Oboz brand footwear

[RJM]

Anybody on the forum have any experience walking the Camino wearing Oboz boots or shoes? More specifically the "Sawtooth" models? I've been footwear shopping and they look pretty good to me, but nothing like input from someone who has actually made a long distance walk/hike in them.
Thanks in advance.

 

[Debra T]

My husband wore a pair on the Camino, he trained in them for six months on relatively flat surfaces and never had a problem. He loved them so much he had 3 pairs. By day 3 on the Camino he started getting blisters and that persisted on and off for the next 800 kms. He ended up walking 600kms in sandals. The problem seemed to be that there was a lot of motion on the uneven, rocky surfaces. However, to be fair they may have been a half size too big. Now he is home on flat surfaces, he loves them again.

 

[Phillypilgrim]

I love my Sawtooth Oboz hiking shoes, on 3 Caminos. Happy to have the perfect shoe for me.
Now I also wear thin Injinji toe socks with Smartwool over them.

 

[RJM]

I love my Sawtooth Oboz hiking shoes, on 3 Caminos. Happy to have the perfect shoe for me.
Now I also wear thin Injinji toe socks with Smartwool over them.

Same pair for 3 Camino's?
How are they as far as toe box room?

 

[Priscilla NC]

I had a pair of Oboz trail runners, can't remember which model -- I have a wide toe box and thought they would work but always hurt my feet (pre-Camino).

I have found my best shoe to be Altra Lonepeaks.

 

[Phillypilgrim]

Same pair for 3 Camino's?
How are they as far as toe box room?

Two pairs. My feet are narrow, and they are perfect in the heel, and roomy in the toe box for me. I went up one full size to accommodate my socks and insoles by Abeo.

 

[RJM]

Two pairs. My feet are narrow, and they are perfect in the heel, and roomy in the toe box for me. I went up one full size to accommodate my socks and insoles by Abeo.

Just got some Oboz sawtooth bdry, water resistant. They look good, and I do like the roomy toe box and they have a great, very supportive factory insole. Better insole than some aftermarket ones I've bought before. Also some industrial strength shoelaces.
Have only made a short 5k walk in them, but so far so good. Very comfortable and supportive. I may just become a convert, ha ha.

 

[MichelleElynHogan]

Any shoe or boot is only one part of the foot solution. PhillyPilgrim has a great solution with a thin sock inside a cushy hiking sock like Darn Tough Socks, as an example.

Personally, I have been wearing Far West Goretex HD Hikers with hiking socks. That is it. No hotspots, no blisters, uphill, downhill or on the flat.

 

[RJM]

Any shoe or boot is only one part of the foot solution. PhillyPilgrim has a great solution with a thin sock inside a cushy hiking sock like Darn Tough Socks, as an example.

Personally, I have been wearing Far West Goretex HD Hikers with hiking socks. That is it. No hotspots, no blisters, uphill, downhill or on the flat.

Yes, I've been backpacking for over 30 years with a few wilderness excursions in the mix along with walking the Camino a few times. When I was younger footwear was almost an afterthought. We would wear whatever. Running shoes. Hunting boots. Wool socks. Cotton socks. It didn't matter. I had one friend who would walk barefoot while backpacking on dirt trails quite often. Now that I'm older with a couple of old injuries slowing me down, supportive and stable footwear is needed. I've never had an issue with socks or blisters.

 

[caminoagogo]

I have a pair of Oboz Firebrand II. I wore these on my first Camino (Leon to SDC) and I'll be wearing them on my next one. I've done hundreds of KMs in them and have never had a problem. I've also never lost a toenail so you know that the toe box has plenty of room. They are built tough and I haven't even had to change the laces in four years of hiking! If their other boots are as good as these then I reckon you'll be happy with your purchase should you get a pair.

 

[tillyjones]

Late to the party. Once I discovered Oboz I was in love. I would wear my Sawtooth again on a second Camino but they have worn behind the heel...i..e there is hole in the fabric/cushioning right at the top of the heel part so that may note fare well for another 900 k. Ordering another pair though.

 

[Diceallion]

Reviving this topic as im shopping for shoes for my 1st camino. So far, ive tried Keen, Iowa and now Oboz sawtooth as seen in the picture.



They seem to be the most comforting so far, plus with this "propulsion technology" in the soles.

With the other models, when walking it seems that my feet absorb more impact then the Oboz shoes but have more tox box space then the Oboz....

 

[peregrina2000]

Reviving this topic as im shopping for shoes for my 1st camino. So far, ive tried Keen, Iowa and now Oboz sawtooth as seen in the picture.

View attachment 57579

They seem to be the most comforting so far, with this "propulsion technology" in the soles.

With the other models, when walking it seems that my feet absorb more impact then the Oboz shoes but have more tox box space then the Oboz....

I know there are many great models of trail runners, but if you need a wide toe box, none are wider than Altras.

 

[Darby67]

I really like the firm shank and wide toe box in my Oboz Firebrand II shoes. I bought and wore out a pair since my first camino and decided to buy another pair a month before leaving for Spain in January.

The tread though was incredibly disconcerting upon arrival in Madrid. Any moisture on the polished pavers was like walking on ice and got my anxiety going imagining all the spots where I would have to be prepared to slip. At the end though they were solid except in a few spots in towns or cities with the certain types of polished stone. It seems to be a common comment about this particular model that I overlooked when I was initially shopping for them.

Thankfully in the wild they weren't slippery on any of the wet descents, especially Molinaseca. Otherwise I would have arrived to SdC perfectly tenderized.