PMCI September 2016 | Page 19

LOWA ELITE LIGHT BOOT HAPPY PROFESSIONAL USERS Lowa have recently introduced a new lightweight category within their Task Force Collection to offer more of a range to the professional user, and they continue to increase their range of military and tactical boots which is making a lot of us users very happy indeed. Lowa have already introduced a new series of brown colour boots for the UK MOD in line with the recent change of colour and continue to offer a wide range of desert boots. The Lowa Elite light Boot is Lowa’s new flagship lightweight boot, and it’s ideal for a full day on the range, long foot patrols or tabbing. With its lightweight construction along with the exceptionally high quality materials used in the construction it’s the perfect blend of Lowa’s military quality and the lightweight construction that is ideal for modern tactical users. Built using full grain leather at 2.2-2.4mm thick in all areas, the open hook lacing system allows for quick on/ off which is especially ideal at the end of a long, gruelling day. The Vitatex lining allows for comfort and dryness in all situations and the Vibram Aconcagua sole means that you can be assured you will keep sure-footed wherever you may find yourself; this top-notch outsole from another market leader provides excellent control on all surfaces, with special cleat orientation for perfect grip. The boots also offer great cushioning and have a microbe-resistant EVA midsole. Coming from the Task Force Collection these boots offer comfort and protection for everyday use; weighing in at just 1200g a pair, and available in UK sizes 6-13, I‘m really looking forward to putting these through their paces in the colder, wetter months of the year. What I can tell you after two straight months of use is that they mould quickly to your foot, work very well, offer great support and continue Lowa’s tradition of making great military and tactical boots perfectly. The Lowa Elite Lights are available from most quality retailers in Black and MOD Brown, costing UK£175.00; in my opinion this is excellent value for first-rate pair of boots made by one of Europe’s finest bootmakers. For further information and for stockist details please visit the UK distributor www. lowamilitaryboots.com Here at PMCI we’re big fans of Lowa boots, so now we take a look at the very newest addition to the Task Force line, the Elite Light Boot. I wear boots pretty much every day of my life and for the last two years, other than when I’m testing something new, that boot model is the Lowa Zephyr GTX. They’ve been through everything from hitting the range, walking the dog, and have even taken me up onto the top of Pen y Fan the hard way so you might say that I’m a true believer in the Lowa brand! For 90-plus years, Lowa have been acclaimed as one of the finest outdoor bootmakers in the world by climbers, mountaineers, hikers, the media and certified quality testers; from the number of Lowa boots you see on the feet of serving soldiers I believe their reputation is just as great there too. Their attention to every detail in design and European manufacturing has earned them a heady reputation for building the world’s most comfortable and durable boots since they started in 1923. Lorenz Wagner founded Lowa in the Bavarian village of Jetzendorf near Munich in the 1920’s with the production of brogue oxford shoes. The high quality of the handwork in the Norwegian welt-stitched shoes, a manufacturing process that stemmed from traditional techniques used in the Bavarian mountains required an expansion of the facility in the late 1920’s. In 1930/31 Lowa’s first manufacturing facility was built. The groundwork was laid for further success with Alpine boots for the mountain infantry as well as lace-up ski boots. Lorenz Wagner passed away in the 1950’s and the second generation of the Wagner family took the business over despite the tough economic troubles during the 1950’s and 1960’s; since that point they have gone from strength to strength! Lowa build their boots under the European Union’s most stringent manufacturing, environmental and labour regulations. They put into practice what many other companies only pay lip service to; clean manufacturing, minimal waste and fair labour practices. From start to finish, Lowa footwear is 100% designed, sourced, and handcrafted in Europe. Lowa is also the only outdoor footwear manufacturer in the world to be granted ISO 9001 status for the highest quality construction and process standards. pmcimagazine.com