Oboz Bridger Mid Bdry Hiking Boots - Mens Review
Along with their Sawtooth line, the Bridger kick is a signature product from Bozeman, Montana-based Oboz. Its design is in many ways reflective of what has made the company a success: a reliable fit, durable materials, and loftier levels of support and comfort. However, after testing the Bridger Mid while hiking in Patagonia and the Pacific Northwest, we establish that the boot is starting to show its age and feels slower and heavier than many mod competitors. Below we outline our experiences with the Bridger Mid. To see how it stacks upwards to the competition, meet our article on the all-time hiking boots.
Tabular array of Contents
- Condolement
- Weight
- Traction
- Stability and Support
- Waterproofing and Breathability
- Build Quality and Immovability
- Fit and Sizing
- What Nosotros Like/What We Don't
- Comparing Table
- The Competition
Operation
Comfort
The Oboz Bridger Mid has been a mainstay in the visitor'south lineup for years, and information technology certainly feels a bit dated when you sideslip it on. The house leather upper, substantial tread underfoot, and beefed-up midsole are a far cry from the more than minimalist, trail runner-inspired boots starting to boss the market of belatedly. But despite the initial stiffness that took a couple hikes and walks to interruption in, the Bridger has proven to be a comfortable boot overall. There's sufficient cushioning underfoot to protect from rocks and crude trails, the lacing system is a bit rigid but does a great job securing and staying in place throughout the 24-hour interval, and in that location's ample cushioning around the neckband to cinch everything snug without creating pressure level points. All in all, despite the slightly dated feel, on-trail condolement is still loftier.
One area where the Oboz really stands out is its loftier-quality insole. Most manufacturers include a basic and fairly flat footbed, merely the included proprietary O Fit insole in the Bridger is nicely sculpted with a medium-elevation arch and cupped heel. The result is a more custom fit right out of the box. Of course, those with flat feet might find it uncomfortable and those with choosy feet may still need to swap it out, only we nevertheless capeesh Oboz's efforts here.
Weight
Given its leather build and thick midsole, the Bridger Mid'southward reasonable weight of 2 pounds 7.6 ounces (for my men'southward size ix) was a scrap of a surprise. The supportive design feels notably heavier on your feet (something we also experienced with Oboz's Sawtooth Ii Mid), and the weight savings are likely due to the boot's lower height, which just clears your ankle. But within the wider market, its listed weight of ii pounds 6 ounces is pretty competitive: Vasque's Talus AT and Keen's Targhee III are close at 2 pounds iii ounces and 2 pounds 2.8 ounces respectively, and the popular simply less durable Merrell Moab 2 Mid WP just beats it at 2 pounds iv ounces. Y'all can go lighter with a boot like the Salomon X Ultra 3 Mid (1 lb. 15.7 oz.), which will get you a far nimbler gear up-up that's more than comfy for hiking quickly. But if yous adopt a supportive leather build, the Bridger offers only that at a surprisingly good weight.
Traction
While the Oboz Bridger Mid is competitive in terms of weight, traction falls notably short. The lugs are overly big and not spaced far enough apart to shed mud efficiently (the shoe is prone to caking upwards in these weather condition). The safe itself—Oboz's proprietary Granite Top compound—is reasonably tacky and soft for sticking to stone, but the boot's fairly potent and upright ready-up doesn't encourage fast hiking or boulder hopping. For these uses, nosotros'd strongly prefer a lighter and nimbler model like the Salomon Ten Ultra iii Mid GTX. To be fair, traction is perfectly sufficient for most trails and doesn't take any glaring downsides, but the tread blueprint does exacerbate the boot's already-clunky personality.
Stability and Support
Sub-$200 boots rarely excel when it comes to stability on the trail, just the Bridger Mid is a good overall performer. The leather build is sturdy, and Oboz added TPU reinforcements under the forefoot and nylon shanks in the midsole that requite it a planted feel. Added up, the Bridger is strong plenty that I felt confident loaded down with a heavy backpacking pack. However, keep in heed that the summit is still fairly low, sitting just over the ankle, meaning it can't lucifer a taller and burlier (and more expensive) boot similar Salomon's Quest 4D 3 GTX. We'd likewise prefer that the heel were a flake wider to give the kicking an fifty-fifty more solid platform. But for the cost, y'all'd be hard-pressed to find a more supportive option.
