RFutch Get off the bench! Team Member Joined: Oct 2008  TN, USA Posts: 4297 Feedback: 100% (18)

Posted: 8/3/2012 9:42:31 AM THE IMAGE ABOVE IS A PAID ADVERTISEMENT I'm looking at purchasing a pair of the Zephyr from Lowa and was wondering about the footbed. I don't like shoes that have any arch in the foot bed. The flatter the better! Do any of you have experience with this that could share. I have read the quality of these are top notch. Also sizing is a concern since I will have to order them. How do they compare to say a pair of Nike. I usually wear a 10.5 but I'm tired of buying shoes made in china. Thanks. http://www.lowaboots.com/catalog/ShowBoot.cfm?StockNum=3105864185&Category=4&Type=M

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OIF_Vet08-09 Fear is the foundation of most governments. Team Member Joined: Nov 2009  AR, USA Posts: 4602 Feedback: 100% (103) Link To This Post	Posted: 8/3/2012 10:41:49 AM I used a pair of Desert Elites in Afghanistan. The only pair I wore, everyday, doing dismounted shit. They held up fine. I tried a pair of the Zephyrs this year. They felt too damn narrow. I went up two whole sizes trying to find a pair that didn't squeeze my toes, but no dice. I am going to try a pair of the Desert Uplanders next. Yeah I am a Lowa junkie.
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E__WOK Member Team Member Joined: Nov 2000  CA, USA Posts: 1812 Feedback: 0% (0) Link To This Post	Posted: 8/3/2012 12:57:54 PM Don't know about Nikes but I had a pair of the Lowa running type shoes and they fit just like any other running shoe. The old Desert Seekers run narrow. I have several Desert Elites which have a more normal wider footbed.
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SKD_Tactical Member Industry Partner Joined: Jun 2004  USA Posts: 14904 Feedback: 100% (352) Link To This Post

Posted: 8/3/2012 1:46:24 PM I am a huge LOWA fan. I own about 6 pairs (three of them being Mid- Zephyr's). I have always worn a size 9 boot, shoe, and running shoe. With LOWA's I wear a 9.5 in all their makes, gore-tex or not. I can't tell you about the footbed though, because every pair I own has green superfeet in them the second I get them out of the box and I throw out the footbed they come with. I can't recommend these boots enough. SOS

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SKD_Tactical Member Industry Partner Joined: Jun 2004  USA Posts: 14905 Feedback: 100% (352) Link To This Post	Posted: 8/3/2012 2:03:39 PM I really like LOWA and Mtn dew (not in any particular order). SOS
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RFutch Get off the bench! Team Member Joined: Oct 2008  TN, USA Posts: 4298 Feedback: 100% (18) Link To This Post	Posted: 8/3/2012 3:54:19 PM Thanks for all the replies guys. Where is the best place to order them? Direct?
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stutzcattle This far...And no farther. Team Member Joined: Nov 2008  NE, USA Posts: 10486 Feedback: 100% (25) Link To This Post

Posted: 8/3/2012 4:32:58 PM I'm also a huge Lowa fan. I wear the Zephyrs and love them. They have some arch in them, so you may need to replace the bed. They are also very narrow which is why I am such a big fan. I have narrow feet and Danners just swim on me. I wear an 11.5 in most shoes and these are no different. If you have a wide foot you might have problems with them. I bought mine on either Amazon.com or shoebuy.com. Whichever was cheaper at the time.

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fosters FDCC Paparazzi Team Member Joined: Jun 2006  FL, USA Posts: 10097 Feedback: 100% (20) Link To This Post	Posted: 8/3/2012 5:14:06 PM I have lowa desert elites...paired with super feet green insoles makes em perfect...
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dskelton227 Member Team Member Joined: Mar 2009  WA, USA Posts: 41 Feedback: 100% (1) Link To This Post	Posted: 8/3/2012 7:11:21 PM I have two pairs of the desert gtx zephyr mids. Mine both have blue smart feet insoles in them. The only problem I had is going through laces pretty quickly. But well worth the money. I haven't wore out my first pair which I have had for three years.
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oatmeal Member Joined: May 2006  TX, USA Posts: 97 Feedback: 100% (14) Link To This Post	Posted: 8/3/2012 9:42:37 PM Originally Posted By SKD_Tactical: http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg35/skdtactical/IMG_20110826_181657.jpg I really like LOWA and Mtn dew (not in any particular order). SOS Two Zephyr Gore-tex mid's and a pair of HI's. What are the two on the right end? Uplander Desert? How do they compare to Zephyr mid's (which is my daily footwear now)?
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RFutch Get off the bench! Team Member Joined: Oct 2008  TN, USA Posts: 4299 Feedback: 100% (18) Link To This Post	Posted: 8/3/2012 10:22:48 PM Does the goretex make them feel hotter than a normal pair of tennis shoes?
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oatmeal Member Joined: May 2006  TX, USA Posts: 98 Feedback: 100% (14) Link To This Post

Posted: 8/3/2012 10:39:23 PM [Last Edit: 8/3/2012 10:45:46 PM by oatmeal] Originally Posted By RFutch: Does the goretex make them feel hotter than a normal pair of tennis shoes? They don't feel hotter to me, but they can get steamy when I'm sweaty and it's humid. But sneakers would be the same. And my feet don't get wet in puddles. I ditched the original inserts and use green superfeet. All my boots have superfeet. Looked in my pair and without the inserts, the sole rises from toe to heel with no additional material at the arches. All arch support appears to be from inserts. ETA: I have a hard time finding shoes that fit well and Lowa is always a winner for me.

