How to Choose Hiking Boots

Pairing lightweight midsoles with breathable and waterproof membranes, the women's Oboz Katabatic Low waterproof hiking shoes offer support, stability and protection for miles of comfy, dry feet.
Imported.
View all Oboz Women's Hiking ShoesBest Use | Hiking |
---|---|
Footwear Height | Ankle |
Footwear Closure | Lace-up |
Waterproof | Yes |
Type of Waterproofing | Single-layer B-DRY waterproof membrane |
Upper | Mesh with reinforced TPU overlays |
Midsole | Single-density EVA |
Support | ESS plate |
Outsole | Trail Tread rubber |
Weight (Pair) | 1 lb. 7.2 oz. |
Gender | Women's |
Sustainability | Contains recycled materials |
6 | 6.5 | 7 | 7.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 9 | 9.5 | 10 | 10.5 | 11 | 12 | |
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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 |
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These shoes are really sturdy and have amazing traction. They are super waterproof too! My biggest complaint is that they are a bit rigid and took quite awhile to break in. I had sore spots on my feet for several uses before they felt comfortable enough to wear on a hike. However they perform amazingly. It’s currently winter and snowy/icy in New England and I never came even close to slipping. I felt secure on all different types of terrain. I took off one star for their rigidity and difficulty breaking in, but overall I like the shoe and will continue using them for day hikes.
Overall this is a solid waterproof hiking shoe. The only real down side I can find so far is the stiffness which, long term, is probably a benefit. Out of the box the shoe fit pretty tight and I have a narrow foot to begin with. However after wearing a couple of times even just out and about they loosened up and now fit pretty well. For a wide foot, these may not be ideal. One of the features I really like about the shoe is the harder rubber toe, and for several reasons. I cannot hike in Colorado without hitting my toes on rocks. The front of the shoe provides enough protection that I’m not constantly hitting my toes directly and it gives the shoe extra time for wear and tear. Quality construction overall and feels like a solid shoe that will last a while. Rugged sole for hiking or walking in the snow/ice (which we’ve had plenty of the last several weeks).
I wore these hiking shoes for a 2 mile hike in the snow at a local metro park. The foot bed is great, no discomfort at all. The shoes felt quite fitted on my feet and at first I really liked it but after the first mile, I realized my feet were cold, it was 12 degrees and sunny outside. I was wearing warm socks but not my usual socks for weather this cold. I tried to wear those but had a hard time getting the shoe to fit. When I put the shoe on the sock just bunched up in the back, so I was afraid of getting a blister. Overall, the shoe is great but I'm not sure that I could wear a thick sock with them, maybe after some more wear they will "loosen" a bit that would allow a thicker sock.
I have really enjoyed this shoe. It’s stiff giving stability. The grip is good. I like the color with the pop from the laces. I look forward to more hikes with this shoe. We had a lot of snow so I haven’t used them as much as I would have liked but we are expecting nice weather so I will get out there again soon.
I received this product from REI trailblazers sampling program in exchange of my honest review. The shoe was very nice color easily visible from far. Definitely requires a break in period of about 8 hours in the shoe. After the break in period it was very comfortable. The tread is steady and did not slip even in rain. Toe box is roomy.
Wore the shoes for several 3-4 miles walks and hikes. They are comfortable right out of the box and feel very well cushioned. The toe box is wide enough and I could wear medium weight socks without any issues. I am also impressed with how light they are, it's not common for hiking boots to be so lightweight. Overall, very good first impressions and I would definitely recommend these shoes!
For a 3 week European trip, I needed one shoe to do all the things: keep feet dry and comfortable in rainy London with lots of walking, be comfortable for hiking in the Peak District, and be good enough for trail running. I was shocked that this shoe did all of those things. As I only traveled with a carry-on pack, I had room for just one shoe. For all day city walking, my feet were super comfortable and preferred them over my “stylish” white runners. My feet run hot, but these were so breathable that was never an issue. The solid platform gave good support and my feet never felt fatigued during the long days on them. Can’t recommend this shoe enough. My low volume foot (not narrow - just skinny) was held secure and nothing pinched or rubbed. I’m impressed!
I bought this pair of shoes on the Oboz’s website. I really thought they are pretty and loved Oboz for 15-20 years (Sawtooth model). These shoes are a big disappointment. They feel bigger by one size than my regular size (7) and my feet were numb the entire time I wore them. To a point that I had to stop the hike and go back so I could take them off. Then I tried to post the review on Oboz’s website and they refused to post my review because it was negative and they considered my opinion doesn’t matter. Oboz cuts the negative reviews as they wish leaving just the positive ones posted.
I've been using these shoes for trail running and hiking. They have been super comfortable since the first time I wore them and have great traction. I live in the PNW and its winter so the fact that my feet stayed dry during a really rainy and wet hike was impressive. My only critique is that I was surprised how easily the front toe box scratched the first time I wore these. It made me worry a little about the durability. So far so good though!
Pros: Gorgeous color! I was not expecting them to be an icy blue. Totally eye catching. Firm sole and easy for me to get on and off. I found that they have good traction, which to me is 2nd most important after fit. The fit seemed true to size. Cons: I am not sure if it just me or if I am not a hiking shoe person (yet), but the left shoe was rubbing my medial malleolus (ankle). Towards the end of my walk I noticed it less, so many I just need to break them in. Also, they seemed heavy to me, but as I said before this is my first pair of hiking shoes. I normally wear boots for the ankle support but I wanted to try something new.