Oboz  Sawtooth Ascent Mid Waterproof Hiking Boots - Men's

So far the fit of the Oboz sawtooth ascent is very comfortable out of the box. The upper part of boot where tongue ends and entry will take a week or so to totally break in. Worn them 3 times and keep getting better. Depending on the shape of your leg you may have soreness near top of ankle until they break in. Love the vibram sole. If you buy this boot give it the time for the material to break in…you won’t be sorry…this is a very comfortable hiking boot!

I typically wear an Altra trail runner and boot, but I found their boots too thin/flimsy for backpacking, so I gave these a try. These boots are perfect for folks looking for a wider toe box (not necessarily other Oboz styles though- this was is designed that way) with ankle support. These are lighter weight but still sturdy, however, I do wish there was a bit more bite to the tread. I barely broke them in before doing the Aconcagua 360 traverse - switching to triple mountaineering boots for the last two days only - and barely got a blister. I then wore them for two weeks 100 miles on the High Scardus Trail and was stoked. Worth noting I did elect to change out the insoles for Oboz O fit insoles that made these 80% more comfortable for rocky trails ($40 but i found on poshmark for $16).

Really wanted to love these boots. My foot width is 106mm (EE) and even in a wide size these are far, far too narrow. I get blisters on my toes every hike and my heel is slipping enough to cause blisters in the back too. Sizing down just felt like a vice. I also did not trust these boots in scrambling situations either, I slipped on dry rock multiple times and got lucky I wasn't injured. It's a shame the fit was so off because the construction is great and they are definitely waterproof. Hoping REI accepts the return because they are just not wearable for more than a mile or two.

I had a 6 day hotel to hotel trek in the Dolomites planned for June, about 50 miles total with a mix of gravel trails, narrow rocky trails and plenty of elevation gain. I was trying the several pairs of not-too-old to quite old boots I own, none were really feeling good. I got these with just 3-4 weeks left to try/break in, and they really saved my trip. First time or two out from the house, the boots and foot bed were great, but the tops hurt my ankle, so I just undid the top speedlace. After another local walk or two, I was able to lace the top loosely. Once on the trail, I pulled the top lace snug whenever the trail was challenging, and kept it laced but not super tight otherwise. No pain anywhere on hikes up to 12 miles/3,000 ft. gain. Really glad I tried these. Very few reviews, I don't know if these are a newer model or just not popular. The description says "day hikes and shorter treks", but I really like that they are less rigid and stiff than some, and they were plenty supportive for some pretty rough trails. While it's hard to judge the durability after an estimated 70-80 miles total, there is no sign of any issues on either the uppers or soles. No deep immersion, but did not notice any leakage in quick, shallow stream crossings. I typically have a hard time getting shoes and boots that work for me.