Oboz Firebrand Hiking Shoes

Footwear

Oboz Firebrand

I recently received a pair of Oboz Women’s Firebrand hiking shoe. (http://www.obozfootwear.com/site/oboz-womens-firebrand.html) The information on the website mentions: “When summer rolls around again, splash through the streams as you head up to Firebrand Pass in Glacier National Park” Unfortunately, I won’t be going to Glacier National Park, but the Firebrands will see plenty of use in wet areas in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont.

They are made from Nubuck Leather and High Abrasion Textile Fabric Uppers. The midsole is two parts – Dual Density EVA and Nylon Shank. For those who are weight conscious, a pair of size 7s weigh 29 oz.

I have worn the Firebrands a few times, making sure to break them in before an all day hike this weekend. The first time I put them on I was shocked at how stiff they felt. I wore them to do some errands and when I got home, I thought about how comfortable they felt. I tend to walk on the insides of my feet, and many of my well-worn shoes are worn down on the inside to the point of being noticeable when I look at them while they are off. I’m sure that can’t be good for my feet! The Oboz hold my feet in the correct position. I am hoping that cuts down of leg fatigue.

What I first thought of as ‘stiffness’ is really very good support. My feet do not feel tired after wearing them all day. The Firebrands are very comfortable and I haven’t had any areas that rub my foot the wrong way. While I am out this weekend – I’ll be seeing how well they handle water, and how well they grip on wet rocks. They are advertised as having: BDRY Waterproof/Breathable Membrane, Gripster Rubber Outsole and a BFIT Tri-Density Footbed. I’ll get back to you on how they work in real-life situations.

Update: 6/7/09

I spent the weekend in the Firebrand hiking shoes. We went on a long day hike Saturday – about 18 miles total. Not much elevation gain, but lots of climbing over rocks and crossing small streams. The shoes have great grip on wet rocks – no slipping or sliding for me! My feet stayed dry even with all the splashing around I did. For most of the day, I managed to keep my feet completely dry. The shoes kept the water out very well – and I kept from stepping in water deep enough to come in from the top. One feature of the shoe I have really come to appreciate is the toe protection. I hit my toes on so many rocks and exposed tree roots, that without the protection I am sure I would have had black and blue toes and a ruined hike home.

After hiking all day, I managed to step into a stream and water flowed into the shoe from the top. The water was pretty cold, as it is in Maine in early June. The water quickly drained out, and my foot while wet, was not cold for long. I hiked for about a half an hour and as I hiked, I could tell the shoe was drying out. When I got to the car, I took off my shoes and socks and put on a pair of sandals. Within two hours, the shoes were dry – inside and out.

On Sunday the kids and I went to a Paddle Sports Festival. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but we had wanted to look at kayaks, as Mike was thinking about replacing his. When we got there, we found out we could try some out in a nice cove along the Atlantic coast. I had the Firebrands on, and was trying to decide if going barefoot was a good idea, or soaking the shoes would be better. Well, the northern Atlantic is pretty cold in June, and there was an abundance of slimy, slippery seaweed, so I decided to wear the shoes. Good choice on my part in the long run. I could climb in and out of the kayaks, in about 6 inches of water. The shoes were laced up fairly snug, so the water didn’t rush in very quickly. My feet did eventually get wet, but not soaked right away. After kayaking for about an hour or so, I got out to take some pictures and look around, and found my socks were soaked. I pulled them off and walked around the grassy area barefoot for a while, letting my feet dry along with my socks and shoes. After eating a great bbq lunch, I decided the shoes were drier than the socks, and just wore the shoes. They were damp, but not too bad to wear without socks. I found them very comfortable and they continued to dry as I wore them. I again took them off in the car and by the time I got home two hours later, they were almost dry. I was concerned that when they dried, they would have a ‘salt water’ smell. Luckily, they seem to have dried without any lingering aromas.

Once again, I was impressed with the great gripping ability. I had no problems climbing in and out of the kayaks, even though they had wet bottoms. I felt more sure footed than usual also. I am really enjoying wearing the Firebrands and am looking forward to some more adventures in them.

Update 7/28/09

This summer has proven to be a great time to review a pair of waterproof hiking shoes.  We’ve had a lot of rain, with only 5 days in July that it didn’t rain at least part of the day.   I tried to get out for at least a short hike a few times a week,  and managed to get in a weekend hike late in the month.   The mud and wet rocks made hiking a challenge at times.  I found that I had to concentrate on what I was doing, much more than usual.  My short day hikes are usually a time to day dream and think about what ever is on my mind.   Lately, I find that I am being more mindful of the trail, and slippery areas.   One the weekend trip to New Hampshire, I was able to wear them as we hiked a 12 mile loop one day.  That night  I was tired, as I am out of practice doing any hikes with elevation gains.  This hike consisted of a lot of ups and downs, with overall gain of about 3200 ft.   It wasn’t hard, but I definitely used different leg muscles than I have been.   Being pretty tired, I slept great both nights, no foot or leg aches to keep me awake.  It was nice to wake up in the morning and feel refreshed – and anxious to get back out on the trail.

View from Mt Meader, Evan's Notch, NH

The Firebrand hikers definitely helped on all my hikes.  I’m sure there were some spots I wouldn’t have been able to navigate through without them.  Below you will see a picture of what they looked like after my last trip.  Thankfully, they rinsed off fairly well.  I’ve really come to appreciate the amount of support they provide – my knees definitely handle longer hikes better in the Firebrands than shoes with less support.

The tread is still very good – I am fairly surprised that they don’t show more signs of wear.  If it weren’t for the dirt, they’d look brand new.

Oboz - with 1/2 the trail mud still hanging on