Obozwomens Sawtooth Ii Low

I love OBOZ hikers - never have worn a better shoe. I buy mine from OBOZ or outdoor stores. I bought this pair on AMAZON and I swear, it's just not the same. The shoe is not the same weight was the first thing I noticed. Also, the top of the shoe comes higher than the pair I bought direct from OBOZ outdoor stores. The area around the tongue on these was just "too puffy" and did not lie flat like my "real" OBOZ shoes. I have found this with different items at Amazon, they are not the "quality" of buying direct on certain items. Maybe it's just me, but I'm not buying any more from Amazon. I think OBOZ shoes are top of the line quality, fit, and durability for hikers - I just want the genuine article.

I'm NOT a hiker. I am a 50+ woman with flat arthritic feet. That said I do walk and love to take short "easy trails". These shoes along with there boot counter parts keep me walking when regular tennis shoes let me down. I have the water proof version for working on our little 4 acre homestead and they do keep your feet dry! Once i found myself outside in a Florida deluge of rain and looked down to see i was standing in about 3" of water. Didn't even know because my feet were dry! (the rest of me, however was soaked : )) They are a stiffer shoe, which if that is what you are looking for then you will love this shoe. The Inserts are great for me keeping my feet aligned and relieving not only my foot pain, but my knee pain as well! If you like to feel the ground beneath you as you hike and are looking for a flexible barefoot feel, then this may not be the shoe for you. It does take a few weeks to break in so I wouldn't buy the day before a long hike. The fit is perfect for me and as described with a narrow heel to keep from slipping and a wider toe box to avoid blisters. I know that sounds like an advertisement, but honestly thats the way they fit. I wear a thicker wicking sock with them in the Florida heat, to keep my feet dry. If you like thin socks, then you may want to go down a 1/2 size.

I have owned at least a dozen pairs of the original Sawtooth. I am now reviewing the Sawtooth II.The new pair is well broken in, including a fairly steep two hour climb.It appears that the new model is a bit stiffer in the forefoot, but this could just as well be a manufacturing variation.The issue i have with the new design is in the heel cup. The hard plastic outer part runs higher up the heel, particularly along the sides of the heel. Because the material is so stiff and so high It holds the heel cup away from the sides of my heel. The abducting heel cup. That is, my heel always feels loose in the shoe, particularly when going uphill, where my heel slides up and down rubbing the back of both heels. Because of the rubbing I had to be careful how much I pushed off while climbing. By comparison my original Sawtooth hugs the back of my heel. while the original has a similar stiff material it isn't as high. With what I perceive is some added stiffness in the forefoot of the new Sawtooth II contributes to a bad combination. Thicker socks or a fatter heel might make things right. For just day to day meandering about there is only the sensation of my heel swimming about. For going up hill the Sawtooth II is a liability for me. Luckily I still have at least one pair of the previous model with some life left. Meanwhile I ordered the higher pair of the Sawtooth II hoping that will solve the problem with the heel. I read another review from the women's version where the reviewer complained about the added stiffness. Not having the heel snugged in could contribute to a sensation of stiffness.There is no denying that this is still a very comfortable shoe, but within its new design limitations.

Oboz tend to be stiff for some time requiring an extended break in period. These do not. They are not stiff and hard, but actually ready straight out of the box. They are not waterproof. No B-DRY technology. I was searching for ones that are not waterproof with the B-DRY system simply because they can be hot. I consulted the Oboz website to double check before ordering. So, do not be fooled by the waterproof description. Either way, a good looking and wearing shoe.

I purchased these shoes because our family was heading to Europe and I knew I would be doing a LOT of walking. I had never bought shoes online before...I always like to try them on because every shoe is different. But I decided to try, figuring I could always return them. I had "googled" 'most comfortable women's walking/hiking shoe' and the Oboz came in at number 2. After reading reviews on the #1 shoe (most people said they didn't last one year), I quickly decided to read the reviews on the Oboz. The reviews were good so I gave them a shot. The minute I tried them on I knew they would be fine and I'm here to tell ya, these are damn good shoes! We walked nearly 50 miles over 9 days on our trip and my feet never hurt because of my shoes. I'm what you would call a plus size woman, so my feet were tired by the end of the day anyway, but they never hurt! These are the most comfortable shoes I have ever worn! I highly recommend giving them a try!

This is my first pair of Oboz and they look exactly as expected, they have what I consider pretty good traction. I do trail hiking dirt, mud, rocky but nothing very extreme. They fit well, look good, made from quality material but there is just something that is off. The bottom of my heels hurt after a long day on them. They fit perfect but they do not feel as good as my Keen's or Columbia's so next time I need a pair I will be returning to one of the other brands.

I was a little worried the style change for this Oboz hiker might not work for me. The slight style change was a big plus. The fit for me is perfect. I have high arches and insteps and a somewhat wide foot, which makes buying any shoe difficult. These work great. Love the sole on these - offers stability and comfort.