Oboz Footwear Emerald Peak Shoes

Truth be told, I’d never heard of Oboz Footwear until Outdoor Retailer. When I find brands that I like, especially in footwear, I tend to stick to what I know works. Oboz sent over the Emerald Peak hiking shoe to help me round out my collection of boots.

At 9.3 oz, these are light and won’t weigh you down. A mesh upper keeps your feet sweat-free while you’re on the go. The custom insole, designed by Oboz, gives you comfortable arch support. The midsole contains a nylon shank, while the outsole is made of Hyalite for a light, but rugged sole. EVA Super Skin forefoot armoring protects your feet from bruising.

The Oboz Footwear Emerald Peak shoes are fairly average, but solidly performing. I’ve been primarily using these as an approach shoe because they’re the only real low-cut shoe that I have. I struggle to trust my feet on steep granite because I feel like they’re not as sticky as my Salewas which is a very specific use-case.

For general hiking and wandering around, these are great. Oboz does an outstanding job of paying attention to little details with a gaiter-like fabric around the ankle to keep rocks out and your heel in, or the topo map imprint on the sole. Protip: the insoles in the Oboz shoes are great; don’t swap them out because I immediately regretted that.

Buy through CampSaver or Amazon for $110.

Last updated on December 4, 2017.