Oboz Crest Low BDry trail shoes for men are a new model launched recently. These are completely synthetic versatile shoes suitable for a variety of outdoor activities and for casual around-town use. I see them as ideal for day hikes or weekend tours, and as approach-type mountaineering and climbing shoes.
Why using Oboz Crest hiking shoes: key features & benefits
- Very comfortable.
- Reliable.
- Versatile.
- Durable.
- Complete protection from elements.
Description
The upper
These are fully synthetic shoes, with numerous overlays which you can see in the pictures. They increase the stability and durability of the shoes, and they look really cool. Being synthetic, the shoes dry fast and, as usual, they require less care and maintenance.
Such a material implies also no break-in time. I have never had any issue with new shoes of this type, and you will see some of them in the comparison table below; but I can tell you the story is completely different with my hard all-leather boots, even after several years of wear. This upper fabric is highly porous, built that way on purpose, so you have an enhanced breathability.
The picture below shows the front which is protected with a rubber overlay, and a lot of extra protection you see also in the heel section where you have a protective counter and a retention strap.
The collar is with a very comfortable and flexible cushion
Waterproofness and Breathability
These Crest shoes are very breathable and completely waterproof, and these features are due to the following three components:
- The Oboz’s proprietary BDry waterproof tape-sealed polyurethane film bootie.
- Hydrophobic upper materials.
- Textile lining which wicks sweat away.
Lacing
The shoes come with a very functional speed lace system which you can see in the picture below. But you also get a spare pair of regular laces.
Insole
The insole is the layer in direct contact with the feet. So this is a moisture-wicking material that helps to keep feet dry and comfortable. You will notice a high-density stiff material in the heel area. It is profiled so that it cradles the heel and keep it in place. With such a design you should have fewer chances for developing blisters.
The front part of the insole is with perforations for ventilation, and on the underside, you have two additional EVA pads for impact absorption, they are visible in the picture above. A medium-density EVA is throughout the rest of the insole.
Midsole
You have a lot of engineering here, all aimed at impact absorption. So you have a compression-molded EVA layer, but on the heel, they have added a PU plug with the purpose of enhancing impact absorption and shock resistance. This is all for an extra comfort in the place where it is essential.
In the middle section, you have an ESS (EVA Super Skin) plate. Practically, this is an extra piece of armor for protection from sharp objects. In addition, there is also a nylon shank for stiffness.
Outsole
In this section, you have Oboz’s Thru-Hiker outsole, a carbon rubber bottom which does not look particularly aggressive in style, see the picture below. But it is with a great balance between a good surface contact which you would want on a smooth rocky surface, and still with lugs deep enough to give good traction on loose trail terrains.
Fitting tips
These shoes are designed with the length that runs true to size, with the standard width, and for medium-volume feet.
Specifications & summary of features
- Best use: hiking, backpacking. around town use.
- Height: low cut.
- Weight M9, pair: 2 x 15.4 oz (2 x 437 g).
- Width: standard.
- Volume: standard.
- Eyelets: 5.
- Rubber toe cap & heel counter.
- Oboz B-DRY waterproof/breathable membrane.
- Upper: all-synthetic highly abrasion-resistant.
- Elastic heel retention strap.
- Speed lacing closure; plus a spare set of standard laces.
- Outsole: Carbon rubber.
- Insole: EVA with plugs, ESS plates.
- One year limited warranty.
About Oboz
Oboz is a really outstanding company. The name is derived from ‘Outside Bozeman’ (the city in Montana). You can read more in my separate text.
Summary & rating
In the conclusion of this Oboz Crest Low BDry Shoes for men review, I wish to stress again that these are shoes from a very reliable brand known for the quality of their products, so I can fully recommend them to anybody. I love the fact that they are all-synthetic; such materials dry quickly and do not require a lot of maintenance. I have just returned from my pre-season tour in the Slovenian Alps where I used equipment which was all-synthetic as usual, so I know the advantages of such materials from my own experience.
See below my detailed rating for these shoes:
Oboz Crest Low BDry Shoe - Men's
$112.50
Pros
- Waterproof.
- Breathable.
- Comfortable.
- Very short break-in time.
- Durable.
Cons
- Only one color.
- Expensive.
You should know also that the technology behind their waterproofness and breathability has already been used in other boots and shoes from Oboz, like in their Bridger model.
Note that there exists also the mid-cut version as well, under the name Oboz Crest Mid BDry Hiking Boots, presented in my another text, just to know if you need something with a better ankle support. If you still need something different, please check my page with quite a number of hiking boots and shoes.
I hope this text has been useful to you. Thank you for visiting my site. Please use the comment box below in the case of questions and comments. I wish you a nice day.
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