May 21, 2025

Oboz Hiking Boots and Shoes: A Brand Review

Jory, hikingfeet.com

Oboz is a good brand for hikers and backpackers who value comfort, support, and durability more than weight savings. Then again, some of the latest Oboz hiking boots and hiking shoes are lightweight, too! I've personally hiked 3,000 miles in Oboz and have now tested and reviewed most of its hiking lineup. This Oboz brand review will help you figure out if Oboz will fit your feet and hiking style. Plus, it recommends the best Oboz hiking boots and shoes for various hiking styles. 

Oboz Brand Review

Born in Bozeman, Montana in 2007, Oboz (short for "outside + Bozeman") quickly established itself as one of the best outdoor footwear brands in the United States. Oboz hiking boots and hiking shoes are made for (and named after) the mountains of Montana and the Greater Yellowstone basin. As their names suggest, they're sturdy enough to stand up to serious hikes and backpacking trips. The small company remains based in Bozeman after being sold in 2018 to Kathmandu, an outdoor retailer in New Zealand. As a bonus, Oboz plants a tree for every pair of boots or shoes they sell.

Why buy Oboz hiking boots and hiking shoes?

In my opinion—as the former footwear manager at an outdoor gear shop—Oboz is the best U.S. brand for hiking and backpacking footwear. Based on my extensive personal and professional experience with the brand, here are Oboz's key selling points:

Comfort


Oboz hiking boots and shoes stand out for their comfort. One key is the brand's O Fit insoles— expensive insoles that provide targeted cushioning and support where other brands typically skimp with a cheap-ass piece of foam. That targeted cushioning, deep heel cup, and arch support sits on top of well cushioned midsoles and sturdy outsoles for a cushy and well protected base for your hiking feet. 

Fit


Oboz has one of the smartest fits out of all the brands I've personally worn and sold. Oboz hiking boots and shoes run snug in the heel to prevent heel slippage. They then offer more room in the forefoot and toes—with their regular sizes running standard width and their wide sizes adding more room where many hikers need it. Between those two widths, Oboz seem to fit more hikers than other brands. 

Durability


My Oboz hiking boots and hiking shoes have lasted longer than any other brands I've worn. (On the left is my first pair of Oboz Bridgers at approximately 1200 miles of wear— and still hike-able). Made for Montana mountains, Oboz footwear is tough enough to take on harder hikes and tougher terrain—moreso than other popular US brands like Merrell and KEEN. 

Overall, Oboz is a good brand for men and women who value comfort, support, and durability over weight savings. It's not one of the best brands for ultralight backpackers or fast hikers who prefer a lightweight hiking boot to a more supportive and durable one. However, Oboz builds some of the best mid-weight hiking and backpacking boots and one of the best hiking shoes for men and women.  That makes it one of the best overall brands for hikers and backpackers. 

Best Oboz Hiking Boots

OBOZ BRIDGER

Best Oboz Hiking Boot

Main Benefits:

  • Midweight build for both day hiking and backpacking
  • O Fit insoles add cushion and support for comfort
  • Waterproof for all-weather, four-season hiking
  • Aggressive traction & heel brake for steep descents
  • Durability
  • Available in regular and wide sizes

I've personally hiked more than 2,000 miles in the Bridger—the best Oboz hiking boot. Made with nubuck leather, it's a sturdy boot with significant cushioning and support, thanks to its upmarket O-Fit insoles, soft EVA foam midsoles, a sturdy TPU chassis, and sturdy, aggressive outsoles. Those outsoles dig into scree, snow, and mud and also provide great downhill traction, thanks to their deep heel brakes and deep, multi-directional lugs. It's average weight for a mid-duty hiking boot but beats most of its competitors in terms of comfort and durability. This is one of the best mid-duty boots for people who want one boot that's good for both day hikes and backpacking trips.

For more, see my full Oboz Bridger review

Best Fit

standard to wide feet (available in wide sizes)

Best Match

moderate to difficult day hikes, backpacking 

Men's Oboz Bridger

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Women's Oboz Bridger

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OBOZ SAWTOOTH X MID

Best Value Oboz Hiking Feet

Main Benefits:

  • Enough support for tougher trails
  • cushy EVA foam midsoles + O Fit insoles = comfort
  • Best bang for your buck in hiking boots
  • Available in regular and wide sizes

The Oboz Sawtooth Mid gets my vote for the best value in hiking boots. It's a solid mid-weight hiking boot with decent foot and ankle support, great insoles, plenty of cushion, and moderate traction for mixed terrain. The Sawtooth is similar to the Bridger—with less aggressive traction and slightly less support. But it's a lot of boot for the price—a better buy than similar boots from Merrell and KEEN. Recently celebrating its tenth ("X") anniversary with an updated version, the Sawtooth X Mid is another sturdy, comfortable, and durable option from Oboz that's now available in standard and wide sizes.