Waterproofing and Breathability
One expanse where Oboz appeared to cut costs was in the use of their in-house B-Dry waterproof liner. The good news: as with our experiences with Oboz'southward own Bridger Insulated and Sawtooth, the Bridger Mid finer kept moisture out. I have constitute the leather upper does first to soak up water if atmospheric condition are peculiarly moisture, merely I haven't had whatever leaking or failures during stream crossings or when hiking in low-cal snowfall.
The primary downside of the in-house B-Dry build (in conjunction with the full leather upper) is that it's quick to overheat. I ran hot in the boot even while wearing lightweight merino wool socks on mild, late-winter days—something we haven't experienced with Gore-Tex-equipped models like the Salomon X Ultra 3 GTX or Asolo's Falcon GV. But to exist off-white, not many in-house technologies are standout breathers (B-Dry is adequately average in this regard), and Gore-Tex remains the class leader.
Foot and Talocrural joint Protection
One clear benefit of the Bridger's traditional leather build is solid all-around protection. The sides of the pes can improve cushion against rocks than the mesh-heavy boots that dominate the market place, and Oboz also included a sturdy heel counter and very burly rubber toe cap that covers the entire front of the foot. Information technology'due south truthful the boot isn't very tall, but it still completely clears the ankle, and the neckband is sufficiently cushioned to keep information technology thoroughly protected. All in all, for hikers that prefer a lot of protection against rocks, roots, and other trail obstacles, the Bridger is a keen match.
Build Quality and Durability
The Bridger Mid is a hardwearing leather boot that's congenital to last. The leather upper has a quality feel, Oboz strategically incorporated metal hardware into the lacing system, and the insole is premium quality. My pair has held up well through numerous rocky hikes, although I haven't put on a ton of miles on the boots just yet (we'll update this write-up if whatever issues crop upward). All that said, a fair number of users have reported that the fairly soft outsole rubber has a tendency to occasionally chip away or rip off on peculiarly crude terrain. Ours is looking fine, but this could be a concern if your local trails are especially rocky (specially with rough rock like granite).
Fit and Sizing
Boot fit plays a crucial role in performance and comfort, and this is one surface area where Oboz really shines. The Bridger Mid fits just how many hikers want: information technology's snug at the heel to keep it locked in place for extended climbs, average in the midfoot (although information technology's easy to comfortably cinch it down if needed), and squeamish and open around the toes. I went with my standard men'south size 9 and had no complaints about fit—the shoe fit evenly around my foot with no noticeable areas of tightness or roominess. Y'all also go the aforementioned O Fit insole, which provides significantly amend heel and curvation support than we're used to seeing from stock footbeds. And a nice bonus for those with higher-volume feet: Oboz makes both the men'southward and women's boots in defended wide sizes.
Other Versions of the Oboz Bridger
Apart from the men's Bridger Mid BDry tested hither, Oboz also offers a number of other variations. For starters, the same boot is bachelor in a women'southward-specific model with an identical leather build, reinforced midsole blueprint, and Granite Elevation outsole. The only differences are in colorways and weight: the women's Bridger Mid is sold in red, maroon, and brown designs and clocks in lighter than the men's pair at two pounds 0.4 ounces. The popularity of the Bridger proper noun has also spawned a range of Bridger products, from depression-top shoes ($145 for the waterproof version) to non-waterproof "Vent" models ($150) and even burlier insulated winter versions. And last twelvemonth, Oboz released a Bridger Premium, which includes numerous upgrades like Vibram rubber and full-grain leather for an extra $xxx.
What Nosotros Like
- The Bridger is a sturdy, supportive, and well-made leather boot at a skillful price.
- O Fit insole is high-quality, nicely sculpted, and very supportive (virtually of the competition includes more basic and fairly flat footbeds).
- Offered in defended broad sizes for those with higher-volume feet.
What We Don't
- Feels slower and heavier than much of the competition.
- B-Dry waterproof membrane is quick to overheat, even in mild weather condition.
- Lugs aren't widely spaced and tend to cake up in mud.
- Some users have reported the outsole has a tendency to chip away or rip off on especially rocky terrain (we haven't experienced this issue ourselves).
