I've gone through 5 pairs of these over the past few years (my daily drivers) and I always keep a couple pair stocked up-hope they never stop making them. Reliable.
Good choice. I bought my Oboz Firebrand 2s a year ago. I have worn them golfing, hiking and to work. After a year they look terrific and feel terrific. These are tough to wear out. I got mine on sale for 79 bucks almost a year ago at L.L. Bean. I like them so much I got a second pair for the same price. What a steal. You cannot beat them .
Thanks friend! Just purchased these and I love them! Superior quality! I thought my Northface 109 trail runners were amazing but these Obōz are crazy strong and beautiful! I’m in love😍🔥
I am a huge Adidas Terrex fan for day hiking shoes but I ended up getting a pair of these and have been super impressed so far. I have pretty bad ankles (supination) hiking over the years and these feel super secure and stable even though the sole feels much higher than what I am used to.
Good review. I have two pairs of these. I got mine from L.L.Bean on the labor day sale. There were on sale for 80 bucks. So,,,,, I picked up two pairs. :) Honestly the best shoes I have ever owned. Cannot say enough good things about these shoes. Even if you pay the regular price of 140 bucks they are worth every last penny!
Stay in the Suburbs. I have a pair of Firebrand and Windriver shoes and absolutely love the fit and durability. They are worth the price because of the fit and durability alone. I love them...... BUT......when it gets wet or icy they do not get good traction. Wet rocks and side hills are treacherous. Dry, everything is good. Wet and it is like you are on roller skates. I love them and use them nearly every day especially in the mountains hunting. BUT, when it gets wet I struggle to maneuver safely on rocks and hillsides and hiking along rocky creek banks you take your life in your own hands. Suburban hiking, great. Serious dry mountain and any rough terrain, great, fabulous. Wet conditions, hang on. I do love them though.
I bought a pair of these Oboz Firebrand shies (exact same model) based on this video review and I have to say that they are absolutely fantastic. Sturdy yet confy, rough-looking yet stylish, spacious yet tight-gripping your foot, etc, etc. I feel like I'm wearing a pair of german panzers or buldozers in my feet, but I have to say that the looks and feel, although bad-ass and reassuring for some people, me included, is probably not for everyone. I've asked around in my family and no-one really liked the looks, which they felt was completely off-putting due to the massive soles, despite all the other qualities I've advocated for about the shoes. The laces are actually one of my favourite features because they're as sturdy and thick and strong as the shoes themselves. I'm absolutely satisfied with the shoes but haven't actually used them in a proper mountain terrain where you could use the sturdiness they carry to navigate all sorts of obstacles and ground levels. Only down side is that they're not really good for long hours of city walking on concrete, at least in my experience. I used them in a trip to France, and after walking around Lyon all day long my feet were sore at the end of the day and I think it was the combination of concrete x long hours walking and standing. Having said that, to me these shoes exude versatility, all-round sturdiness and reliability to attack all kinds of non-city terrains. Thanks for the video, and keep up your work. Oboz should give you a comission, as you have at least helped sell one pair of shoes. Take care. Regards from Portugal 🇵🇹 😉👍
thanks for the enthusiastic review.. I decided to get back into backpacking (after 35 years) and have been debating Keens,, Merrill''s etc.. Went to the REI garage sale (used and returned items) and found a pair of these in my size (11 wide) for $65!!!, that looked brand new.. not even a scuff or dirt on the treads.. I figured at that price and with great reviews on line, I would give them a try. I wore them around the parking lot for a few minutes and the wide size really felt good on my foot with plenty of toe room.. without any slipping. I gotta say at first I thought they kinda looked like Bowling shoes with the red on top.. but the more I look at them the more i like the "boot like" style in a hiking low-cut. anyways.. thanks for the info and now Im super excited to get these out on the trail..
These Oboz firebrand II are freaking amazing comfy considering from the looks one might think they would be super heavy but its exactly opposite. You can feel the sturdiness and walking on rocks is like you dont even feel anything !!! I tried Salomon X Ultra 3 GTX they were great but not for my wider feet
I've had a pair of these for about a year now and use them for hiking. Although very comfortable they are completely useless in the wet and mud and it becomes a nightmare just trying to stay on your feet.
Thank you for the review, Jason! You certainly piqued my interest in Oboz Firebrand II hiking shoes. The price is daunting, but acceptable for a shoe as excellent as you describe. Thanks again and have a safe and enjoyable trip down the east coast.
