New for 2025, the Oboz Katabatic LT Mid GTX has upgraded Oboz's most popular, lightweight hiking boot with
The original Katabatic finally landed Oboz a legitimate, lightweight hiking boot—a big departure from its burlier Bridger and Sawtooth hiking boots. On paper, the Katabatic LT Mid GTX should be even better. But is that actually true in the field? My Oboz Katabatic LT Mid GTX review shares what I've learned from testing this new, lightweight hiking boot on several day hikes in New Mexico's Sandia Mountains.
Men's Katabatic Mid LT GTX
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Women's Katabatic Mid LT GTX
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Oboz Katabatic LT Mid GTX Review
My Oboz Katabatic LT Mid GTX review digs into my personal experiences with this boot's support, weight, fit, comfort, traction, weather protection, and overall value. Since this is a lightweight hiking boot designed for fast hikes with light packs, my test hikes emphasized fast-moving fitness hikes in the Albuquerque foothills and moderate day hikes in the Sandia Mountains, including the Piedra Lisa, La Luz, Embudito, and 3 Guns Springs trails. My pace varied from moderate (2+ mph) to fast (3+ mph) to evaluate its performance. As always, my reviews are 100% independent and based on first-hand use. I'm the former footwear manager at an outdoor gear shop who tests hiking footwear more than 1000 miles every year, so you can trust my personal reviews and recommendations.
Testing the Katabatic's comfort and support in the Sandia Mountains
Support
Oboz is best-known for durable, supportive hiking boots. In contrast, the Katabatic LT Mid dials down the support to emphasize weight savings over protection. It may be a mid-cut, but there's limited ankle support. Those ankle collars aren't tall enough or sturdy enough to put up much of a fight. That being said, I tested this boot while recovering from a sprained right ankle and only had one painful misstep on the moderate trails I hiked.
The foot support is pretty good for a lightweight hiking boot. With a TPU rockplate under 3/4 of the boot, the Katabatic LT is stiff through the midfoot with moderate flex at my feet's natural flex point. That's a good build for well-maintained trails and moderate mountain terrain—more supportive than lightweights built for casual use. The Katabatic adds some arch support, too. There's also moderate torsional rigidity, which assisted my injured ankle on side hill trails that put considerable pressure on the outside of my downhill foot and ankle. Overall, there's plenty of support for its recommended use—fast hikes with a light backpack or day pack.
Weight
The Oboz Katabatic LT Mid makes the cut for a lightweight hiking boot. My pair (men's 12-wide) weighs 2 lb 1 oz—basically tied with the Salomon Cross-Hike 2 as the lightest hiking boot in my (extensive) collection. Compared with my favorite lightweight hiking boots, the new Katabatic is 1.4 ounces lighter than the new Salomon X Ultra 5 Mid GTX and 1.9 ounces lighter than the Topo Trailventure 2. If weight savings matters most to you, the Oboz Katabatic LT Mid GTS should be on your short list.
Fit
As the former footwear manager at Appalachian Outdoors, I've always appreciated Oboz's fit. It's snug in the heel to prevent feet from sliding forward with standard width in the forefoot. Plus, it offers its best-sellers in wide, which adds more width in the forefoot and toe box (while maintaining a snug heel pocket). That means most men and women can find a good fit in this brand in either the regular or wide size.
The Katabatic LT Mid shares this fit with moderate to high volume throughout the uppers. I have moderately wide feet and wear a men's 11.5 in my everyday shoes. I got a great hiking fit in the men's 12 wide.
The Katabatic Mid feels comfortable on easy to moderate terrain
Comfort
Comfort has a lot to do with fit, your hiking style, and your personal preferences. I've already noted this boot's versatile fit—and that it's made for fast hikers with little to no weight on their backs. If you prefer a lighter hiking boot with moderate cushioning, you'll probably like the feel of the Oboz Katabatic LT. My hiking feet felt comfortable throughout my 4-8 mile day hikes in the Sandias. Unlike most Oboz, this lightweight sticks with flimsier Ortholite insoles. They're not as supportive as the brand's typical O-Fit insoles but improve the boots' breathability.