Comparison Table
| Shoe | Toll | Type | Weight | Waterproof | Upper |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oboz Bridger Mid BDry | $180 | Light/mid | 2 lbs. 6 oz. | Yes (B-Dry) | Nubuck leather |
| Merrell Moab two Mid WP | $135 | Lightweight | 2 lbs. 4 oz. | Yes (Yard-Select) | Leather / mesh |
| Neat Targhee III WP Mid | $150 | Lightweight | 2 lbs. 2.viii oz. | Yeah (Swell.Dry) | Nubuck leather / fabric |
| Salomon X Ultra iii Mid GTX | $165 | Lightweight | 1 lb. 15.7 oz. | Yeah (Gore-Tex) | Suede / nylon |
| Vasque Breeze AT Mid GTX | $190 | Midweight | ii lbs. eleven oz. | Yes (Gore-Tex) | Leather / mesh |
| Lowa Renegade GTX Mid | $240 | Midweight | 2 lbs. vii oz. | Yep (Gore-Tex) | Nubuck leather |
The Competition
Equally a boot that's suitable for both hiking and backpacking, Oboz's Bridger casts a fairly wide cyberspace. One of the about popular options in this category is the Merrell Moab 2 Mid. Compared to the Oboz, the Merrell is slightly lighter at two pounds 4 ounces (the Bridger weighs 2 lbs. half dozen oz.) and more flexible underfoot and in the upper with its mixed leather/mesh construction. Nosotros prefer the softer cushioning of the Merrell, although the Oboz is sturdier and more capable on rocky terrain with its more protective upper and increased stiffness. In the stop, whether or non that'due south worth the actress $45 is up to you.
Some other popular lightweight design to have on your radar is Nifty'due south Targhee III Waterproof Mid. Similar the Bridger and Moab, the Targhee uses in-house waterproofing tech and checks in at a similar ii pounds 2.eight ounces. It's likewise an excellent value at $150 because the leather build and great overall comfort and protection. The Bridger strikes us as a beefed-upwards alternative with ameliorate support and stability, although the tradeoff is that the Oboz feels a bit clunkier on the trail. All things considered, a final determination will come up down to preferences on weight and agility (the Targhee wins out) versus a planted, secure feel (the Bridger gets the edge).
Our top-rated hiking kicking this year is Salomon'south X Ultra 3 Mid GTX, which has a like ankle height every bit the Oboz but differs in near other ways: it's substantially lighter at 1 pound 15.7 ounces, more flexible underfoot, and has a far more athletic feel. Again, the Oboz's full leather build is a nice feature if you value its added protection, merely the Bridger feels dated and tedious on the trail when worn back-to-back with the Salomon. All things considered, the 10 Ultra 3 wins out in every other category, making it our meridian pick for everything from day hiking to light backpacking.
For $10 more than than the Oboz, Vasque'south updated Breeze AT is an interesting alternative. The Breeze is similarly stiff out of the box merely sits a couple inches college on the leg, increasing protection and stability. You besides become upgrades like a Gore-Tex liner (which breathes much meliorate than Oboz'south B-Dry) and tacky Vibram rubber. The biggest downside is the considerable jump in weight to ii pounds 11 ounces. Plus, we've establish its lacing system is pretty finicky to use and has the states concerned nigh longevity. That said, we think the Breeze AT is definitely a boot to take on your radar.
A last competitor to consider is also the nigh expensive: Lowa's $240 Renegade GTX Mid. This kick is some other long-fourth dimension favorite, and it particularly excels on backpacking trips with its splendid back up and cushioning and a tough leather upper. Like the Breeze AT, the Renegade sits higher over the talocrural joint than the Bridger, breathes better with its Gore-Tex liner, and has better all-effectually traction with its Vibram outsole. Information technology's as well about the aforementioned weight (2 lbs. 7 oz.) nonetheless manages to feel noticeably lighter and nimbler. If you lot're looking for a tough kicking for backpacking, nosotros recollect it'southward worth the extra $threescore investment (or you can consider Salomon's Quest 4D 3 GTX in the same category for $ten less).
Source: https://www.switchbacktravel.com/reviews/oboz-bridger-mid-bdry
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