For more, see my full Sawtooth X hiking boot review

Men's Oboz Sawtooth X Mid

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Women's Oboz Sawtooth X Mid

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OBOZ KATABATIC LT MID GTX

Best Lightweight Oboz Hiking Boot

Main Benefits:

  • Lightweight and agile for fast-moving hikers
  • TPU rockplate adds some stability & support
  • Upgraded GORE-TEX Invisible Fit waterproofing
  • Available in regular and wide sizes

"Lightweight" and "Obox" used to be oxymorons, but the Oboz Katabatic LT Mid is a legit lightweight hiking boot that could impress fast hikers with light packs. New for 2025, this lightweight hiking boot weighs less than several low-cut hiking shoes. When I personally tested and reviewed the LT this spring, I appreciate its athletic build, and its tread handled a wide range of terrain on my test hikes. Oboz also upgrade this boot's waterproofing from its proprietary membranes to GORE-TEX—more specifically, GORE-TEX Invisible Fit, which is less bulky and more breathable than traditional GORE. Overall, this lightweight Oboz hiking boot is a good match for hikers who like to move quickly over mixed terrain. It also works for less serious hikers who prefer a lightweight hiking boot to a more supportive one.  

For more, see my full Katabatic LT Mid Review

Men's Oboz Katabatic LT Mid

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Women's Oboz Katabatic LT Mid

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Best Oboz Hiking Shoes

OBOZ SAWTOOTH X LOW

Traditional Oboz Hiking Shoe


Main Benefits:

  • support
    sturdy hiking shoe for moderate to difficult day hikes  
  • comfort
    cushy midsoles and expensive insoles offer all-day comfort
  • moderate traction
    versatile tread works best on moderate trails 
  • trail to town versatility
    a rarity—a serious hiking shoe that's also comfortable in town 

The low-cut Sawtooth is Oboz's classic hiking shoe. For its tenth anniversary, Oboz has released the new Sawtooth X. The Sawtooth X is the rare hiking shoe that can not only handle moderate to difficult trails, but also deliver all day comfort, thanks to Oboz's O-Fit insoles. I've not only sold these to hikers, but also surgeons, nurses, factory workers, and sales people who spend most of the day on their feet. Sawtooths aren't light, but they're solid hiking shoes for people looking for good support, cushioning, durability, and value. I've sold a ton of these to men and women—and so has Oboz. Historically, the Sawtooth Low has been the brand's overall best seller. 

For more, see my full Sawtooth X hiking shoe review

Men's Oboz Sawtooth X Low

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Women's Oboz Sawtooth X Low

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Oboz Katabatic Wind

Best Lightweight Oboz Hiking Shoe

Main Benefits:

  • significantly lighter than other Oboz  

  • Above average cushioning provides a comfort boost
  • More durable than trail running shoes
  • Runs true-to-size
     

Oboz may be better known for burly boots and shoes, but their Katabatic Wind can compete with the best lightweight hiking shoes. The brand's most technologically advanced trail shoe features a cushy yet responsive nitrogen-infused foam, added rocker, and a forked, carbon plate for more speed and rebound. This super-shoe is made for fast hikers with light packs and weighs less than other Oboz, starting at 9.8oz/shoe for women. This is the most athletic Oboz I've personally tested and reviewed. The Oboz Katabatic Wind could be a good buy for you if you're lookiing for a lightweight, high-performance hiking shoe,

For more, see my full Katabatic Wind review   

Men's Oboz Katabatic Wind

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Women's Oboz Katabatic Wind

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Should you buy Oboz hiking boots or hiking shoes?

No doubt, Oboz is one of the best brands for hiking boots and hiking shoes. However, the key is buying the brand that best fits your feet and best matches your hikes.

As for fit, Oboz hiking boots and shoes generally fit true to size with a sculpted heel and average width in the forefoot. They offer their best sellers in wides, which also feature a snug fit in the heel (to prevent heel lift and keep your feet from sliding forward) and extra width in the forefoot and toe boxes.

As for matching your footwear to your hikes, it's helpful to consider the pros and cons of Oboz hiking boots and hiking shoes:

Pros:

  • all day comfort
  • foot and ankle support
  • durability
  • leather construction
  • moderate price/ good value

Cons:

  • average to slightly heavy weight 
  • average waterproofing 

Conclusion:

With Oboz, the positives (literally and figuratively) outweigh the negatives. Their shoes and (to a lesser extent) boots may run a little heavier than some brands. But those few extra ounces give hikers more foot and ankle protection, cushioning, and durability than most brands. That makes it a good brand for men and women who mostly hike moderate to difficult trails.


best fit

standard feet,

wide sizes available

best match

moderate to difficult day hikes and backpacking trips

Are you ready to buy Oboz?

Oboz is a good brand for men and women who want support, comfort, and durability out of their hiking boots and hiking shoes. If that's not you, no problem. Please check out my other recommended brands or my other brand reviews

However, if you are feeling one of these Oboz hiking boots or hiking shoes, please consider purchasing them through the affiliate links above. Hiking Feet may receive a small commission from the retailer—and no cost to you—if you click on a link and make a purchase. That gives me a little something back for the hundreds of hours I've spent publishing free content to help others find the best hiking boots, hiking shoes, and trail running shoes for their hiking feet. If this site hooked you up, please consider hooking me up, too. Happy Hiking! 

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Hi, I'm Jory, and I created Hiking Feet to help recreational hikers and backpackers find the best hiking boots, hiking shoes, and trail running shoes for their feet and their hikes. My professional recommendations and reviews stem from my extensive hiking experience (10,000+ miles in the past ten years) and my outdoor industry experience— where I'm a "Gearhead" and Copywriter for Backcountry, a certified brand expert, and the former footwear manager at a hiking and backpacking specialty shop. 


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