Review:
Oboz Footwear
Combine the words "outside" and "Bozeman", where they company is located in Montana, and you've got "Oboz." For them, Oboz is not just two words combined, but a way of thinking, living and doing that defines the company, their shoes and the people who wear them.
Looking to protect our favorite getaways, they try to minimize their carbon footprint and support organizations and causes that improve the state of the environment. For every pair of shoes sold a tree is planted- now that is cool!
It wasn’t hard to fall in love with this boot. There is nothing more wonderful to have a boot that supports your foot and ankle, has no break in time and comes in gorgeous red! While the all-leather upper of the Bridger gives a nod to classic hikers of yore, there’s nothing old-fashioned about these stats: a pliable, extra comfortable collar; a lightweight TPU forefoot plate that preserves the shoe’s integrity; BDry waterproofing; metal hardware and a lightweight, aggressive outsole.
The “BFit” Deluxe Insole is a supremely supportive insole, engineered specifically for their shoes. It is unusual to not have to replace the insole with something more supportive but the BFit Deluxe Insole stabilizes arches, protects high-impact zones, and costs nothing extra and we felt comfortable the whole backpacking trip. The TPU Chassis provides featherweight, effective armor underfoot, reducing stone bruising and torsional twist. They mold the heel counter in 3D, making it extra durable against collapse and the proprietary BDry membrane blocks water from wet trails while wicking sweat away. Dry, comfortable, uninjured, stable feet while backpacking long distances; we can’t think of any part of this boot that we would improve upon.
I took a few pairs of shoes with me when we camping, hiking, and sightseeing in Gettysburg, PA. Turns out I wore only 1 pair the entire trip- THESE! They were durable and rugged enough to conquer the 18 mile day hike we did, they were still comfortable on my feet for sitting by the campfire, and when we went walking all over Gettysburg following the famous battle of the Civil War, these were the shoes I reached for.
The lugs and high traction rubber propel you up the trail while the TPU shank and EVA midsole reduce trail impact and foot fatigue. They breathable mesh kept my feet cool even when I was working on high octane. They are incredibly abrasion resistant and the synthetic leather overlays shrug off brush and rocks- they look just as good today as they did when I pulled them out of the box!
The most important aspect of the shoe for me is the BFit insole. Comfortable right out of the box, I experienced no hot spots or blisters and they were incredibly supportive. Even now that we have come back to our everyday life, I am still reaching for these awesome shoes!
When we first put these boots on, we realized that this is no ordinary hiking boot. The heel and toe have a rocker feeling. Although this felt strange at first, she quickly realized that she didn’t trip over her feet as often. (ok, she is not the most coordinated!) The venerable Yellowstone is an Oboz classic. Built on the versatile and burly Sawtooth outsole the all leather, waterproof Yellowstone II is happiest exploring as far from the trailhead as you can take it.
We love how the BFIT Deluxe Footbed allows for a comfortable fit with no slippage, but still a large enough footbed to keep the toes happy. This is a boot that is tall enough to give support to the ankle but short enough to be lightweight and comfortable for just about any activity.
What a fantastic all around light hiker! I have taken this on the trail in all weather and environmental conditions, from snow, to rain, to mud, to sleet, to rock, to gravel, to sand and it failed to let me down.
Made of waterproof Nubuck leather and high abrasion textile upper I didn't have to worry sloshing through mud or rain- my feet stayed 100% dry. They breathed extremely well thanks to the breathable membrane so my feet weren't sweating a bit.
The molded heel kept my foot snuggly in place whether hiking up or down reducing the chance of hot spots and blisters.
The High friction, non-marking carbon rubber outsole kept my foot right where I planted it, increasing stability and reinforcing your step, whether you are hiking in treacherous terrain or soft soil. Reduces the risk of slipping and falling- very important!
...Fiftysense Product Review Panel