I had to return mine. They are dangerously slippery on wet smooth surfaces(My apartment has a painted front walkway and none of my other shoes/boots do it). These things are incredibly comfortable and I am bummed out. Maybe I picked up a defective pair....
This is a common complaint with these shoes because the soles are made of such a hard material that's slippery when wet. A softer sole would've provided more traction in wet conditions but would also wear quicker. I'll bet numerous people have taken a fall and gotten hurt.
I came across Oboz in 2018. I felt about the Phoenix Low like you do about the Firebrand. NOW, my feet are slightly bigger than size 11 & They.Don’t.Make’Em.Any.Larger. 🙁 I got the Men’s 10.5 (one size down from my size in the women’s, 11.5). They’re great : ) A key thing you said is narrower in heel/wider toe box. Thanks.
The last three pairs oh day hikers have been Oboz. Love them and yes, very comfortable. The ones I have, as styles seem to change are Sawtooh. What is the difference as these will be my last pair.
Amazing review! Informative and helped me decide to purchase them. One question though seeing as you are also wearing Salomon shoes. What size do you wear in salomons? Since I am ordering them online it will make it easier to choose the right size.
Great question! I wear a 12, which is my proper size and perfect for the Oboz, but because my foot is on the wider side the Solomon 12s are a little tight in the toe box. I’d suggest going a half size up in the Solomons if you’re also a wider foot fellow :)
@@Jason-Calhoun cheers and thank you for the swift response. I will follow your advice about going half a size up! Once again thank you for the honest review. It really did help me make up my mind!
Good review. But allow me one sugestion: you might want to take one step back in next videos so we can actually see more of the shoe being reviewed. ;) thanks, keep it up.
I think this guy deleted one of my comments because it was so cutting and on target. Or I deleted it myself because it was so cutting and on target. Either way, he's right about this shoe. It's great. I came from the North Face Ultra 109. Fit like a glove, in a good way...but then after miles and miles...in a bad way. These Oboz give much more space. They are built strong, yet propel you forward. Not lunky, in other words. I was looking for something more supportive than a trail-runner, but less blocky than a pure hiking shoe. The Firebrand II is the sweet spot I've been looking for. Though I have about 5 hiking shoes in rotation, the one I THINK I'll be counting on the most is this one. My only problem with it, is the tongue or laces at the bow...is hurting the top of my instep. I'm trying to make adjustments to both tongue, laces and bow. I even bought socks that have full padding (not just on the sole, but on top too). Maybe it's just something I'll get used to. None of my Salomons give me this problem. Some of my Hokas and Topos also give me instep pain. I'm going to wear these Firebrands all the time so hopefully my instep gets used to the lace-pain. The Salomon XA Pro 3D V8 (complicated stupid bullshit name) is the one I'm comparing this to. It's more of a trail runner, but good support . The "V8" means it's a wider version. But still, for me, not as comfortably wide as this Oboz Firebrand II. The reviewer is quite enthusiastic, which made me suspicious the first time I watched this review. And some of his phrasing was red-flaggy. But in fact, he's not messing around. His passion for the shoe is warranted. He's also a funny dude (most of the time).
Imma big time Merrell Chameleon fan, it's good to see the new Chameleon 7 stretch back to it's roots with the Vibram sole & neoprene bootie construction but i have really been thinking bout getting some Oboz, been burned too many times with non Vibram soles & Oboz doesn't use Vibram hence why i've been reluctant
So comfortable .. and as always with such well made shoes ‘Made in Vietnam’. Oboz are laser focused on quality, so keep it up. The death knell for this brand will be when they get seduced into switching to getting their shoes made in China. Please please … never do this !
I've gone through 5 pairs of these over the past few years (my daily drivers) and I always keep a couple pair stocked up-hope they never stop making them. Reliable.
Good choice. I bought my Oboz Firebrand 2s a year ago. I have worn them golfing, hiking and to work. After a year they look terrific and feel terrific. These are tough to wear out. I got mine on sale for 79 bucks almost a year ago at L.L. Bean. I like them so much I got a second pair for the same price. What a steal. You cannot beat them .
Thanks friend! Just purchased these and I love them! Superior quality! I thought my Northface 109 trail runners were amazing but these Obōz are crazy strong and beautiful! I’m in love😍🔥
I am a huge Adidas Terrex fan for day hiking shoes but I ended up getting a pair of these and have been super impressed so far. I have pretty bad ankles (supination) hiking over the years and these feel super secure and stable even though the sole feels much higher than what I am used to.
