Males’s Oboz Bridger 8″ Insulated Winter Boot Overview

Backside Line

The Oboz Bridger 8” Insulated Boot is a sturdy winter mountain climbing boot constructed for tackling rugged terrain and chilly climates. Over two months, Gear analyst Miles Knotek wore the insulated Oboz Bridger on a number of hikes in Alaska by means of mud, slush, and ice water to check its consolation, traction, climate resistance, and sturdiness.

Its waterproof nubuck leather-based higher, paired with an Oboz B-DRY membrane, ensures your toes keep dry in moist circumstances. The boot options 200g of Thinsulate insulation, offering dependable heat for winter hikes, and its molded rubber toe cap provides added safety in opposition to abrasions. Its distinctive mix of Oboz’s proprietary know-how paired with the classical reliability of leather-based makes it considered one of our finest mountain climbing boots.

The Bridger requires a chronic break-in interval and may really feel stiff and cumbersome due to the stiff ankles. Totally waterproof, these boots are nice for splashing by means of slush and puddles and can hold your toes dry.

Though it lacks traction in comparison with different boots we examined, the Bridger is a good all-around boot. It’s not our first selection for lengthy backcountry excursions, however we prefer it for in-town and front-country trails.

Consolation

When first carrying the insulated Oboz Bridger, it felt very stiff and clunky. This isn’t something new to those that put on leather-based boots, however the Bridger required an prolonged break-in interval, particularly the shaft. Though the 8-inch top supplies nice ankle help and climate safety, there may be little to no flex from the ankle up, making it tiresome to stroll in for lengthy durations. Finally, our pair started to flex extra and felt extra comfy strolling.

We discovered that the boots have a normal form and match true to measurement. It’s not essentially the most comfy boot we examined, the Bridger 8” Insulated Boot felt like a well-constructed boot with reasonable cushion.

Heat

With 200 grams of Thinsulate, we discovered that the Oboz Bridger supplies nice heat for many winter circumstances. The boots themselves should not have as a lot lifeless airspace within the toes as others examined, however we nonetheless discovered their insulation to be greater than sufficient. The insoles have a skinny heat-reflecting lining to them underneath the forefoot and toes. This considerate characteristic helps add further heat to your extremities. When you really feel like 200 grams of insulation shouldn’t be sufficient, the ten-inch model of the Bridger comes with 400 grams of Thinsulate for critical heat.

Traction

We used the Oboz Bridgers on quite a few hikes in a variety of winter circumstances. From muddy and moist shoulder season trails to the snow and ice of deep winter, we took these boots out on as many various surfaces as attainable. The Bridger provided stable traction on dry trails however fell brief when circumstances turned moist, icy, or snowy. The sticky rubber carried out effectively on stable floor, however the shallow lugs struggled to chunk into snow, limiting our grip on slippery surfaces. The rockered sole, designed for a clean stride, reduces floor space contact and makes it tougher to dig into snow for stability. We discovered ourselves slipping and sliding way more in these than different boots examined, so they don’t seem to be our best choice for an icy day. They carried out finest in shoulder season circumstances with combined dust, mud, and just a little snow.

Climate Resistance

Examined within the snow and rain of coastal Alaska, the insulated Bridger is a good boot to put on when the climate will get moist.

We beloved carrying the Oboz Bridger on moist and muddy hikes because it’s utterly waterproof to the highest of the shaft. The connected tongue is a good characteristic that retains water from coming into the entrance of the boot. We didn’t discover any lower within the boots’ climate resistance over time since they’re constructed with nubuck leather-based and coated with a DWR end. Nonetheless, the highest of the shaft didn’t tighten in addition to we wish, leaving the again of the boot open for snow to enter. This makes the Bridger much less appropriate for deep snow, however that drawback is well mounted by attaching gaiters to the built-in D-ring on the toe.

Sturdiness

The insulated Oboz Bridger is constructed with sturdy and resilient nubuck leather-based that has proven no indicators of weak spot after being scuffed in opposition to rocks and brought by means of mud and water repeatedly. We love the sturdiness of a leather-based boot, and our Bridger has delivered dependable efficiency hike after hike. 

Nonetheless, two design decisions depart us questioning about long-term sturdiness. Whereas the entire lace hooks and loops are riveted steel, the underside two ranges are skinny strips of webbing. In our expertise with different boots, these could be among the first locations to wear down. Moreover, there isn’t any rubber rand previous the toe cap that connects round to the heel. The flex level of the boot is thru the leather-based outer, related to the midsole with out the rubber safety discovered round the remainder of the boot. Though it reveals no indicators of weak spot but, that’s one other stress level to control.

Ought to You Purchase the Oboz Bridger 8″ Insulated?

The Oboz Bridger 8” Insulated is a sturdy, waterproof, and dependable boot that mixes the traditional rugged construct of leather-based with trendy updates. This can be a nice boot for anybody mountain climbing on moist, muddy, and snowy trails, and it’s fashionable sufficient to put on round city. Nonetheless, it lacks among the high-end efficiency required for lengthy days within the backcountry  – not less than in our gear analyst’s Alaskan dwelling. for lengthy days within the backcountry. Nonetheless, the insulated model of the Oboz Bridger is a good all-arounder. When you’re on the lookout for one boot to put on for a number of makes use of, you’ll be able to’t go fallacious with the Bridger.

What different winter boots must you take into account?

For extra choices, try our full information to the finest winter boots. 

Eager Revel IV Polar Overview – With an analogous leather-based development to the Bridger, the Eager Revel IV Polar provides extra sturdiness and higher traction on snowy surfaces.

The North Face Chilkat V 400 Overview – When you’re on the lookout for a boot with a taller shaft top and higher efficiency in chilly climate, the Chilkat is a real winter boot that excels in chilly temperatures.

Kamik Atwater Overview – For a extra informal boot, the Atwater nonetheless has dependable leather-based development however is extra comfy and has higher traction for days round city.