Oboz has been among our favorite shoe companies these days, and at this year’s Outdoor Retailer 2014 Winter Market, they rolled out some new kicks that have us wishing for summer so we can hit the trail in them!
First up is the Oboz Helium. It’s quite the departure for Oboz, a company name that conjures up images of burly backpacking boots and shoes. The Helium are what they call “multi-sport multi-taskers.” That means they’re equally at home hiking, peak bagging, or trail running. The Helium has a bulk-‐free upper for a precise, conforming fit with a low profile sole that promotes good ground feel. They feature an ultra breathable one-piece mesh upper with a welded, stitch-free overlay that adds structure and durability at the toe, side and heel areas.
Inside, minimal seams and lining located in the heel and tongue help keep the shoe light, breathable and quick to dry. They also have a dual density EVA midsole with 1 mm thick EVA “Super Skin” forefoot plate that gives nearly weightless underfoot protection. A ¾-length nylon shank spans from front of heel to base of metatarsals, and allows shoe to flex with the foot. Inside, the BFit Essential footbed features support in arch and heel area and newly designed Hyalite outsoles gives secure footing with aggressive 4mm deep lugs and high friction rubber.
The other new Oboz shoes that caught my fancy are the Bridger hiking boots. These all-leather boots look pretty classic, until you look under the hood. The construction is soft, which means there is no break-in time and they are comfortable out of the box. But that doesn’t mean they are not trail worthy. The pliable leather requires little break-in and is cushy around the ankle yet has supportive thickness for serious duty. Oboz’ Granite Peak undercarriage is a supportive foundation with components engineered to work together – including the last, BFit Deluxe footbed, molded EVA midsole, TPU chassis and nylon shank, and toothy outsole. Finally, Oboz BDry makes the Bridger waterproof and breathable for year ‘round tromping through wet conditions.
Features include a generous forefoot, snug midfoot and substantial heel hold, molded rubber toe cap and heel counter, BDry waterproof/breathable lining, sculpted BFit Deluxe footbed, hydrophobic board-lasted construction, TPU chassis, Dual density EVA midsole and ¾-‐length shank blend, and carbon rubber outsole with large-surfaced, 5 millimeter-deep lugs.
Expect to see both of these new shoes and boots this year at your local retailer.
For more Oboz goodness, check them out at obozfootwear.com