****UPDATE**** After hiking over 100 miles with these shoes, just wanted to add two additional things I've learned. First, the drying time isn't just bad, it's horrible. It took most of the day for them to really dry out; although it helped a lot to stop and wring out my socks after stream crossing. Thus, I can only recommend these shoes to folks who routinely carry extra footwear for water crossing. Second, although the sole protected as well as Vibram, I discovered it was nowhere as 'sticky' as Vibram soles, leading to unintentional 'soakers' while attempting to rock-hop and stay dry!
Thanks for taking the time to update. I mostly hike the dry, rocky desert of southern Utah so good grip over big rocks is important. Can you tell me what you mean by "sticky" and also "soakers"? Thanks.
I am from Alaska and went to school at u of Idaho in Moscow and spent ALL my time off in the Bob Marshall Wilderness. Those few pictures brought back wonderful memories, thanks!
Hey thanks, glad you enjoyed it. It you'd like to see more, I've made entire trip videos of my adventures there. Here's a link to the playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PLseciEzX6Ktr1bMm14TyzRwsRB6hzQUy8.html
Thank you for the really thorough evaluation of the OBOZ Sawtooth II shoes! I ordered mine from REI and I'm waiting for their arrival. I too swore by Vibram soles all the way back to my technical rock climbing days. But I had a recent scare with my current Vibram soles when hiking the morning after a rain on local trails. Maybe it's the mud we have here (Austin) - often called elevator mud because the farther you walk the taller you get, but in just walking through puddles the soles collected so much mud they lost all traction on rock surfaces, the tread didn't seem to shed mud at all. That's one of the reasons I decided to try the OBOZ shoes with the different tread pattern and the positive feedback I got from my daughter and wife on how much they liked theirs and their satisfaction /confidence with the grip when rock scrambling.
Your very welcome! I've often wondered whether a pair of snow cleats (like the Kahtoola MICROspikes would help with mud like that . . . or just compound the problem.
I bought a pair of these back at the end of May and put 110 miles on them over six weeks. I was replacing Merrell Moab Ventilator II Low's that I had owned for years. These Oboz have a FIFTEEN mm drop. It's like wearing high heals. Not too bad when your standing around or hiking uphill, but the repetitive heel strike on the downhill became a real problem and so I replaced them.
Very nice detailed review. I got the Firebrand 2 low by Oboz and am very happy with them so far. A company that is environmentally and humanitarian conscious is very important to me. I also love that they are US based. Salute to you. 🙏
Hi Dan, thanks for another informative video regarding the Oboz although they look a bit too chunky for me, I’ll be sticking with my Inov8 roc lite 345, just done a 120 mile hike in them and it feels like I’ve got a pair of slippers on
The Inov-8 is certainly a very popular shoe with ultralight backpackers and I sse that the 345 is actually an 8mm drop. Interesting. Thanks for sharing and watching!
Great review. Excellent inside info on reality of these being "waterproof". And also for the grip of sole. I need lots of grip, so maybe I'll pass on these. Haven't looked at your other reviews. Hoping you reviewed the North Face Ultra 109. My favorite hiking shoe. Thanks.
Thanks and thanks for the tip on the NF Ultras. I like the mesh on those, but they're lacking the Vibram that I've come to depend on. I personally prefer the NF Hedgehog and would probably never buy anything else EXCEPT that I can't seem to find them in a non-GTX version. sigh. Do you find the Ultras in non-GTX and how is the rock protection of that sole?
@@ShastaBubba Amazon offers a non GTX version of the Ultra. It's the same water protection they list with the Hedgehog. What they call: "STAY DRY. Made with a DryVent membrane". Customer reviews on the non GTX Utra say it doesn't work. Which is fine with me, as it means they probably breathe better/less hot. Rock protection on Ultras is good. And the grip is great. I'm a bigger guy with balance issues, so grip is very important to me. Hiked down some steep inclines in Utah on solid rock and also gravel/loose dirt, and they kept me confident...and alive. They look kinda like a running hiker, but they are sturdy.
@@ShastaBubba Both the NF Ultra 109 and NF Hedgehog Fastpack 2 come in non GTX versions. smile.amazon.com/North-Face-Hedgehog-Fastpack-Bamboo/dp/B07VD6QB4V/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8
@@ShastaBubba Just took a look at my out-soles on my Ultra 109's and they are deteriorating. Have hiked only about 30 times in them (granted a few 2 hour hikes on Utah's sandstone, which is rough on soles), but still, disappointed in how quickly the nubs have worn down and a few have fallen off. I must say, the shoes were still pretty grippy even recently. Anyway, I may switch to eh Sawtooth in your review. Should arrive at end of month. Hope I like it.
