As its name suggests, the Oboz Sawtooth X Pro is an upgraded version of the Sawtooth—a perennial best seller. I've spent the past two weeks testing the low-cut Sawtooth X Pro after hiking nearly 2,000 miles in other Sawtooths. My Oboz Sawtooth X Pro review highlights similarities and differences between the regular and pro models while sharing my personal experiences with the Pro's support, weight, fit, comfort, weather protection, and traction.
How's the new Oboz Sawtooth X Pro different from the regular Sawtooth?
New for 2026, the Oboz Sawtooth X Pro features more premium materials than the regular Oboz Sawtooth X, including GORE-TEX Invisible Fit waterproofing (vs. Oboz BDry waterproofing), Vibram Megagrip outsoles (vs. Oboz's True Tread rubber), and full-grain leather uppers (vs. nubuck leather). The Pro version of the Sawtooth also includes some fresher colorways (i.e. yellows, oranges, reds) in addtion to the Sawtooth's traditional browns and grays.
Outside of these material upgrades, the Oboz Sawtooth X Pro looks and feels similar to the regular Sawtooth.
Testing the new Oboz Sawtooth X Pro hiking shoe in New Mexico's Sandia Mountains
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Oboz Sawtooth X Pro Review
I tested the Oboz Sawtooth X Pro Low GTX in the high desert mountains outside Albuquerque and Santa Fe, New Mexico. My test hikes spanned a variety of trails—from easy 5-milers in the foothills to a 9-mile canyon hike with steep switchbacks, slickrock, scree, and 3000 feet of vertical. A rare spring shower gave me an opportunity to test the new Sawtooth's waterproofing and wet rock traction, too. As always, this review is 100% independent and based on my first-hand hiking experience and my professional experience in the outdoor gear industry.
Testing the Sawtooth X Pro on the Domingo Baca Trail
SUPPORT
The Sawtooth has always been a supportive hiking shoe. That's also true of the new Sawtooth X Pro. Oboz beefed this shoe up to support your feet on longer hikes, but it's slightly less supportive than the Oboz Katabatic RT—which I recently reviewed.
The Sawtooth X Pro runs stiff from my heels to the balls of my feet, where it flexes a little for comfort. This is a versatile build for those who hike easy to tough trails. It's a low-cut shoe—not a mid-cut boot—but it's got enough backbone for moderate to difficult hikes. My feet and ankles aren't great, genetically, but I've hiked plenty of steep and rocky trails in the Sawtooth without any concerns about support.
The Sawtooth X Pro is also a protective hiking shoe. The full-grain leather has protected my feet from rough rocks and sharp vegetation from Australia to Pennsylvania to New Mexico.
The Oboz Sawtooth is one of the heaviest hiking shoes I've tested
WEIGHT
The trade off for that support and protection is weight. The Sawtooth X Pro tied for the third heaviest hiking shoe I've tested. My pair weighs 2 lbs 7 oz (men's size 13), which isn't far off from several mid-cut hiking boots I've tested.
If you're looking for a lightweight and agile hiking shoe, the Sawtooth X Pro isn't it. (The Katabatic Wind is Oboz's best lightweight hiking shoe.) This is the hiking shoe for those who prefer a more supportive, protective, and durable hiking shoe to a lightweight one.
The Sawtooth X Pro has a standard fit
FIT
The Oboz Sawtooth X Pro runs true to size with a snug fit in the heel (to prevent your feet from sliding forward) with a standard width in the forefoot. It's a good fit for hikers with average feet. Hikers with narrower feet often like the narrower, sculpted heel cup, too.
At this time, Oboz does not offer the Pro version of the Sawtooth in a wide. However, I got a decent fit for my moderately wide feet by sizing up a full size. My best size in Oboz is a 12-wide, but the 13 fits me fairly well. (Even though it's a little long for me, that snug fit in the heel mostly prevents my feet from slipping forward on steep descents).
Breaking in the Sawtooth X Pro at Elena Gallegos Open Space
COMFORT
Comfort varies by fit, your hiking style, and your personal preferences. If you hike fast with a light pack, you'll probably find the Sawtooth X Pro too heavy for comfort. At the same time, heavier hiking shoes generally offer more support, cushioning, and foot protection—which may be more comfortable for many dayhikers.
