ObozMen's Bridger Mid B-Dry Hiking Boot

This is my second pair of Oboz Bridger. I typically wear a size 10.5 or 11 mens D width. I found the 10.5 a bit short for my big toe, but the 11 men D are perfect. My first pair lasted about 1.5 years. Quality of materials and build are excellent, in my opinion. Wear is typical of a direct injected sole hiking boot. I found them comfortable with little breakin period required. I did not feel any pressure points on my feet or ankles. I wore them through the New Mexico winter and found that my feet stayed warm and never cold. The boots are waterproof out of the box, but I would like to try sno-seal on this new pair.I took pictures of the used pair along with the new pair to show how the sole and leather wore for me. You can see the typical tear that leather boots have with the rubber tipped toes. Every boot that I have owned typically failed at this interface between the rubber and the leather.

These are first impressions. I have taken an eight mile, a six miler and two four-mile walks since I got the boots this past weekend. I’m an old guy with problematic feet and I walk at least four miles daily, sometimes six miles, and sometimes eight miles each day. The walk is mostly flat, on the dirt and gravel remnants of an old Vermont rail road bed, with two miles of my walk on concrete and asphalt. I’ve got bunions, one worse than the other, on what were D width feet until my late forties. Also, my left foot is prone to plantar fasciitis, because of my very flat feet. Now top that off with the fact that I broke my left ankle six months ago – and one can see why my hunt for boots seems constant and can be fraught with error, especially since I buy a new pair every 4-6 months. What attracted me to these boots were people’s comments that the toe box was wide enough in the 2EE size, but the heel and ankle were narrower than one would expect from a true 2EE. Exactly what I am looking for; and I can confirm that is my experience with the fit of these Bridger boots. Depending on the manufacturer, I wear either an 11.5 2ee or a 12 2EE. Based on the reviews I read here, I got the 12 2EE. So, I am happy with the fit. I also want a boot that has a fairly firm and absorbing mid sole. I’d like to buy PU mid soles but most boots in the below $200 range have EVA mid soles which compress way too quickly for my taste. I’m a big guy and I crush the mid soles flat as a pancake. The Oboz Bridger midsole seems to be firm EVA and the description mentions a shot of PU and it also says it’s got PVU, too. I cannot really figure what goes where, but they are firm and I have not felt the rocks poking my feet like I did in my last pair of boots. The uppers are already softening up - and so far – I like the boot. Now – let’s see if I can 4-6 months out of them.

First impressions right of the box and wearing them for the first day:The uppers look NOTHING like the Amazon photograph. The Amazon photos show a dual-color "nubuck" or suede appearing upper with a slightly contrasting cross-stitched pattern through the side arch. What I unboxed was considerably different. The entire upper is basically one color, all panels and stitching. The material is much smoother and on first glance looks more like "pleather" than leather...Fit is horrible. First words of caution.... If you wear a normal-to-wide foot, order the WIDE width! My foot width is kind of in between normal and wide. Some shoes I can get away with normal and others I have to have the wide width. However, after reading the reviews on sizing I ordered an 11.5 wide to be on the safe side. The length of the shoe does run about a half size smaller, so I'm thankful to have ordered the 11.5. Width is another story... I have no idea who could fit their foot into a pair of these if they bought the standard width boot. Putting them on for the first time, I had to loosen the laces all the way to the toe to get my feet in them. I'm wearing them today to see how much the fit and flexibility improves. One things for sure, these are "cruel shoes" when first putting them on.This is my first pair of Oboz and maybe I'm expecting more from them than I should. However, given the price, I feel I should have some pretty high expectations. I've been a Keen boot person for almost 10 years now. Keen stopped making the boot I liked. These seemed to be closest thing to what Keen used to have so I decided to give them a try.I really expected a better fit and was hoping for a better appearance out of the box. I'm hoping that both improve with a few days of wear. We'll see....So here goes for the one-month follow-up. Luckily I'm still within the return window for these. As I said on the initial unboxing, I wasn't happy with the "plastic" look of these boots. They don't look like $200 boots and they certainly don't fit like $200 boots. I've added a photo to the update review and you tell me if what's on my feet look like what's on the Amazon site...I've worn these nearly everyday for a month, 10 hour plus days, and they refuse to break-in, soften or otherwise yield. As I said earlier in this review I have a normal to wide foot and can get away with wearing either a normal or wide shoe. I ordered these in wide and they still HURT and feel the same as they did out of the box.Definitely returning and once the credit is received I'll be going after a pair of Danners or something like that... Also dropped my review from 2 stars to 1. Sorry Oboz, these are a complete "miss".

I bought these after being disappointed, again, by quality shortcomings with Merrell shoes and boots. These appear to be of much higher quality, solid and well made. So far they are firm underfoot but, supportive and comfortable. Cannot comment on waterproofing as have not been out in wet weather yet, when wearing these boots.Will add to this review when the boots have had a lot more use, early signs are good.Edit: Have been using these for nearly three months now, everyday. Support and comfort continues to be excellent, they keep my feet dry and appear to be wearing well with no signs of any build quality issues. I WILL be buying these boots again.PS, I bought size 13, not 8 as stated above.

My wife has had a pair for the last year and rated them very highly whilst I wore my trusted Salomon's which now have expired. Initial thoughts is that they are a good boot, firm and fit really well with a lot of support only time will tell but I am confident that they're a good buy. They appear to be well made and actually look pretty good.

Great quality but buy the next size up I'm a 10 and brought an 11 fit prefect

I am very disappointed at myself for not reading the return policy from this reseller. Shipping is not paid for the returns/exchanges. I understand the company decision to not expense that fee but it would certainly help to make it more obvious to your buyers BEFORE they buy. Just a suggestion. Keep me posted if you ever change your policy, maybe I will buy from you again in the future.The product looks very well built, nothing against Oboz here... the boots are simply too narrow for me. I am 6'6" and wear 14W or XW (EE or EEE), depending on the brands so this is the cost I have to pay to eventually find something that fits! Some resellers are comparable in prices AND will not charge for returns. Cheers

Fit was much more narrow than expected based on other reviews and the manufacturer's own information. They do appear to be a well built product however.Returned solely because of the way they (didn't) fit.