My pleasure; glad it was useful! The issue I ran in to with "Stickiness" was when rock-hopping streams. If the rock was wet, the shoe slid worse than I'm used to with Vibram soles. Probably not much of an issue in the desert!
@@ShastaBubba Ah, great explanation as I was wondering if sticky and grippy might be words used interchangeably. Obviously not so thank you for your explanation and for taking the time to write.
Hey, whatever works for you, right? Keep an eye on the toe cap; mine began to delaminate after my long hike and I've read about that happening to others too. Thankfully, REI have such a great return policy, if you need it.
Hi, great review. I've been using Alta Lone Peaks 4.5 for long distance trails. However the durability is a real issue. On the latest pair the rubber on the toe separated after 30 miles. Guess it's a mixture of the way I walk and rugged rocky terrain. My question is are there robust hiking shoes that work well on long distance trails (1000 miles +)?
Hey, thanks! I have to say, I don't think there's any excuse for that rapid of shoe failure. The best luck I've had personally with longevity of shoes is with the Scarpa (a version no longer made, but similar to the Rush) and North Face Hedgehog. Unfortunately, the Scarpa is no longer made with a Vibram sole (which I insist on) and I can't find a non-GTX version of the Hedgehog, which makes it slow-drying. Currently, I'm testing the Hoka One One Speedgoat 4 (non-GTX) and it's looking good. Too soon to say regarding durability though. I'll do a review as soon as I have some real miles on this shoe!
Hey, thanks for that feedback Lee. Just to clarify, are you saying the soles were sticky enough for you in those conditions? Or that the drying time was fine for you? Thanks for watching!
Not sure why someone would not want DWR on a shoe whether waterproof or not. It helps keep the shoe more breathable if there mild exposure to water. I like Oboz shoes in general but my issue with these is the big drop height. It takes a bit of getting used to
Generally, any waterproofing (which includes DWR - durable water repellant) causes shoes to take longer to dry, so that's why I avoid it. Since I plan to walk through streams wearing the hiking shoes (not separate water shoes), it makes a big difference. Even if a person carries separate shoes for stream crossings, hiking shoes still get wet from the brush along the trail. It only takes a brief rain or a heavy dew to make my shoes soaked, even without stream crossings, so I'd rather plan on quick drying versus attempting to avoid the unavoidable of getting shoes wet.
@@ShastaBubba DWR isn't waterproofing however. Any waterproof liner whether it's working via micorpores like Gore Tex or molecular repulsion / attraction to water molecules like Demizax will likely have a pass-through of water vapour that is less than the shoe material without the liner. This isn't always the case however. Low quality leathers and high denier nylons can get very hot whether there's a liner or not. This is why buying a high denier GTX Pro jacket (anything above 80 denier) is a waste of money for most conditions. You're paying for a more durable and breathable lining but putting it on a material that reduces the MVTR. A ligher denier GTX Pro jacket would perform much better but is more likely to tear if you're climbing rocks. Most of us aren't so those Arcteryx SV jackets are a flex with no real purpose. The waterproof liners are windproof as well as waterproof and that impacts breathability as it limits the rate at which water vapour can escape from the inside out. When the boot / shoe gets wet inside, which happens as every hiker knows, the water cannot get out quickly. It's reliant on the microclimate in the shoe being hot enough (relative to the outside of the shoe) to expel the water as vapour. DWR doesn't do anything like that. When applied to the outside of the boot, it changes how the surface of the shoe appears to a water droplet such that the contact angle is kept high on the sides of the droplet, meaning the droplet can't spread over the material. It effectively cups the droplet. Obviously when there's lots of force from heavy rain, snow etc. the DWR is defeated in the same way that if you pressed a razor blade floating on the surface of water it would submerge. The droplets flatten into a film of water molecules that soak into the material. The material is now wet but DWR reduced the rate at which it was becoming wet in conditions of light rain and without submersion. DWR coated exterior fabric does not have any liner to keep the water in and the DWR will not prevent the flow of air through the material. If a DWR'ed boot is not drying quickly enough it likely has more to do with the MVTR of the material of the boot. Higher denier materials absolutely affect drying time and breathability. I hike in trail runners quite a bit and these are mostly made from very light materials that drain quickly and allow water vapour to escape at rate much faster than even the best leathers. Oboz often use higher denier materials so any delays you have noticed in drying times are likely the result of those rather than the DWR coating. People complain about Oboz's waterproof liner bDry not working as well as GTX but what they're actually experiencing is the problem of a very protective boot with lots of material that doesn't dry quickly enough. I live in a cold damp country and there's no way I would hike in a non-waterproof Oboz boot any time except our Summer. My feet would spend the day soaked. A better combination would be trail shoes and waterproof socks. DWR should not impact how quickly a fabric dries given the same set of conditions of foot temperature, outside temperature, wind etc.
