How to Choose Hiking Boots

This product is not available.
Trek the trails in the breathable comfort and weather protection of Oboz Sapphire Low waterproof hiking shoes. They're designed, developed and tested with the fit and needs of women's feet in mind.
Shop similar productsImported.
View all Oboz Women's Hiking ShoesBest Use | Hiking |
---|---|
Footwear Height | Ankle |
Footwear Closure | Lace-up |
Waterproof | Yes |
Upper | Nubuck leather/textile |
Lining | B-DRY waterproof/breathable membrane |
Midsole | EVA |
Support | Thermoplastic urethane chassis |
Outsole | Rubber |
Weight (Pair) | 1 lb. 8.6 oz. |
Gender | Women's |
6 | 6.5 | 7 | 7.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 9 | 9.5 | 10 | 10.5 | 11 | 12 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
U.S. Women's | 6 | 6.5 | 7 | 7.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 9 | 9.5 | 10 | 10.5 | 11 | 12 |
UK | 3.5 | 4 | 4.5 | 5 | 5.5 | 6 | 6.5 | 7 | 7.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 9.5 |
EU | 36 | 37 | 37.5 | 38 | 38.5 | 39.5 | 40 | 41 | 41.5 | 42 | 42.5 | 44 |
Adding a review will require a valid email for verification
I have challenges with my feet. I wear a 6 1/2 wide and my feet are on the flat side. I discovered Oboz shoes a few years ago and I haven't had to turn to anything else. They have great orthotics and their shoes feel great from the get go (a once-rarity for me). And, they last a long time. I bought this brown pair specifically to use while gardening because the dirt doesn't show on them! That holds true for when I'm hiking, too. (I actually bought another pair for that.) Lastly, based on the six pairs I've owned, I like that the shoes are made in Vietnam (rather than China) like nearly every other shoe, it seems.
I stopped by REI and bought these on the way to Capitol Reef. They were comfortable for 2 days of hiking right out of the box. They feel firm underfoot, but I like that, because soft hikers make my feet tired. With wool socks my feet did not overheat. Plenty of toe room, and yet these hikers look quite compact. My heels do not slip. The lugs are understated but traction is excellent. I have not yet had a chance to test the waterproofing. Feet tend to be opinionated, so I listen very carefully to mine, and they are happy. Can't guarantee that yours will be, but these Oboz are worth a try.
I think comfortable must depend on your foot shape. These are the most comfortable shoes i have ever worn! I would describe my feet as completely average in width and length for size 8, healthy and good arches. I dont need extra support so i usually go for minimal shoes but that can lead to tired feet after many miles hiking on rocky surfaces. These shoes fit just right. They snug the heel which makes me realise that other hiking boots slip around a bit. Maybe thats why people have to wear double socks. Having the arch start near the heel must be the secret to comfort. The pictur i included is a side by side comparison with the solomon waterproof hikers. Got them both same day. Solomons for trail running because the shape (lower toe, higher heel) is good for running. As u can see the solomons run a tad long, but not long enough to get a 1/2 size smaller. I am 8 and got 8 in both . For a walking or hiking shoe i will wear the oboz. For running, the solomons. I have to say i love the Oboz and I like the Solomons.
After taking my new shoes out on a few walks, totaling around 12 miles, I started feeling like my instep was rolling in. I spent the whole walk trying to figure out what was wrong and walking with a limp when I tried to walk on the normal outside part of my foot. Now that I'm home, I can see that the heel of the right shoe is skewed to the left so that it seems like I'm walking on the edge of the shoe instead of with my heel in the center. I've never experienced this one before. I changed shoes when I got home and it's back to normal, though my foot is sore from today's walk.
I have the boot version of this shoe and have had good success with those. This shoe though, has caused me nothing but pain since I bought them. I have tried the stock insoles as well as Superfeet insoles and nothing helps. I am an avid hiker, yet walking 2-3 miles in these is a recipe for blisters on my heels and big toes, as well as burning pain in the ball of my foot and all of my toes. This isn't a sizing issue, but it could be related to the poor lace set-up. Another reviewer mentioned how difficult it is to get them laced well given that there are only a couple of eyes. Maybe that's it. Regardless, they are so painful that they're going back.
I have very narrow feet, so finding hiking shoes that fit has been next to impossible. I read that Oboz might work, so I ordered these online to try out. They are amazing! I wore these for 10 days straight on a hiking trip last week, wearing thick REI wool socks. I never even thought about them - they were just perfect! (For reference, I am typically a size 9 Slim - 9-1/2 SS in Munro shoes, or 9-1/2 N in New Balance sneakers). this is a firm fitting shoe and with the REI wool socks I wore (which were also quite comfortable in the 40-65 degree weather), my heels never slipped. I am thrilled! (My husband and son also bought Oboz hiking shoes at REI for the first time, about a year ago, and are equally happy.) Great product! Note: The color of these shoes is actually more of a cranberry red. They are not quite as rose colored as they look in the website photo.
I bought these earlier in the summer for a planned trip and had originally loved them. They were comfortable and completely waterproof on 2-3 mile walks through wet grass or on trail. Then we went on our planned trip and I wore them on a 7 mile hike in a National Park. I was lucky enough to be prepared with bandaids as I had two blisters before we finished. The problem is the seam on the side where it meets the front of the shoe. Two blisters on the top of my little toes. I couldn’t wear these for the rest of the trip and had to wear backup trail runners. I am hoping to return. I love my Oboz hiking boots, but’s these shoes are not the same in comfort.
I live in a hot and humid area of the country and wanted a pair of hiking shoes I could wear on well-groomed trails over the summer (rather than my heavier, sweatier hiking boots that I love Oboz, but unfortunately these miss the mark. They have poor traction on wet rocks, which is problematic because I find myself rock-hopping across rivers and hiking after rain, and one of the reasons I wear hiking shoes over regular sneakers is for traction. They do prove to be waterproof, though. The ankle area is also loose and rubs against the back of my ankle. If you're wearing tall, thick socks this is OK, but not exactly what I would choose to wear in hot, humid summers. Ended up returning after testing them for >6 months.
I was so happy to find a hiking shoe that was lightweight, w/ durable sole, and NARROW enough for my feet. I bought two pairs, but the sizing is inconsistent. Oboz sawtooth has a better, tougher sole, but it's WIDE and the 11 fits me perfectly. However in this Sapphire, the 11 is a bit short. I will live with that over a wide shoe. The size is the only reason I gave these 4 stars over 5. I live in AZ and they are fine for all the mountain hikes here. Over 10 miles my feet get sore in these, but they are great for rocky terrain or a soft trail.
I have worn out 3 pair of Oboz Sawtooth boots, which takes some doing. They were comfortable and lasted beyond my expectation, so I was prepared to like the Sapphire. (Sawtooth was out of stock in my size at the time I ordered.) I am a little disappointed. They are not comfortable. There are pressure points where the tongue folds at the top of the foot. The heel cup is lower than the Sawtooth and puts pressure on my achilles tendon causing blisters. Maybe the problem is the size, but I have lost the original packaging and am unable to return as per REI policy. Hopefully after a longer break in period they will become more comfortable. I do like the new, improved shoelaces, though! They don't come untied as you walk the way the old round ones did!