Utah is in a deep freeze and you pretty much need warm, waterproof boots to do anything outside. From walking the dog, to shoveling the driveway and hauling your ski gear across the Wildcat lot at Alta, what you wear on your feet can make or break your day. This winter I’ve been putting the new Oboz Big Sky Insulated BDry boots on my feet.
The Oboz Big Sky Insulated BDry features:
- Oiled Top Grain Leather
- 200 gram 3M™ Thinsulate™ insulation
- Obōz BDry Waterproof/Breathable Membrane
- Molded Rubber Toe Cap and Heel Kick
The thing I like the most about these boots is how high-quality they are. The materials are clearly high-end and the construction is more akin to an Oboz backpacking boot, with rugged soles and stiff leather. I hiked for three miles in the Henry Mountains on a bison hunt and felt like I was wearing the Oboz Beartooth boots on the trail, only these were much warmer.
Mostly though, I’ve used the Big Sky boots for small things around town and in the mountains – shoveling snow, walks on icy sidewalks, and tailgating after a day of skiing at Alta. The Big Sky are nice and toasty – almost too warm to wear while driving up to the resort. Traction is very impressive. Many of my neighbors do a terrible job of shoveling their sidewalks, which leaves behind an ice-rink that can be treacherous when manhandling a dog tugging at the leash. But the boot’s soles are sticky and confidence-boosting on the slick stuff. I also love the way these boots look – they are classy with a full-leather upper that doesn’t have too many fancy accoutrements.
But I do have a few gripes with the Big Sky boots. First, they are difficult to get on and off. The leather is stiff and the very first time I tried to put the pair on, I actually broke one of the leather pull-tabs on the back. I had to tug so hard the leather snapped in half. After a few uses, I broke the boots in and they became easier, but they are not the type of boots you can just slide on and off. It takes some elbow grease.
UPDATE: I heard back from the folks at Oboz about this issue, and they say that my pair is the only the 4th to have the pull loop fail, and that no consumers have reported the issue. They think my high instep and having to really crank and yank on the leather tab to get the boots on is a perfect storm to cause a breakage. They also think that, for some reason, the brown leather (vs the same boot in black leather) is possibly more susceptible. So this is not a widespread problem, but is one they are aware of and are addressing.
Second, I have a high instep, so these boots uncomfortably press down on the top of my feet, especially when I first put them on when they are cold. After a few minutes of walking, however, the leather must warm up and the pain isn’t as bad. But this is something to keep in mind if you also have a high instep.
Other than that, the Big Sky are very comfortable. The insoles are plush, the insulation is warm (I wore them outside in temperatures under 20 degrees and my toes never got cold) and the heel cups lock down my heels nice and tight, so there is no slippage inside the boot. This has been great for walking and hiking. I’d recommend these boots for any sort of winter hiking/snowshoeing. And while I never wore them in super wet snow or rain, I’m confident the BDry membrane would keep my feet dry and still let them breathe.
The Good: Quality construction and materials. Warm. Awesome traction. Snug fit. Looks great.
The Bad: Not comfortable if your feet have a high instep. Difficult to put on.
Final Word: Despite their flaws, the Oboz Big Sky Insulated BDry boots are the highest-performance winter boots I’ve tested. From hiking to just chilling outside in the cold, these boots do their job.