Summer is one of the best seasons for hiking. Better weather combined with longer hours of daylight create the perfect conditions for exercising in the fresh air whilst experiencing some spectacular views that you don’t get to see in the winter. In order to make the most of hiking during the warmest season of the year, it’s essential to choose the best summer hiking boots. This is crucial for ensuring that your feet remain comfortable and protected throughout your hike, whatever distance and terrain you’re planning on covering.
Prioritising comfort, functionality and innovation, LOWA have a range of military boots that make the perfect hiking boots for the warmer months. Our boots function as high performance summer hiking boots due to the fact that they are:
Lightweight Yet Durable
The last thing you need when exercising in the heat is a heavy boot weighing you down and making your trek even harder. That’s why it’s essential for summer hiking boots to be lightweight. However, it’s equally important that they are highly durable to provide support and protection for long distances and when trekking over rugged and challenging terrains. Very hot weather can also present its own challenges to boots that have been poorly made and could be prone to cracking if exposed to intense heat.
Knowing the importance of combining durability with a boot that is lightweight and flexible, it’s LOWA’s choice of materials and production methods that make them the perfect summer hiking boots. We use high performance lightweight materials, such as Gore-Tex®, to create a boot that is lightweight, whilst using strict manufacturing processes to ensure that our summer hiking boots are unrivalled in durability. This includes an exclusive spray-on glueing process to fix the leather and the addition of a rubber rand that sits between the outsole and the upper to protect the leather from moisture and damage. In addition to this, the soles are pre-treated before being cemented onto the footwear using a pneumatic press.
Breathable & Waterproof
One of the biggest challenges that comes with hiking in the summer is of course the heat. With higher temperatures your feet will sweat more, which, if you’re not wearing the right footwear, could cause discomfort and blisters. The reason that LOWA military boots make such practical summer hiking boots is because they are breathable to wear. What makes them breathable? This is the Gore-Tex® lining that we use in the manufacturing of so many of our military boots. Gore-Tex® technology keeps moisture out of the boot, whilst allowing moisture and sweat to escape the boot, keeping feet dry whilst allowing them to breathe.
It’s the Gore-Tex® Lining that also makes our summer hiking boots waterproof by preventing moisture from entering the boot. Whilst waterproofing may not be the first characteristic that comes to mind when choosing the best military boots for hot weather hiking, it’s a really important consideration to make. You can’t always rely on the weather during the summer months (particularly in the UK!) and so it’s important to be prepared for rain, whatever conditions you first head out in. You may also find yourself walking through streams or puddles along your route and so it’s important that your feet are kept dry in these conditions in order to prevent rubbing or discomfort.
Supportive
A good quality hiking boot should be supportive at all times, and this is no exception during the summer. All LOWA military boots are made using specialist sole units and exceptional ankle support, with some military boots being fitted with additional joint stabilising features . Some of our best summer hiking boots, such as the LOWA Z8N, feature Monowrap technology. This provides stabilisation in the frame of the boot, providing support to specific areas of the foot where security is especially required when exercising outdoors.
It’s essential that feet and ankles are supported in order to prevent muscle strain and injury, but also to prevent fatigue. The PU midsoles used in many of our military boots offer extra cushioning for the foot when hiking over long distances, whilst specialist lacing enables you to position the boot to the most comfortable and supportive position for your individual requirements.
Which LOWA Boots Are The Best Summer Hiking Boots?
There are 3 LOWA boots that are best suited for use as summer hiking boots. These are:
Zephyr Gore-Tex® Mid TF Boots
Lightweight, hard-wearing and incredibly comfortable, these summer hiking boots are fitted with a Gore-Tex® extended comfort footwear lining for enhanced breathability and comfort. In addition to this, LOWA Cross outsoles provide a specialist lug-design and tread, whilst Monowrap sole units enhance the stability and support offered by this lightweight boot. The upper is made from a combination of suede leather and Cordura® that offers the perfect balance of flexibility and durability.
LOWA Z8N Gore-Tex® C Boots
The LOWA Z8Ns are another one of our top picks for summer hiking boots. A ‘hybrid’ boot that sits between a traditional combat boot and a lightweight military boot, the Z8N features a Tactical Z Trac® sole unit that provides enhanced grip and support when trekking on uneven terrain. This boot is also fitted with a Gore-Tex® lining that makes it ideally suited to the warmer weather.
LOWA Mountain Boots Gore-Tex®
A superb all-rounder, benefitting from the use of Gore-Tex® technology, it’s not surprising that the LOWA mountain boot is another one of our favourite summer hiking boots. The full grain leather uppers provide durability, whilst a Vibram® "Tsavo" sole unit ensures feet are supported when exercising on uneven terrain and over longer distances.
