Oboz Sawtooth Mid BDry Waterproof Hiking Boots Review

Oboz Sawtooth Mid BDry Waterproof Hiking Boots Review

I’m not sure if this is a review of the Oboz Sawtooth Mid BDry Waterproof Mens Hiking Boots I recently purchased at REI or a review of REI in Orange, Connecticut, maybe it’s a little of both. It’s no secret I’m a boots snob. I have different boots for different occasions, activities and seasons. My girl says I’m high maintenance. Normally I buy my shoes and boots from Amazon, Zappos and the shoe mobile that comes to the day job.

Typically I buy size 11 Bates GTX-8, Bates GX-8, Asolo or Merrell anything for everything else and I’m good to go. This post however, is about a different approach. I have very difficult feet to deal with. The first problem is most of my toes are webbed which means there is very little separation between the toes. This leads to issues with my toenails growing inward and into the adjacent toes. I also have supination in both feet so I’m somewhat prone to rolling my feet and twisting my ankles. In fact I rolled my right foot in my mid 30’s and it took over a year to heal to the point it remains today. Naturally this is not good for a guy who spends a lot of time crawling over rocks but it’s the hand I’ve been dealt in life and as they say it is what it is.

As mentioned previously I went to New Hampshire to hike the Franconia Ridge Trail Loop and while stocking up on supplies at REI the nice gentleman “Bob” in the shoe department asked if he could help me. The next thing I knew I was looking at hiking boots with him. The experience gave me a whole new understanding of my feet.

The first thing Bob did was ask what size boots I wear to which I responded “11”. He responded with “Let’s see about that” and brought out a Genuine Brannock Device to actually measure my feet. I don’t think my feet had been in one of those contraptions since my early teens when I bought my first pair of herman survivors at 15 years old when i measured in at size 10.5. This days measurement of my feet in 2018 at age 52 was much different.  As it turns out my feet measure almost 11.5 and 11.75. Turns out I’m a size 12 after all! Bob also confirmed I have thick feet at the top which was no surprise to me because I always have problems with that bone that sticks up on top of the foot. I believe that bone is called the Navicular bone.

 

Bob asked me a few questions like where was I hiking, how much did my backpack way etc. He left and returned with two shoe boxes. First shoes were ok fitting but not great. The second pair of shoes was much better. In fact I thought we had found the winners. I was wrong. We got to discussing my supination and he asked if I wouldn’t mind trying on one more pair of boots. Of course I was game.

Bob returned with a pair of Oboz Sawtooth Mid BDry Waterproof Hiking Boots. He talked about the Oboz included orthotic insert then had me put the boots on. I was blown away they were the most comfortable boots I had ever worn. I looked at him and said you lead me down a path and knew we would end up here at the Oboz. He smiled, laughed and said yes. He knew the orthotic would benefit me. The best part was these boots were cheaper at $159 than the others I had tried on. I had expected them to be the most expensive. I was impressed and quite pleased. I bought the boots and left.

Hiking boots need to be broken in. I always wondered if the boots are actually breaking in or is it our feet getting used to them. The truth is it’s a little of both. I’m fortunate enough to live near an Army Corp of Engineers flood control dam and park called “Hop Brook Lake Park” in Middlebury, Connecticut. I put about 12 miles on the boots over two Saturday afternoons. No issues were detected. My feet remained happy and dry.

Oboz Sawtooth Mid BDry Waterproof Mens Hiking Boots In The Field

Men’s Oboz Sawtooth Review

As mentioned previously these boots were destined to hike the Franconia Ridge Loop Trail in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. The day of the hike I only took to steps to make sure my feet remained pain and blister free. I placed a section of Leuko Tape over the Navicular bone. For socks I wore REI Co-op CoolMax Midweight Hiking Crew Socks with Fox River Wick Dry CoolMax Liner Socks. Off I went.

9 hours later I returned back to erin’s Jeep and despite aches, pains and total exhaustion my feet were absolutely trouble free. Now backing up a bit the other important item to note was traction. The traction these boots afforded on the steep slippery rocks of the White Mountains was quite impressive. Everything about these boots was perfect for me. Oboz now has a brand loyalist.

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Oboz Footwear Sawtooth

The versatile Sawtooth Mid is just as comfortable thru-hiking the AT as it is exploring your local trails. The outsole shape promotes a natural rolling motion when the going is smooth and has toothy high-friction side lugs for when the trail turns nasty. The upper is waterproof and breathable with a 3D molded heel counter for superb heel fit.

Fit Tip: Length runs true to size. Form hugging heel cup, sculpted mid-foot, and a wider forefoot & toe box.

Oboz Sawtooth Mid BDry Waterproof Hiking Boot

Waterproof – Three core components make up our B-DRY waterproof system starting with our proprietary tape-sealed polyurethane film bootie. Hydrophobic upper materials keep the shoe watertight while our textile lining wicks sweat away.
Volume – Medium volume feet tend to be standard width with some combinations of high and/or low arches and a high and/or low instep.
Width – Standard, Men’s standard width is C in the heel and D in the forefoot (according to Brannock Device®). Patterns and materials in a given model may influence fit. We always recommend trying our footwear on to ensure the best possible fit.
Upper Material – Waterproof Nubuck leather & highly abrasion-resistant textile. Oboz B-DRY waterproof/breathable membrane. 3D molded heel counter
Outsole – Sawtooth — A classic Oboz sole. Sheds mud, offers intense traction, and maintains stability. Sidewall lugs grip off-camber trails while conserving weight.
Midsole – Dual density EVA, Nylon shank
Weight – M9(1/2PR): 20.3 oz / 575 grams. My size 12 pair weighed 45 oz / 1288 grams

Features

• Oboz plants a tree for every pair of shoes sold, in partnership with Trees for the Future
• Rugged nubuck leather uppers feature breathable nylon mesh panels for a comfortable fit right out of the box; rubber toe randing protects against abrasion
• BDry waterproof, breathable membranes keep the elements out so your feet stay comfortable
• Nylon mesh linings wick moisture, dry quickly and further enhance breathability
• Anatomic EVA footbeds and dual-density EVA midsoles provide cushioning over a long day of hiking
• Nylon shanks offer torsional stability and protection underfoot, increasing surefootedness on varied terrain
• Injection-molded heel counters lock feet in to deliver technical yet nimble performance
• Aggressively lugged outsoles utilize a durable, sticky rubber for exceptional grip in all directions on both wet and dry surfaces