If you're after a sturdier, more supportive feel, you might prefer Oboz's flagship hiking boot, the Bridger. In the lightweight category, the HOKA Trail Code has more cushioning and the Topo Athletic Trailventure 2 has a wider toe box. But I think Oboz got the build right here for a lightweight fast-packing and day-hiking boot.
GORE-TEX Invisible Fit is a waterproofing plus
Weather Protection
The Oboz Katabatic LT Mid GTX is the first mid-cut hiking boot to incorporate GORE-TEX Invisible Fit waterproofing. Invisible Fit isn't a waterproof bootie—it's bound directly to the boot's uppers, making the waterproofing less bulky and more breathable than traditional GORE-TEX. On my test hikes, I did indeed notice the more streamlined fit and a possible increase in heat and moisture vapor transfer. As long as this technology holds up in a mid-cut (which was tricky for GORE-TEX to pull off), this is a clear plus in the waterproofing department. The GORE-TEX ("GTX") version of the Katabatic is an upgrade over Oboz's proprietary ("BDry") waterproofing. Go for the GTX model if you want this boot in a waterproof style.
So far, my test hikes have been dry, other than some trickles and puddles of snowmelt up in Embudito Canyon, where my feet stayed 100% dry. Once the drought ends here, I'll update this post with additional notes on the Katabatic's performance in more significant water and snow. But I have thousands of miles of reasons to trust GORE-TEX.
Testing traction with some rock scrambling
Traction
I've tested the traction on the Oboz Katabatic LT Mid on sand, weathered granite, gravel, and rock, including some steep trails and switchbacks. So far, this boot's multisurface soles have held their own on my test hikes.
The tread has been especially good on steeper trails with weathered granite, sand, and gravel, such as the Piedra Lisa and 3 Guns Springs trails. The outsole has relatively deep and widely spaced lugs, so it can dig into those shifting sediments and mud. Scrambling rough rocks off the La Luz trail, I found the grip pretty reliable. Scrambling up smooth granite boulders in Embudito Canyon yielded mixed results. I was mostly confident when the rocks were dry, but the soles weren't as reliable on smooth rock when they were damp. Overall, my traction tests raised no red flags, even when I sought out slicker surfaces to test these soles' limits.
Value
With a MSRP of $190, the Oboz Katabatic LT Mid GTX costs $5-10 dollars more than most of the lightweight hiking boots I recommend, such as the Topo Trailventure 2 ($180), Salomon X Ultra 5 Mid GTX ($185), and HOKA Trail Code GTX ($185). At the same time, it's $5 less than the HOKA Anacapa 2 Mid GTX ($195) and $30 less than the Scarpa Rush 2 Mid ($219). It's priced about right. Plus, it's the lightest of these lightweight hiking boots and comes with signature waterproofing, so you're getting some value for this price range.
Oboz Katabatic LT Mid GTX: Pros and Cons
Based on my first-hand review, here are the pros and cons of the Oboz Katabatic LT GORE-TEX hiking boot:
Should you buy the Oboz Katabatic LT Mid GTX?
If you value weight savings in a hiking boot, the Oboz Katabatic LT Mid is the lightest hiking boot I've tested that can handle both well-maintained trails and moderate terrain. This isn't a casual hiking boot. It's a lightweight hiking boot built for men and women who fly through the woods and move like mountain goats over moderate terrain. It's not made for monster trails with perilous footing. Still, its multi-surface tread should be more than fine on most types of trails. I think Oboz made all the right moves with the Katabatic LT. If you're a fastpacker, typical day hiker, or hut-to-hut traveler, this is a well-made, lightweight hiking boot in my book. I've now added it to my list of the best lightweight hiking boots for 2025.
Men's Katabatic Mid LT GTX
Check current price, styles, and colors:
Women's Katabatic Mid LT GTX
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Test Hike #5 on La Luz Trail in New Mexico's Sandia Mountains
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