Reliable hiking boots are just as important as your car’s tires—they’re the only thing separating you from the rugged terrain you’re traversing on. I’ve worn through multiple pairs of hiking boots with relative disappointment, but have recently come across shoemaker Oboz from Bozeman, Montana. With three years of world-wild travels under the soles of my women’s wide-width Oboz Bridger Mid hiking boots, I realized this shoe company is on to something. Their Bridger hikers held up to many types of terrain during my ownership of them, so much so that I just bought another pair.
Oboz Bridger Mid Hiking Boot Design
The name Oboz comes from a portmanteau of Outside + Bozeman. This company is surrounded by the Bridger Mountains as well as countless streams, hiking trails, and other adventure-related opportunities.
The women’s Oboz Bridger Mid hiking boot comes in regular and wide widths. The length runs true to size and offers a form-hugging heel cup, sculpted mid-foot, and a large forefoot and toe box. The women’s regular fit is B in the heel and C in the forefoot, whereas the wide version is B in the heel and D in the forefoot. The Bridger hiking boot has a 12 mm heel drop and weighs 17.7 ounces.
Oboz’s proprietary insoles are molded to match each shoe width and length. While designed for everyday hiking, they’re cushy enough for multi-day backpacking treks, too. However, I swapped out the supplied insoles for a set of high-arch Superfeet insoles.
The Bridger Mid is constructed from a variety of high-quality materials, including a waterproof Nubuck leather, their B-DRY waterproof and breathable membrane, and a molded rubber toe cap and heel. t’s beefy rubber sole has huge tread blocks, reminiscent of knobby off-road tires, giving you plenty of grip on uneven surfaces.
My Three-Year Opinion
As an automotive journalist and photographer, I’ve worn my Oboz Bridger Mid hiking boots all over the world. From off-roading in France and tramping in Iceland to climbing Moab, Utah’s red rocks and dashing through the desert and Arctic tundra to cover races or rallies, my steadfast Oboz Bridger Mids have covered thousands of miles without major issue. They’ve only suffered cosmetic problems, like changing color from its original cool gray hue to a saturated color of dirt or wearing down the soles so much that the sole tips are cracking.
The Oboz Bridger Mid overall design is sturdy, keeping my ankles in place, no matter what I’m climbing on or walking over. The wider width gives my feet ample room without restriction, too, and its exterior material selections have held up remarkably well—even in pouring rain or the extreme desert heat. The boot interior is just as durable, showing little signs of wear.
However, the laces needed to be double knotted otherwise they continually come untied. The boot tongues are well padded but are bulky; they like to move to one side. The Oboz Bridger hiking boot is waterproof and breathable, though my feet can get sweaty in them at times. Additionally, the new boots feature narrow spots between sole lugs, that rocks can get stuck in them. Be aware of this before walking indoors as you can scratch wood flooring or other delicate flooring if not careful.
Is The Oboz Bridger Mid Hiking Boot Worth It?
After three years of heavy-duty use, I can attest to the Bridger’s durable construction and comfort. I have wide, hard-to-fit feet and my job takes me to all sorts of remote places where I hike on incredibly difficult surfaces. The Oboz Bridger Mid hiking boot has proven its reliability to me during that time. Consequently, I just bought a new pair so I can enjoy years of future adventures.
Plus, Oboz plants a tree for every shoe they sell. To date, they’ve planted over 3.5-million trees, including mine. Oboz are backed by a limited one-year warranty against manufacturing defects in materials and workmanship and are sold at major retailers. Price: $200.