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RFutch Get off the bench! Team Member Joined: Oct 2008  TN, USA Posts: 4300 Feedback: 100% (18) Link To This Post	Posted: 8/3/2012 10:47:35 PM Awesome thank you. Im think Im going to go ahead and order a pair of the low and if I like them I may get a mid in the future too.
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SKD_Tactical Member Industry Partner Joined: Jun 2004  USA Posts: 14907 Feedback: 100% (352) Link To This Post

Posted: 8/4/2012 8:36:14 AM Originally Posted By oatmeal: Originally Posted By SKD_Tactical: http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg35/skdtactical/IMG_20110826_181657.jpg I really like LOWA and Mtn dew (not in any particular order). SOS Two Zephyr Gore-tex mid's and a pair of HI's. What are the two on the right end? Uplander Desert? How do they compare to Zephyr mid's (which is my daily footwear now)? They are Desert Seeker PT's. They make my feet a little soupier in hot weather. I use them as my cold weather boots. I'm a really bad judge of cold weather footwear though as those Pesky Winters at FT Drum ruined my feet. After several bouts of Frostbite I have to take very good care of my feet or I get trench foot on cold days. Most guys I know that have them wear them year round and love them. They have a ton of support but are a boot from lower with sneaker qualities. My hands down favorite boots are the LOWA Zephyr Mids with no goretex. SOS

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Castillo Member Team Member Joined: May 2006  AFG Posts: 5606 Feedback: 100% (2) Link To This Post	Posted: 8/4/2012 9:35:18 AM Wearing Lowa mid-zephyrs as we speak. they are pretty hot for the summer here in AFG and would be better for cooler temps. the soles are getting shreaded by the rocks. We do a good bit of dismounted ops. They are comfortable as hell though and light wieght. I put my issue belleville boots on and recoil in horror at how horrible they are now.
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RFutch Get off the bench! Team Member Joined: Oct 2008  TN, USA Posts: 4301 Feedback: 100% (18) Link To This Post	Posted: 8/4/2012 10:42:14 AM I can find the Zephyr mid but I am having trouble finding the lows anywhere in stock. Hopefully they are still available.
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SKD_Tactical Member Industry Partner Joined: Jun 2004  USA Posts: 14908 Feedback: 100% (352) Link To This Post

Posted: 8/4/2012 12:46:53 PM try GSAboots.com, I have had great experiences with them. I'm wearing the zephyr's right now in AFG too (but not the GTX versions) I wear them with EMS coolmax 1/4 socks and love life. The tread gets chewed up, but they have a soft tread and the rocks here suck. my issued bellevilles and wellco's got sent home months ago. I tried to wear them when I wasn't on patrol - like FOB boots, and dreaded it so i just sent them them home one day. SOS

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RFutch Get off the bench! Team Member Joined: Oct 2008  TN, USA Posts: 4302 Feedback: 100% (18) Link To This Post	Posted: 8/4/2012 12:55:27 PM They've got the mid but no low. Thanks for the heads up though.
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OIF_Vet08-09 Fear is the foundation of most governments. Team Member Joined: Nov 2009  AR, USA Posts: 4632 Feedback: 100% (103) Link To This Post	Posted: 8/4/2012 12:56:46 PM US Cav has a pretty good selection as well.
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SKD_Tactical Member Industry Partner Joined: Jun 2004  USA Posts: 14909 Feedback: 100% (352) Link To This Post	Posted: 8/4/2012 7:33:14 PM Originally Posted By RFutch: They've got the mid but no low. Thanks for the heads up though. Wait, are you looking for the low version zephyr's in desert tan? Because I have only seen the civvie version that way in the brown. SOS
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RFutch Get off the bench! Team Member Joined: Oct 2008  TN, USA Posts: 4303 Feedback: 100% (18) Link To This Post	Posted: 8/4/2012 8:45:34 PM Looking for the brown. The only low I can find is a pair of 13s on lowaboots.com.
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marcdjudge Member Team Member Joined: Nov 2006  MI, USA Posts: 413 Feedback: 100% (50) Link To This Post

Posted: 8/4/2012 10:31:47 PM Originally Posted By RFutch: Thanks for all the replies guys. Where is the best place to order them? Direct? I got my Zephyr mids from Shoebuy. If you start a new account with them you get 5% off your first order. Google "Shoebuy coupon codes" and they usually have codes for 10%-20% off (higher percentages are usually around holidays). These two discounts can be stacked and they have free shipping both ways. Best price I have found.

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nihilsum Member Joined: Nov 2007  USA Posts: 2732 Feedback: 100% (51) Link To This Post	Posted: 8/5/2012 2:03:13 AM The Zephyr/Vento series is my favorite boot. They hold up very well for light boots- they will outlast Danner Combat Hikers and whatever the current RFI summer belleville mountain boot is. As mentioned, they run true to size but narrow.
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dskelton227 Member Team Member Joined: Mar 2009  WA, USA Posts: 42 Feedback: 100% (1) Link To This Post	Posted: 8/5/2012 12:35:22 PM [Last Edit: 8/5/2012 12:35:48 PM by dskelton227] +1 for the shoebuy.com idea. I used both coupons and got a really good deal in my first pair. My second pair I ordered from REI and used my 20% off coupon plus my dividends.
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