No, I haven't tried the Firebrand; looks interesting and would love to hear your thoughts on that shoe! Especially curious about drying time, which was the biggest con of the Sawtooth for me.
@@ShastaBubba I'll let you know. But for now, since you're concerned about water. I'm a rookie. I just discovered "waterproof" socks are a thing. I just ordered some from Amazon. Do you have an opinion on them/the concept? Thanks
@@Frip36 I've seen the waterproof socks on the web, but not in person. I do have a pair of neoprene socks that are great when hiking in snow (or for packrafting). Love them! They keep my feet warm despite being in very cold water and are quite light. But the concern isn't wanting to stay dry, it's having footwear that dries quickly after walking through streams. Waterproof socks wouldn't help with that.
@@Frip36 I'm actually struggling to find a hiking shoe I like. The two factors that I'm looking for are 1) quick drying (therefore not waterproof) and 2) must have Vibram soles. The old favorites have all gone to GTX versions, so I'm having trouble finding a good shoe. Plan to try the Hoka One One Speedgoat soon; let you know how that turns out!
Feet swell when hiking, so I always size up at least .5 and usually grab a wide whenever available. Sizing seems so inaccurate from brand to brand these days too, so I have to go with what feels right in the store versus trusting the number.
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
****UPDATE**** After hiking over 100 miles with these shoes, just wanted to add two additional things I've learned. First, the drying time isn't just bad, it's horrible. It took most of the day for them to really dry out; although it helped a lot to stop and wring out my socks after stream crossing. Thus, I can only recommend these shoes to folks who routinely carry extra footwear for water crossing. Second, although the sole protected as well as Vibram, I discovered it was nowhere as 'sticky' as Vibram soles, leading to unintentional 'soakers' while attempting to rock-hop and stay dry!
;-)
Thanks for taking the time to update. I mostly hike the dry, rocky desert of southern Utah so good grip over big rocks is important. Can you tell me what you mean by "sticky" and also "soakers"? Thanks.
@@ivinskiwi384 "Soakers" means wet shoes (esoteric reference to Bob and Doug Mckenzie from Strange Brew). Sorry for the confusion!
@@ShastaBubba Thank you for helping me understand :). (Just found your channel and have watched way more of your videos than expected, so enjoyable).
Stick some newspaper inside
I am from Alaska and went to school at u of Idaho in Moscow and spent ALL my time off in the Bob Marshall Wilderness. Those few pictures brought back wonderful memories, thanks!
Hey thanks, glad you enjoyed it. It you'd like to see more, I've made entire trip videos of my adventures there. Here's a link to the playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PLseciEzX6Ktr1bMm14TyzRwsRB6hzQUy8.html
Thank you for the really thorough evaluation of the OBOZ Sawtooth II shoes! I ordered mine from REI and I'm waiting for their arrival. I too swore by Vibram soles all the way back to my technical rock climbing days. But I had a recent scare with my current Vibram soles when hiking the morning after a rain on local trails. Maybe it's the mud we have here (Austin) - often called elevator mud because the farther you walk the taller you get, but in just walking through puddles the soles collected so much mud they lost all traction on rock surfaces, the tread didn't seem to shed mud at all. That's one of the reasons I decided to try the OBOZ shoes with the different tread pattern and the positive feedback I got from my daughter and wife on how much they liked theirs and their satisfaction /confidence with the grip when rock scrambling.
Your very welcome! I've often wondered whether a pair of snow cleats (like the Kahtoola MICROspikes would help with mud like that . . . or just compound the problem.
I bought a pair of these back at the end of May and put 110 miles on them over six weeks. I was replacing Merrell Moab Ventilator II Low's that I had owned for years. These Oboz have a FIFTEEN mm drop. It's like wearing high heals. Not too bad when your standing around or hiking uphill, but the repetitive heel strike on the downhill became a real problem and so I replaced them.
Thanks for your input!
Very nice detailed review. I got the Firebrand 2 low by Oboz and am very happy with them so far. A company that is environmentally and humanitarian conscious is very important to me. I also love that they are US based. Salute to you. 🙏
Thanks so much! Would love to hear how the Firebrand 2 low works out for you long term. Namaste.
