ProView- Oboz Bridger Mid B-Dry Waterproof Hiking Boots
When the winter snows melt and the days get longer, mountain ranges formerly inaccessible due to snow suddenly open up to those willing to hike miles to see their beauty. I’m talking places like the High Uintas of Utah and the Wind Rivers of Wyoming. Places with long approaches, big peaks, and alpine lakes aplenty. For me, summer is a time for backpacking, and the Oboz Bridger Mid Waterproof hiking boot proved to be up to the task. I took these boots on several trips to the Uintas and Winds, backpacking and climbing peaks in the same shoe, which is a rare occurrence.
Oboz Bridger Mid B-Dry Waterproof Hiking Boots
Product Description: While the all-leather upper of the Bridger gives a nod to classic hikers of yore, there’s nothing old-fashioned about these stats: a pliable, extra comfortable collar; a lightweight TPU forefoot plate that preserves the shoe’s integrity; BDry waterproofing; metal hardware and a lightweight, aggressive outsole. Unlike the waffle stompers of our youth, the Bridger’s leather goodness comes with practically no break-in time. Upper: Waterproof nubuck leather, Oboz BDry waterproof/breathable membrane, molded rubber toe cap & heel counter
Offer price: $180.00
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Features
(5)
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Fit
(4.8)
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Quality
(4.8)
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Durability
(5)
Summary
The Oboz Bridger Mids are a boot for the serious hiker. They are a boot for the backpacker who walks long distances and the hiker who traverses difficult terrain. If you plan on walking around your neighborhood trails, these boots are perhaps too much. If you plan on venturing into the mountains, however, the Oboz Bridger Mids are a great pick.
Overall
4.9Pros
- Durable
- Grippy
- Can handle long distances
Cons
- Mostly for intense hiking, not a walk around the block
Every chance I get, I go backpacking. There are few activities that provide as much fulfillment and enjoyment. Lucky for me, I live close to one of the premier mountain ranges of the west, the High Uintas. I took the Oboz Mid Boots on their maiden voyage up the Allsop Lake drainage to climb Beulah Peak, one of the hardest peaks to climb in the state of Utah. Loaded with a heavy pack and miles of trail ahead of me, I quickly realized how heavy duty the boots were. Coming up just above the ankle and with heavy duty tread, these boots don’t mess around. The Uintas are notorious for rough, muddy trail, and the Bridger Mid’s had absolutely no problem walking through mud and streams. My feet did not get wet. I even slipped off a log and submerged the boot just below the ankle and stayed dry. When Oboz says ‘Waterproof’, they mean it.
Performance
The Bridger Mids look great. With the all leather upper construction, the boots give off a classic and rugged feel. No bright colors or superfluous features on this boot. Just the accessories that you need. The toe box is very firm, protecting your feet from sharp rocks or anything the trail might throw at you. The tread, which to me is the most important part of a boot, is aggressive. Big lugs in an alternating design provide excellent traction. The Wind River Range is famous for its granite. Many of the hikes I did there required hiking up and down steep slabs of rock. The Oboz Mids did great. I was able to scale relatively steep slabs without worrying about my traction. That’s a big deal.
The Bridger Mids are most at home while backpacking. The strong ankle support and aggressive tread help the backpacker with a heavy backpack. I used to stray from boots like this because I am conscious of weight, but the Oboz Mids are surprisingly light for how much protection they offer. I would not hesitate walking 10+ miles in these boots. They are light enough to go the distance while burly enough to not break down.
The overall toughness of this boot makes it capable of more than just backpacking, however. I have climbed several peaks in these boots, both in the Uintas and Wind Rivers, and have had no problem. The tread is incredibly grippy and does well on talus and scree. Beulah Peak is literally a massive pile of loose rock, and these shoes did great. Hopping from rock to rock, scrambling up class 3 moves, and sliding down small fields of pebbles, the Bridger Mids handled everything I threw at it. What was nice about these boots, compared to say a lighter trail running shoe, is that the height prevents small rocks from entering the boot. I almost always have to stop after climbing a peak to let the rocks out of my shoes. Not with the Bridger Mids.
The Final Word
The Oboz Bridger Mids are a boot for the serious hiker. They are a boot for the backpacker who walks long distances and the hiker who traverses difficult terrain. If you plan on walking around your neighborhood trails, these boots are perhaps too much. If you plan on venturing into the mountains, however, the Oboz Bridger Mids are a great pick.
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Calvin Perfall is an Outdoor Guide, Graduate Student, and overall outdoor enthusiast residing in the great state of Utah. He is an avid backcountry skier, backpacker, peak bagger, and mountain biker.