Review on Keep Your Feet Dry On Trail With Oboz Men'S Bridger Low B-Dry Waterproof Hiking Shoe by James Rogers

I have always worn heavy hiking boots with steel shanks. They provided great support and protection for the hikes I used to do. However, I don't do those hikes anymore and needed something that was lighter but would still provide good support for my feet. I saw the description and reviews for these Oboz Bridger Low boots and took a chance. The first impression was that these things are stiff. I mean, really stiff. They felt more like road cycling shoes than hikers and I hoped they'd loosen up a little. After the first day the foot insole molded to my feet and they loosened up a little. After about 10 or 15 miles of use, they're still a little stiff but not so much that you can't use them as daily shoes. I've used them in the office and on dirt and road walks and they're working fine. The cleats/outsoles are pretty rugged and, in my opinion, relegate them more to trails and hikes versus daily wearing on concrete. If you're looking for something to wear around the office or wear on hard surfaces, there are probably better choices. With that said, I am using them daily. The toe box width is good and gives me lots of room to move. I can't attest to their waterproof ability. They're low hikers so regardless, if you're out on the trail, water will likely seep in from the ankles. That's not a knock on these Oboz but is just a reality to the type of boot it is. I wear an 11 and these fit fine but there's not a lot of extra room. I won't wear thick socks with these.they're summer hikers. Wearing mid-weight hiking socks was ok. Again, the 11s fit almost perfectly but don't leave a lot of extra room for thick socks. Regular crew socks just about fill these out without getting tight. The heels fit fine and don't slip. I have high arches and these feel fine. I have little foot fatigue when worn on long walks/hikes of 6 or 7 miles (so far) whereas other shoes will leave my feet tired. I got the Dark Shadow and my wife says they look good so they get style points. They're not cheap but, if they hold up, they are a really good option for the person looking for a stiff, light hiker.