Oboz Footwear has lengthy been my favourite mountain climbing shoe model. I’ve been sporting them nearly completely for mountain climbing and backpacking since 2017. The brand new Oboz Katabatic, one in all their lightest mountain climbing sneakers so far, simply dropped and it has shortly made its means into my rotation.
The Katabatic is a flexible mountain climbing shoe, excellent for mild and quick mountain climbing, on a regular basis put on, and even path operating. Its powerful development means it may well deal with any terrain you throw at it. At 1 lb, 4 oz per pair, they’re a number of the lightest weight mountain climbing sneakers in the marketplace.
For the previous few weeks, the Bearfoot Concept crew and I’ve been testing them out on hikes of every kind – from straightforward strolls across the neighborhood to lengthy day hikes and even path runs. Collectively we are able to confidently say that they’ve carried out extremely properly on quite a lot of terrain.
Right here’s our full evaluation of the Oboz Katabatic mild and quick mountain climbing shoe.
GIVEAWAY: We’re gifting away 6 pairs of the Oboz Katabatic! You’ll want to enter the giveaway on the finish for the prospect to win a pair of your personal.
Sponsored by Oboz Footwear
I’ve been sporting Oboz mountain climbing boots since 2017 and now work with them as an Ambassador. Primarily based in Bozeman, Montana, I consider Oboz Footwear makes essentially the most supportive, comfy, and sturdy mountain climbing boots in the marketplace. Plus, the individuals behind the model are simply as nice as their sneakers, they usually plant a tree for each pair bought. We solely advocate merchandise we actually love and assume you’ll love too.
First Impressions of the Oboz Katabatic
The Oboz Katabatic has shortly grow to be my go-to on a regular basis shoe. They’re comfy proper out of the field, light-weight, and versatile but supportive. I’ve been sporting them for lengthy neighborhood walks, day hikes within the native hills, and even round city when operating errands. They’re so comfy, versatile, and low profile that they actually might be worn wherever.
As a result of I spend loads of my time dwelling and touring in my Sprinter van, I would like to think twice about what sort of footwear I convey with me on the highway. I rely closely on comfy and versatile mountain climbing sneakers that may be worn on the path, at campsites, and even round city.
The Oboz Katabatic checks all these packing containers and is what I introduced as my on a regular basis shoe in my van this summer time. Whereas I’ve the Oboz Sypes in my gear closet at house for heartier hikes after I need ankle assist and my Oboz Bridgers for backpacking journeys after I’m carrying a heavy load, the Oboz Katabatic is my new favourite for shorter day hikes and on a regular basis put on. I’ve additionally had some ankle sensitivity ever since I used to be pregnant so low mountain climbing sneakers are my go-to proper now.
I additionally love that the soles are grippy with loads of traction to maintain you from slipping on these slick sections of rock and scree on the path. The soles additionally permit the shoe to flex along with your actions, not like heavier mountain climbing sneakers that are typically extra inflexible.
Oboz Katabatic Options
Oboz needed to make a lighter, extra nimble mountain climbing shoe with out sacrificing traction, cushioning, and assist and we predict they completely nailed it with the Katabatic. It’s the candy spot between a path runner and a mountain climbing shoe.
The Katabatic will provide help to go quick, mild, and much, and the design is the results of hundreds of miles of testing and refining. They’re particularly engineered to adapt to numerous terrain, permit for the pure biomechanics of the foot, and return as a lot vitality as potential with out weighing you down for an environment friendly journey.
Listed here are a number of the key options:
- Oboz’s O FIT Insole® gives consolation and assist for quite a lot of foot shapes and arch ranges to permit the foot to maneuver extra naturally within the shoe
- Aggressive tread gives main slip resistance and long-term sturdiness
- Improved B-DRY lining provides 5x extra waterproofness & breathability than earlier than to the waterproof model, plus it’s 100% recyclable and made out of 25% post-industrial waste
- The form is gender particular for a extra customized match
- Mesh higher permits ft to breathe whereas protecting out particles
- Rubber heel counter protects the heel, important for foot well being and stability
- Overlays and toe cap present sturdiness and safety on the path
Oboz Katabatic Match & Really feel
The Oboz Katabatic are comfy proper out of the field with no break-in interval wanted so you should buy a pair and head proper out the door. Whereas they’re light-weight and versatile, in addition they really feel tremendous supportive, sturdy, and durable so you may really feel assured on the path. The sneakers run true to dimension with out feeling too cramped.
Everybody’s ft are a bit completely different, and what’s good concerning the Katabatic is that they match a variety of ft varieties. For instance, I’ve a slender heel and a mean forefoot, whereas Bearfoot Concept’s Director Linda has large ft with low arches, and BFT crew member Courtney has excessive arches that she generally wants particular insoles for. The Oboz Katabatic manages to suit all of us comfortably.
My slender heels make me vulnerable to heel slippage if a mountain climbing shoe doesn’t match me proper, however I discovered that the heel pocket of the Oboz Katabatic is deep sufficient and cushty sufficient to forestall this. My ft keep in place properly whereas I hike, and I haven’t gotten a single blister or sore spot.
Greatest Makes use of for the Oboz Katabatic
What I actually love concerning the Oboz Katabatic is its versatility. Whether or not your day features a hike, bike journey, hanging round at camp, operating errands round city, path operating, and even backpacking, this shoe is really multi-purpose.
Once I first examined them, I used to be simply beginning to get again outdoors after having a child and I wore them on lengthy walks across the neighborhood and on native trails.
Linda took them on a tenting journey to Yosemite and ended up sporting them all the time. They have been comfy all day lengthy and he or she wore them for every part from walks on paved trails with the household to lengthy bike rides, strenuous uphill hikes, and for hanging round camp.
