
Highly breathable Tactical GORE-TEX Extended Comfort footwear stands for a lightweight and agile military combat boot with a high climate comfort factor. This footwear has been specifically engineered for military missions carrying lighter loads in moderate and hot climates. As well as being suitable for offensive action and rescue operations, it is ideal for barrack or field camp duty, on patrols and shorter marches, or in combat in urban environments.
A four-month wearer trial involving 49 members of the German, Austrian and Swiss armed forces provided proof of the versatility of Tactical GORE-TEX Extended Comfort footwear. Between July and October 2015, the LOWA Z-6S GTX was tested on easy to average terrain at field training and exercise sites and during troop deployments in Southern Europe, Afghanistan and Kosovo. At the end of the 16 week wearer trial, an online questionnaire was used to collect feedback from the soldiers.
These boots are the perfect match for urban environments and flat terrain. Offering exceptional ease of movement and less weight, they are highly suitable for rapid response operations.
BREATHABLE EVEN IN HEAT
Tactical GORE-TEX Extended Comfort footwear is highly breathable and especially effective at transporting the sweat produced by the foot out of the boot. This results in a boot that is ideal for elevated temperatures and periods of physically strenuous activity.
...The temperature regulation is excellent. Your feet feel very comfortable.
Your feet stay comfortably cool even at higher temperatures.
89 percent of the participants confirmed that the temperature inside the test boots was “pleasant” – even when the temperatures ranged between 10 °C and 25 °C, or the soldiers were working indoors or in vehicles. In comparison, only 46 percent of the participants said that the temperature inside the boots they had worn in the past* was pleasant.
SWEATING
59 percent of the participants said they perceived “no sweating” or only “mild” sweating in the test boots. In comparison, only 28% of the participants could say the same about the boots they had worn in the past*.
No heat build-up inside the boots when compared with other boots.
A HIGH LEVEL OF WALKING COMFORT
The construction facilitates fast movements and direction changes. At the same time, it provides plenty of support and stability over average terrain.
These boots are the perfect match for urban environments and flat terrain. Offering exceptional ease of movement and less weight, they are highly suitable for rapid response operations.
92 percent of the participants were happy with the walking comfort.
LIGHT WEIGHT
The design and construction have been inspired by the outdoor footwear sector. This has led to the creation of a lightweight and highly flexible boot with a sportive design.
Lightweight, yet with very good ankle support. I’ll be taking these boots back to Afghanistan with me next year.
86 percent of the participants expressed their satisfaction with light weight of the test boots.
DURABLY WATERPROOF
Protection against water exposure and penetration by certain commonly occurring chemicals including diesel, cleaning agents and battery acid.
CLIMATE COMFORT
High breathability and the absence of extra insulation combine to deliver the best possible heat loss capabilities, reliably preventing the foot from overheating.
WIDE RANGE OF USES
Suitable for running training, short-term combat missions, house-to-house combat and military operations in urban environments.
HIGH RECOMMENDATION RATE
At the end of the four-month wearer trial, 87 percent of the participants said that they would recommend the LOWA Z-6S GTX to others. They described the boot as an all-rounder that was suitable for a wide range of uses.
My fellow soldiers and commanding officers both thought that the boots were great. We are thinking about buying them for our army sniper teams.
The wearer trial was conducted by Gore in partnership with Munich market research agency HYVE.
PARTNER
LOWA
Manufacturer of the Z-6S GTX test boots engineered with Tactical GORE-TEX Extended Comfort technology