Hi Dan, thanks for another informative video regarding the Oboz although they look a bit too chunky for me, I’ll be sticking with my Inov8 roc lite 345, just done a 120 mile hike in them and it feels like I’ve got a pair of slippers on
The Inov-8 is certainly a very popular shoe with ultralight backpackers and I sse that the 345 is actually an 8mm drop. Interesting. Thanks for sharing and watching!
Great review. Excellent inside info on reality of these being "waterproof". And also for the grip of sole. I need lots of grip, so maybe I'll pass on these. Haven't looked at your other reviews. Hoping you reviewed the North Face Ultra 109. My favorite hiking shoe. Thanks.
Thanks and thanks for the tip on the NF Ultras. I like the mesh on those, but they're lacking the Vibram that I've come to depend on. I personally prefer the NF Hedgehog and would probably never buy anything else EXCEPT that I can't seem to find them in a non-GTX version. sigh. Do you find the Ultras in non-GTX and how is the rock protection of that sole?
@@ShastaBubba Amazon offers a non GTX version of the Ultra. It's the same water protection they list with the Hedgehog. What they call: "STAY DRY. Made with a DryVent membrane". Customer reviews on the non GTX Utra say it doesn't work. Which is fine with me, as it means they probably breathe better/less hot. Rock protection on Ultras is good. And the grip is great. I'm a bigger guy with balance issues, so grip is very important to me. Hiked down some steep inclines in Utah on solid rock and also gravel/loose dirt, and they kept me confident...and alive. They look kinda like a running hiker, but they are sturdy.
@@ShastaBubba Both the NF Ultra 109 and NF Hedgehog Fastpack 2 come in non GTX versions.
smile.amazon.com/North-Face-Hedgehog-Fastpack-Bamboo/dp/B07VD6QB4V/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8
@@ShastaBubba Just took a look at my out-soles on my Ultra 109's and they are deteriorating. Have hiked only about 30 times in them (granted a few 2 hour hikes on Utah's sandstone, which is rough on soles), but still, disappointed in how quickly the nubs have worn down and a few have fallen off. I must say, the shoes were still pretty grippy even recently. Anyway, I may switch to eh Sawtooth in your review. Should arrive at end of month. Hope I like it.
@@Frip36 Keep in mind some reviewers have noted a tendency for the toe cap to come unglued, so if this happens, you should be able to return them.
I very much appreciated your thorough review as I seriously considering the exact shoe right now. Thank you and what a class act also. Best.
My pleasure; glad it was useful! The issue I ran in to with "Stickiness" was when rock-hopping streams. If the rock was wet, the shoe slid worse than I'm used to with Vibram soles. Probably not much of an issue in the desert!
@@ShastaBubba Ah, great explanation as I was wondering if sticky and grippy might be words used interchangeably. Obviously not so thank you for your explanation and for taking the time to write.
Thank you fir a very thorough review of the same boot I’ve been looking at. I like your video voice and style. Sub’ed.
Awesome, thank you! Appreciate the encouragement.
I just bought a pair at REI and am pleased to hear an overall positive review. I know, I know...I looked at reviews after buying. I’m backwards.
Hey, whatever works for you, right? Keep an eye on the toe cap; mine began to delaminate after my long hike and I've read about that happening to others too. Thankfully, REI have such a great return policy, if you need it.
Hi, great review. I've been using Alta Lone Peaks 4.5 for long distance trails. However the durability is a real issue. On the latest pair the rubber on the toe separated after 30 miles. Guess it's a mixture of the way I walk and rugged rocky terrain. My question is are there robust hiking shoes that work well on long distance trails (1000 miles +)?
Hey, thanks! I have to say, I don't think there's any excuse for that rapid of shoe failure. The best luck I've had personally with longevity of shoes is with the Scarpa (a version no longer made, but similar to the Rush) and North Face Hedgehog. Unfortunately, the Scarpa is no longer made with a Vibram sole (which I insist on) and I can't find a non-GTX version of the Hedgehog, which makes it slow-drying.
Currently, I'm testing the Hoka One One Speedgoat 4 (non-GTX) and it's looking good. Too soon to say regarding durability though. I'll do a review as soon as I have some real miles on this shoe!
I have a pair of Oboz I have walked through ice and snow I've never had any problems even walking through really thick mud
Hey, thanks for that feedback Lee. Just to clarify, are you saying the soles were sticky enough for you in those conditions? Or that the drying time was fine for you? Thanks for watching!
