The Oboz Katabatic Wind is a lightweight hiking shoe designed for speedy hikers. In the past, Oboz has released lightweight hiking shoes that disappear after 2-3 seasons. But the Katabatic series seems to be here to stay. The "Wind" version I tested and reviewed provides a performance upgrade over the original Katabatic with a carbon plate and nitrogen-infused superfoam midsoles. I've been testing the Katabatic Wind over the past two months. My Oboz Katabatic Wind review digs into this shoe's support, weight, fit, comfort, weather protection, traction, and overall value.
Testing the Oboz Katabatic Wind hiking shoe in Embudito Canyon
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Oboz Katabatic Wind Review
My Oboz Katabatic Wind review is based on two months of test hikes in the Sandia Mountains outside Albuquerque, New Mexico. The Sandias are a great testing ground since the trails vary in difficulty and mix desert, mountainous, and sub-alpine terrain. Since the Katabatic Wind is made for fast hikers with light packs, most of my test hikes were fast-moving fitness hikes on moderate trails that I could hike at 2.5-3.5 miles per hour, such as the Piedra Lisa trail, Embudito Trail, Three Guns Trail, and lower Domingo Baca Trail. However, I also threw in two tougher trails to test the limits of my shoes' support and traction.
As always, Hiking Feet's reviews are 100% independent. This site doesn't publish sponsored posts and has no advertisers to please. I personally test footwear more than 1,000 miles every year. Plus, I've managed hiking footwear at an outdoor gear shop and have been working in the outdoor gear industry since 2019. My reviews reflect my extensive hiking experience and my experience as an outdoor industry professional.
The Oboz Katabatic Wind is built for fast hikes on mixed terrain
Support
The Katabatic Wind is much lighter than old-school Oboz hiking shoes like the best-selling Sawtooth. Still, this shoe has plenty of tech that makes it somewhat supportive for a lightweight hiking shoe. It's not a casual hiking shoe—it's a performance trail shoe that can handle some tougher terrain, too.
This shoe flexes fairly easily at my feet's natural flex point—a better build for speed than support. Still, there's a carbon fork sandwiched between two foam midsoles to add a little backbone through the midfoot. Plus, those soles are thicker than average, adding some foot support and lateral stability.
On my test hikes, my feet felt relatively supported on steep switchbacks interspersed with rocks, even though I was still recovering from a high ankle sprain. That being said, this hiking shoe emphasizes weight savings over foot and ankle support.
Weight
Traditionally, the words "Oboz" and "lightweight" don't go together. The brand is best known for mid-weight hiking boots and shoes (see my Oboz brand review). However, the Katabatic Wind is, indeed, a lightweight hiking shoe.
My pair (men's size 13) weighs less than two pounds—slightly less than the Scarpa Rush 2 hiking shoe and a whopping 10 ounces less than the Oboz Sawtooth X hiking shoe. This isn't a trail running shoe (in spite of what some reviewers say), but it's light by hiking shoe standards. If you're looking to shed some weight from your feet, the Katabatic Wind is one of the best hiking shoes to do that. Based on this review, I've added it to my list of the best lightweight hiking shoes.
Women's Katabatic Wind
Fit
Oboz has a nice fit: the brand features a sculpted heel cup to hold your feet in place with standard width in the midfoot. This fit favors standard feet. However, that narrowed heel also works for hikers with narrow feet and lets wide-footed hikes size up for more width without heel slippage. I normally wear a men's 12 wide in Oboz, but the Katabatic Wind isn't available in wides at this time. I got a comfortable fit in the men's 13. My feet didn't slide around, and I got enough width by sizing up.
The Katabatic Wind is lightweight with above average cushioning
Comfort
Comfort has a lot to do with fit, your hiking style, and your personal preferences. In my experience, many lightweight hiking shoes sacrifice cushioning and/or support, resulting in a cheaper feel (which some hikers love). However, the Katabatic feels like more of a performance hiking shoe. It's light and well-cushioned with a little more support than the common sneaker or cross trainer. I found this shoe plenty comfortable while knocking out fast miles in the foothills behind my house and pushing my pace on gravelly switchbacks in the Sandia Mountains.
Cushion-wise, the Katabatic Wind sits on the border between moderate and maximum cushion. This shoe's soles are softer and thicker than the Danner Trail 2650—another one of the best lightweight hiking shoes. At the same time, it's not as stiff and supportive as the Salomon X Ultra 5 GTX hiking shoe. If this shoe fits your feet, you'll probably find it comfortable.
Weather Protection
Fast and light hikers typically prefer non-waterproof footwear to keep their feet cooler as they burn calories. Thus, the Katabatic Wind is not available in a waterproof style. My pair shed some snow on the Domingo Baca trail, but these shoes are made to ventilate your feet and dry quickly versus keep out moisture. If you need a waterproof, lightweight hiking shoe, try this shoe's even lighter cousin, the Katabatic LT GTX.
Oboz's softer rubber performs better than expected on rock
Traction
The Katabatic's tread provided solid, multi-surface traction. The chevron-shaped lugs dug into the sand, gravel, and scree on my test hikes. Even though the shoe lacks a deep heel brake, I could descend some steep and sketchy switchbacks on Oso Ridge with relatively confident footing.
The tread exceeded expectations on solid rock, too. Those lugs aren't designed for rock, but the relatively soft rubber provides friction on smooth surfaces. I expected to slip around a bit on water-worn boulders at the bottom of Embudito canyon, but the Katabatic Wind handled smooth rock pretty well. Overall, this is a well-balanced outsole that's solid on all surfaces I've hiked over my first ten test hikes.
Men's Oboz Katabatic Wind
Value
With a MSRP of $185, the Oboz Katabatic Wind costs more than many hiking shoes I recommend. However, this is a "supershoe"—with a carbon fork and light but responsive nitrogen-infused midsoles—which is rare in the "hike" category. If you prefer a hiking shoe to a trail running shoe and want lightweight performance, this is the most performance-oriented lightweight hiking shoe that I have tested and reviewed. It should last much longer than a trail runner, too, making it a reasonable buy for fast packers and speed hikers.
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Men's Oboz Katabatic Wind
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Women's Oboz Katabatic Wind
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Oboz Katabatic Wind: Pros and Cons
Based on my first-hand testing and review, the Oboz Katabatic's pros outweigh its cons:
Should hikers buy the Oboz Katabatic Wind?
If you're lookiing for a lightweight, high-performance hiking shoe, the Oboz Katabatic Wind could be a good buy for you. Most lightweight hiking shoes are glorified sneakers that are fine for casual hikes but not much else. In contrast, the Katabatic Wind performs well on moderately steep and rocky terrain with just enough support and multi-surface traction to pull off reasonably tough trails. Plus, the above average cushioning provides a comfort boost, whether you're casual hiker or serious speed hiker. Many fast packers prefer trail running shoes. However, if you'd prefer the added durability of a lightweight hiking shoe, this one should last longer than the best trail runners for hikers. I've added the Oboz Katabatic Wind to my list of the best lightweight hiking shoes and recommend it to day hikers who prioritize weight savings and athletic performance over stability and support.
