Oboz was at the 2011 Outdoor Retailer Summer Market with new shoes for men and women to be unleashed this spring. Oboz is a company out of Bozeman, Montana (get it… O-BOZ?) They had several new styles including backpacking boots, light hikers, and shoes just for women.
The Mystic Mid BDry and Mystic Low BDry are women specific shoes that feature Nubuck leather and abrasion-resistant, breathable nylon. The upper is also lined with Oboz’s proprietary membrane BDry to keep feet dry and comfortable. Both versions of the Mystic shoes come with a high quality BFIT Deluxe footbed and dual-density EVA midsole.
Also on display was the Beartooth BDry. These burly-looking backpacking boots really caught my eye. Also made from Nubuck leather and a BDry liner, these stompers promise to keep water far away from feet while still being able to breathe and remain agile and comfortable. A unique heel lock webbing makes laces work extra hard at keeping the foot in place, and a two-part polyurethane midsole with a full last board gives massive stability on uneven terrain. I may be first in line when these hit store shelves in 2012.
Finally, there’s the Oboz Arete. It looks like a rock climbing approach shoe but it actually a capable light hiker for speed and agility. Although the outsole is low profile with small lugs, the shoe was designed to bag peaks with speed and comfort. They also feature high quality Nubuck leather and have the BFIT Deluxe footbed.
If you like what you see, visit Oboz online, or just wait until these new shoes become available in spring of 2012.
I have two pairs of Oboz shoes. A low top Sawtooth, which I love, and a pair of Valhallas. The Sawtooths are very comfy and have been used almost daily for over a year. They are holding up great. The Valhallas have not been as good. The midsole actually split in half in one of the shoes. They also aren’t anywhere near of comfortable as the Sawtooths. I will have to look at these new models when they are released.
Kevin