Listed here are a number of the finest makes use of for the Oboz Katabatic.
Mountaineering
With their low ankle and pure articulation, the Oboz Katabatic is designed for quick and light-weight mountain climbing. The pair solely weighs 1 lb 4 oz collectively, and the only real gives loads of traction for quite a lot of surfaces and can preserve you fast in your toes. The only has ample cushion for rocks and uneven terrain, making them comfy and supportive for longer hikes as properly.
Path Working
The Oboz Katabatic makes a nice path operating shoe, particularly for those who’re on the lookout for one thing that’s an all-in-one-solution for various actions. They’re a bit beefier and appear to be extra sturdy than different path runners we’ve tried in order that they’ll provide you with a bit extra assist on rocky terrain and should last more as properly, however they’re nonetheless light-weight and nimble so you may transfer freely with out being weighed down.
Backpacking
Whereas I personally choose a stiffer mountain climbing boot just like the Oboz Bridger for backpacking journeys to supply extra assist and stability whereas carrying a heavy load, I do know many individuals preferring to hike and backpack in path trainers since they’re so light-weight and environment friendly. In case you fall into this class, the Katabatic, which additionally is available in a mid-ankle model (extra on that under), can be an excellent possibility to contemplate for backpacking, particularly if you wish to go quick and light-weight.
We might see these changing into a favourite of ultra-light lengthy distance backpackers that don’t wish to be weighed down by a heavy boot.
Biking and Different Actions
The Oboz Katabatic is nice for bike rides since they’re so light-weight and versatile. Plus the multi-directional grooves on the only real forestall your ft from slipping on the bike pedals. Linda wore these whereas biking round Yosemite Nationwide Park on the paved bike trails and beloved with the ability to go from bike to mountain climbing path with ease.
Journey
The Oboz Katabatic will also be worn as an on a regular basis shoe and make for an excellent journey companion because it’s so versatile, light-weight, and low profile. Courtney packed these sneakers for a visit to Guatemala and loves that they’re rugged sufficient for mountain climbing whereas being trendy sufficient to put on round city with out wanting like full-on mountain climbing boots. Having the ability to convey only one pair of sneakers for all of the energetic pursuits throughout your journey is a large profit since sneakers take up loads of area!
Oboz Katabatic Fashions
The Oboz Katabatic are available in a water-proof and non-waterproof model, in addition to a low and mid model in quite a lot of colours.
Waterproof vs Non-Waterproof
We examined each the waterproof and non-waterproof variations of the Oboz Katabatic and located the non-waterproof model to be extra breathable than the waterproof model as to be anticipated.
The non-waterproof Katabatic has a mesh higher which permits for extra breathability in scorching temps whereas the waterproof model makes use of Oboz’s B-DRY lining to maintain out water. This lining reduces the breathability in comparison with the non-waterproof model nevertheless it’s nonetheless designed to permit for some breathability to forestall your ft from getting uncomfortably scorching (plus the brand new and improved B-DRY lining gives 5x extra waterproofing and breathability in comparison with older Oboz fashions).
In case you dwell someplace the place it rains quite a bit and you realize you need your path sneakers to be waterproof, then the waterproof Oboz Katabatic will likely be an excellent possibility for you. In case you’re on the lookout for extra breathability and one thing you may put on comfortably in hotter climates, we advocate the non-waterproof Katabatic.
Linda lives in Baja California the place many of the mountain climbing she does is scorching and dry so she went with the non-waterproof model for optimum breathability and air flow.
Since all of my different mountain climbing sneakers are waterproof, I went with the non-waterproof Katabatic for breathability and performance that my different sneakers don’t present.
Courtney lives and travels full time in her van and needed one thing versatile she might put on in all forms of climate so she has been loving the waterproof model.
Mid vs Low
The Oboz Katabatic is available in each a mid and a low model. Which one is finest actually comes all the way down to the terrain, the load you might be carrying, and private choice.
Whereas we haven’t tried the mid-ankle model of the Katabatic ourselves, we predict they’re fairly stylin’ and are an excellent possibility if you need a lightweight and quick mountain climbing boot with ankle assist.
The low model doesn’t present ankle assist, however they do really feel supportive general, plus they’re extra light-weight and nimble than the mid model and might be worn for operating along with mountain climbing.
Why We Love Oboz
We love Oboz as a result of the individuals behind the model are simply as superior as their sneakers. Plus, as a model, Oboz places the planet first. They plant a tree for each pair of Oboz bought (greater than 5 million and counting!), they usually donate sneakers to nonprofits that assist distribute them to individuals in want.
100% of the vitality they use of their Bozeman workplace comes from renewable sources like wind, photo voltaic, and biomass, they usually carbon offset all their shoe shipments.
Plus, whereas Oboz has been totally dedicated to environmental and social accountability since its starting, they’re now a licensed B Corp® which implies that they meet stringent requirements for constructive social and environmental influence.
Now that’s the sort of model that we wish to assist and stand behind, and we hope you’ll too!
The place to Purchase the Oboz Katabatic
The Oboz Katabatic can be found by quite a lot of outside retailers together with REI, Backcountry, and Oboz Footwear’s web site. They arrive in each males’s and girls’s and a low or mid model in each waterproof and non-waterproof in quite a lot of colours.
Listed here are a number of the present Oboz Katabatic types and colours out there
Oboz Katabatic Mountaineering Shoe Giveaway
In partnership with Oboz Footwear, we’re gifting away six pairs of the brand new Oboz Katabatic mountain climbing sneakers! Every winner will get to select their desired type (mid or low, waterproof or non-waterproof), colour, and dimension.
Enter to win under and share with your pals!
Associated
