Oboz Traverse Hiking Shoe

www.obozfootwear.com
It’s always been a personal quest to find a lightweight, low-cut hiking shoe that’s also rugged, has a grippy sole, and fits well. So far, several dozen shoes tried and several dozen were found wanting. Enter the new Oboz Traverse. More about it momentarily. First to the company itself. Oboz is a new name to me, and, according to their website, a labor of love between a bunch of cool outdoor people who hang out around Bozeman, Montana. Great, however shoe companies and shoe designs are not casually put together by  people who know nothing about footwear except what they like. But with a bit of digging I found that a well-known “shoe dog” (that’s what longtime footwear designers and marketers call themselves) is involved in Oboz and that’s good.

Now to the Traverse. These shoes have a wonderful light weight to ruggedness ratio. The uppers feature a mesh that breathes nicely, yet proved surprisingly warm in colder conditions. The last is middle of the road, i.e. not too wide and not too narrow. This could be a problem with narrow feet like mine but thanks to a fast (and secure) lacing system, the shoes can be tightened down for a perfect fit. The shoe’s toes boxes are nice and roomy so your toes have plenty of room to wiggle.
The soles (Granite Peak) look massive (especially the heel) but don’t seem bulky in use. In fact, they provide a solid, torsionally rigid platform, and offer superb grip on any surface including ice.
Best of all, the Traverse are comfortable for short and long hikes and casual wear.
-Bob Woodward
The Traverse will be available in spring 2013