Not sure why someone would not want DWR on a shoe whether waterproof or not. It helps keep the shoe more breathable if there mild exposure to water. I like Oboz shoes in general but my issue with these is the big drop height. It takes a bit of getting used to
Generally, any waterproofing (which includes DWR - durable water repellant) causes shoes to take longer to dry, so that's why I avoid it. Since I plan to walk through streams wearing the hiking shoes (not separate water shoes), it makes a big difference. Even if a person carries separate shoes for stream crossings, hiking shoes still get wet from the brush along the trail. It only takes a brief rain or a heavy dew to make my shoes soaked, even without stream crossings, so I'd rather plan on quick drying versus attempting to avoid the unavoidable of getting shoes wet.
@@ShastaBubba DWR isn't waterproofing however. Any waterproof liner whether it's working via micorpores like Gore Tex or molecular repulsion / attraction to water molecules like Demizax will likely have a pass-through of water vapour that is less than the shoe material without the liner. This isn't always the case however. Low quality leathers and high denier nylons can get very hot whether there's a liner or not. This is why buying a high denier GTX Pro jacket (anything above 80 denier) is a waste of money for most conditions. You're paying for a more durable and breathable lining but putting it on a material that reduces the MVTR. A ligher denier GTX Pro jacket would perform much better but is more likely to tear if you're climbing rocks. Most of us aren't so those Arcteryx SV jackets are a flex with no real purpose.
The waterproof liners are windproof as well as waterproof and that impacts breathability as it limits the rate at which water vapour can escape from the inside out. When the boot / shoe gets wet inside, which happens as every hiker knows, the water cannot get out quickly. It's reliant on the microclimate in the shoe being hot enough (relative to the outside of the shoe) to expel the water as vapour.
DWR doesn't do anything like that. When applied to the outside of the boot, it changes how the surface of the shoe appears to a water droplet such that the contact angle is kept high on the sides of the droplet, meaning the droplet can't spread over the material. It effectively cups the droplet. Obviously when there's lots of force from heavy rain, snow etc. the DWR is defeated in the same way that if you pressed a razor blade floating on the surface of water it would submerge. The droplets flatten into a film of water molecules that soak into the material. The material is now wet but DWR reduced the rate at which it was becoming wet in conditions of light rain and without submersion.
DWR coated exterior fabric does not have any liner to keep the water in and the DWR will not prevent the flow of air through the material. If a DWR'ed boot is not drying quickly enough it likely has more to do with the MVTR of the material of the boot. Higher denier materials absolutely affect drying time and breathability. I hike in trail runners quite a bit and these are mostly made from very light materials that drain quickly and allow water vapour to escape at rate much faster than even the best leathers. Oboz often use higher denier materials so any delays you have noticed in drying times are likely the result of those rather than the DWR coating. People complain about Oboz's waterproof liner bDry not working as well as GTX but what they're actually experiencing is the problem of a very protective boot with lots of material that doesn't dry quickly enough. I live in a cold damp country and there's no way I would hike in a non-waterproof Oboz boot any time except our Summer. My feet would spend the day soaked. A better combination would be trail shoes and waterproof socks.
DWR should not impact how quickly a fabric dries given the same set of conditions of foot temperature, outside temperature, wind etc.
Great review.
Glad you enjoyed it!
I just got the Oboz Firebrand 2. Low. Have you tried it? Thoughts? I'm liking it. Good forward motion. Not dead.
No, I haven't tried the Firebrand; looks interesting and would love to hear your thoughts on that shoe! Especially curious about drying time, which was the biggest con of the Sawtooth for me.
@@ShastaBubba I'll let you know. But for now, since you're concerned about water. I'm a rookie. I just discovered "waterproof" socks are a thing. I just ordered some from Amazon. Do you have an opinion on them/the concept? Thanks
@@Frip36 I've seen the waterproof socks on the web, but not in person. I do have a pair of neoprene socks that are great when hiking in snow (or for packrafting). Love them! They keep my feet warm despite being in very cold water and are quite light. But the concern isn't wanting to stay dry, it's having footwear that dries quickly after walking through streams. Waterproof socks wouldn't help with that.
@@ShastaBubba I think I understand.
On a separate subject. What is your favorite lighter hiking shoe. (no boot).
@@Frip36 I'm actually struggling to find a hiking shoe I like. The two factors that I'm looking for are 1) quick drying (therefore not waterproof) and 2) must have Vibram soles. The old favorites have all gone to GTX versions, so I'm having trouble finding a good shoe. Plan to try the Hoka One One Speedgoat soon; let you know how that turns out!
Great video thank you!
Glad you liked it!
Can’t understand why you bought 12 wide when you wear 11.5 reg?
Feet swell when hiking, so I always size up at least .5 and usually grab a wide whenever available. Sizing seems so inaccurate from brand to brand these days too, so I have to go with what feels right in the store versus trusting the number.
Bottom line it’s cheap labor
No doubt.