I've worn Sawtooths comfortably on everything from easy hikes to harder trails. I especially appreciate their feel on mixed mountain terrain. This shoe's sturdy soles can take a pounding—sparing your feet in the process.
One comfort callout is this shoe's O-Fit insoles. While most brands skimp on their insoles, Oboz's O-Fit insoles (which sell for $35) add meaningful foot support and different levels of cushioning for different spots of your feet. I've found these soles to be a comfort plus.
Moderate tread of the Oboz Sawtooth X Pro
TRACTION
When I first learned that Oboz was upgrading the Sawtooth X Pro to Vibram Megagrip outsoles, I expected a big traction upgrade from the regular Sawtooth—a shoe with average traction. However, Oboz didn't switch to one of Vibram's signature hiking soles for the Pro. Instead, it partnered with Vibram to convert the existing Sawtooth sole to Vibram's Megagrip rubber.
On the plus side, Vibram Megagrip rubber is know for better durability and wet/dry traction. Plus, the Sawtooth Pro's lugs are deeper than the OG. The tread isn't aggressive, but the deeper lugs helped me dig into the sand and gravel switchbacks of the Pino and Embudito trails.
Overall, though, I found this traction average—not geared toward "pro" performance. The day after light rain in Albuquerque, I tested this shoe's slickrock traction in Embudito Canyon. My traction wasn't sound on granite slickrock, even though the rock appeared dry. I slipped more than I do in most hiking shoes.
The traction was fine on moderate, mixed terrain. But it didn't stand out on either solid rock or steep descents. This average traction limits the Sawtooth's "pro" potential.
Leather + GORE-TEX = Weatherproof
WEATHER PROTECTION
The other major upgrade for the Sawtooth X Pro is the shift from Oboz's proprietary BDry waterproofing to GORE-TEX waterproofing. In the past, I've had no troubles with Oboz's waterproofing in my many pairs of Sawtooths and Bridgers. However, GORE-TEX is more reliable and breathable.
Even more, this shoe features a newer type of waterproofing called GORE-TEX Invisible Fit—which is a weather protection plus. Instead of the standard GORE-TEX bootie, GORE-TEX Invisible fit bonds directly to the inside of the shoe's uppers. This reduces weight and bulk while improving the breathability of the waterproofing. If you want a waterproof and breathable hiking shoe, the Oboz Sawtooth X Pro stands out with its GORE-TEX Invisible Fit.
Women's Sawtooth X Pro GTX Hiking Shoe
VALUE
For years, the Oboz Sawtooth was my "best buy" for hiking shoes. However, Oboz's prices have increased significantly the past two years (which is true of most brands). Plus, the upgrades to GORE-TEX and Vibram makes the Sawtooth Pro $15 more expensive than the O.G. In my experience, the Sawtooth is a durable hiking shoe—and the Pro should be even more durable with its materials upgrades. But $200 is a lot for a low-cut hiking shoe. You can save $25 with the non-waterproof Sawtooth X Pro hiking shoe.
If you click on the buttons below, Backcountry sometimes has this shoe on sale:
Men's Oboz Sawtooth X Pro Low
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Women's Oboz Sawtooth X Pro Low
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Oboz Sawtooth X Pro: Pros vs Cons
Should you buy the Oboz Sawtooth X PRO hiking shoe?
The Oboz Sawtooth X Pro is a good hiking shoe for the average day hiker who prefers a heavier, more traditional hiking shoe. It's a versatile hiking shoe that's comfortable on both easy and difficult trails. The "Pro" upgrades to GORE-TEX waterproofing and Vibram Megagrip rubber could be $15 well spent. Fast hikers with light packs won't find this shoe light and agile enough. But it's a suportive and durable hiking shoe for those who don't mind adding a few extra ounces and dropping a few extra dollars for upgrades to premium materials.
Do you think the Sawtooth X Pro might fit your feet, your budget, and your hikes? If so, please consider purchasing them through the affiliate links below. Hiking Feet may receive a small commission from Backcountry at no cost to you. These commissions fund this site (and compensate me for the thousands of unpaid hours I've spent creating free and independent content to help you buy the right hiking boots or shoes).
Men's Oboz Sawtooth X Pro Low
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Women's Oboz Sawtooth X Pro Low
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