Good review. I have two pairs of these. I got mine from L.L.Bean on the labor day sale. There were on sale for 80 bucks. So,,,,, I picked up two pairs. :) Honestly the best shoes I have ever owned. Cannot say enough good things about these shoes. Even if you pay the regular price of 140 bucks they are worth every last penny!
Joe Dubiel I totally agree. Best shoes I’ve ever worn also.
Suburban Pilgrims hi my friend.. can I put them in the laundry machine to clean them.. or. How do you clean them? Thanks
Stay in the Suburbs. I have a pair of Firebrand and Windriver shoes and absolutely love the fit and durability. They are worth the price because of the fit and durability alone. I love them...... BUT......when it gets wet or icy they do not get good traction. Wet rocks and side hills are treacherous. Dry, everything is good. Wet and it is like you are on roller skates. I love them and use them nearly every day especially in the mountains hunting. BUT, when it gets wet I struggle to maneuver safely on rocks and hillsides and hiking along rocky creek banks you take your life in your own hands. Suburban hiking, great. Serious dry mountain and any rough terrain, great, fabulous. Wet conditions, hang on. I do love them though.
I bought a pair of these Oboz Firebrand shies (exact same model) based on this video review and I have to say that they are absolutely fantastic. Sturdy yet confy, rough-looking yet stylish, spacious yet tight-gripping your foot, etc, etc. I feel like I'm wearing a pair of german panzers or buldozers in my feet, but I have to say that the looks and feel, although bad-ass and reassuring for some people, me included, is probably not for everyone. I've asked around in my family and no-one really liked the looks, which they felt was completely off-putting due to the massive soles, despite all the other qualities I've advocated for about the shoes. The laces are actually one of my favourite features because they're as sturdy and thick and strong as the shoes themselves. I'm absolutely satisfied with the shoes but haven't actually used them in a proper mountain terrain where you could use the sturdiness they carry to navigate all sorts of obstacles and ground levels. Only down side is that they're not really good for long hours of city walking on concrete, at least in my experience. I used them in a trip to France, and after walking around Lyon all day long my feet were sore at the end of the day and I think it was the combination of concrete x long hours walking and standing. Having said that, to me these shoes exude versatility, all-round sturdiness and reliability to attack all kinds of non-city terrains. Thanks for the video, and keep up your work. Oboz should give you a comission, as you have at least helped sell one pair of shoes. Take care. Regards from Portugal 🇵🇹 😉👍
thanks for the enthusiastic review..
I decided to get back into backpacking (after 35 years) and have been debating Keens,, Merrill''s etc.. Went to the REI garage sale (used and returned items) and found a pair of these in my size (11 wide) for $65!!!, that looked brand new.. not even a scuff or dirt on the treads.. I figured at that price and with great reviews on line, I would give them a try. I wore them around the parking lot for a few minutes and the wide size really felt good on my foot with plenty of toe room.. without any slipping.
I gotta say at first I thought they kinda looked like Bowling shoes with the red on top.. but the more I look at them the more i like the "boot like" style in a hiking low-cut.
anyways.. thanks for the info and now Im super excited to get these out on the trail..
All Oboz are great. The footbed is fantastic: Firebrand, Sawtooth, and especially the Bridger.
I agree. Tough to beat.
What is the difference between the Firebrand and the Bridger?
@@PilotJoJoe the Bridger is all leather upper.
These Oboz firebrand II are freaking amazing comfy considering from the looks one might think they would be super heavy but its exactly opposite. You can feel the sturdiness and walking on rocks is like you dont even feel anything !!! I tried Salomon X Ultra 3 GTX they were great but not for my wider feet
Super cool info. I have my first pair on the way. I have 6 pairs of Salomons. I'm excited
I've had a pair of these for about a year now and use them for hiking.
Although very comfortable they are completely useless in the wet and mud and it becomes a nightmare just trying to stay on your feet.
Thank you for the review, Jason! You certainly piqued my interest in Oboz Firebrand II hiking shoes. The price is daunting, but acceptable for a shoe as excellent as you describe. Thanks again and have a safe and enjoyable trip down the east coast.
Neal Davis thanks for nice words Neal!
I had to return mine. They are dangerously slippery on wet smooth surfaces(My apartment has a painted front walkway and none of my other shoes/boots do it). These things are incredibly comfortable and I am bummed out. Maybe I picked up a defective pair....
This is a common complaint with these shoes because the soles are made of such a hard material that's slippery when wet. A softer sole would've provided more traction in wet conditions but would also wear quicker. I'll bet numerous people have taken a fall and gotten hurt.
Great review! I bought them!
Just bought a pair at our local outfitter, love them! Fit great, hard sole but not too hard!
Sound like we got the same foot. I'm getting a pair to mtb ride and hike through lime stone terrain. Thanks for your input.
Great review. I have a pair of these shoes. I LOVE them.
I came across Oboz in 2018. I felt about the Phoenix Low like you do about the Firebrand. NOW, my feet are slightly bigger than size 11 & They.Don’t.Make’Em.Any.Larger. 🙁
I got the Men’s 10.5 (one size down from my size in the women’s, 11.5). They’re great : )
A key thing you said is narrower in heel/wider toe box.
Thanks.
The best ever. I've tried many many many brands and Oboz is the best.
The last three pairs oh day hikers have been Oboz. Love them and yes, very comfortable. The ones I have, as styles seem to change are Sawtooh. What is the difference as these will be my last pair.
They look stinking awesome, Going to order a stinking pair right #$%@ing now.
Thanks for the review.
I came here for this stinking comment.
Amazing review! Informative and helped me decide to purchase them. One question though seeing as you are also wearing Salomon shoes. What size do you wear in salomons? Since I am ordering them online it will make it easier to choose the right size.
Great question! I wear a 12, which is my proper size and perfect for the Oboz, but because my foot is on the wider side the Solomon 12s are a little tight in the toe box. I’d suggest going a half size up in the Solomons if you’re also a wider foot fellow :)
@@Jason-Calhoun cheers and thank you for the swift response. I will follow your advice about going half a size up! Once again thank you for the honest review. It really did help me make up my mind!
Awesome! God it was helpful. If you buy em’ from amazon, please consider using our amazon link the in description, gives us a cut of the sale ;)
Thanks for the review. Just ordered mine from Moosejaw.
Great view! Thank you!
Good review. But allow me one sugestion: you might want to take one step back in next videos so we can actually see more of the shoe being reviewed. ;) thanks, keep it up.
have you tried the Oboz Arete low?
I think this guy deleted one of my comments because it was so cutting and on target. Or I deleted it myself because it was so cutting and on target. Either way, he's right about this shoe. It's great. I came from the North Face Ultra 109. Fit like a glove, in a good way...but then after miles and miles...in a bad way. These Oboz give much more space.
They are built strong, yet propel you forward. Not lunky, in other words. I was looking for something more supportive than a trail-runner, but less blocky than a pure hiking shoe. The Firebrand II is the sweet spot I've been looking for.
Though I have about 5 hiking shoes in rotation, the one I THINK I'll be counting on the most is this one.
My only problem with it, is the tongue or laces at the bow...is hurting the top of my instep. I'm trying to make adjustments to both tongue, laces and bow. I even bought socks that have full padding (not just on the sole, but on top too). Maybe it's just something I'll get used to. None of my Salomons give me this problem. Some of my Hokas and Topos also give me instep pain.
I'm going to wear these Firebrands all the time so hopefully my instep gets used to the lace-pain.
The Salomon XA Pro 3D V8 (complicated stupid bullshit name) is the one I'm comparing this to. It's more of a trail runner, but good support . The "V8" means it's a wider version. But still, for me, not as comfortably wide as this Oboz Firebrand II.
The reviewer is quite enthusiastic, which made me suspicious the first time I watched this review. And some of his phrasing was red-flaggy. But in fact, he's not messing around. His passion for the shoe is warranted.
He's also a funny dude (most of the time).
How long does a pair last? Looks like they have a year warranty on all their shoes I guess
Oboz is going to own the market if the other companies stand pat!
Are they stinking great?
do you still wear them?
Stinkin good review
..Sold !!!..
They are amazing.
It seems like you aren’t happy with them. Bahahah jk
I have some and they blow my Merrill Chameleon out of the water!
Imma big time Merrell Chameleon fan, it's good to see the new Chameleon 7 stretch back to it's roots with the Vibram sole & neoprene bootie construction but i have really been thinking bout getting some Oboz, been burned too many times with non Vibram soles & Oboz doesn't use Vibram hence why i've been reluctant
Oh..oooh....Oh God please santa ......!
So comfortable .. and as always with such well made shoes ‘Made in Vietnam’. Oboz are laser focused on quality, so keep it up. The death knell for this brand will be when they get seduced into switching to getting their shoes made in China. Please please … never do this !
Oboz is EPIC...Make them in the USA. I'll pay more. Buy American, Hire American. Trump 2020...
Noooo ! Keep making them in Vietnam, don’t (whatever you do) change to cheap cheap China