The Oboz Bridger 10″ BDry is an insulated winter hiking and snowshoeing boot with a BDry waterproof/breathable membrane and 400 grams of Thinsulate insulation, making them suitable for cold weather use. Oboz doesn't publish a temperature rating for them but they're comparable to other 400 gram insulated winter hiking boots (-40F) in terms of warmth.
The Bridger 10 has thick Nubuck leather uppers and a beefy, rubber front toe kick providing your toes with ample protection when wearing snowshoes or if you have to kick steps into hard snow. The tongue is gusseted to prevent water from leaking into the boot if you step into a deep puddle, and there's a front gaiter ring at the base of the laces. The back of the boot has a rigid heel cup that gives the boot excellent stability and has a narrow protruding "shelf" to capture a rear snowshoe strap.
The upper part of the boot is fairly stiff out of the box, but loosens up with use. But while the Bridger 10″ looks like a boot, it wears more like a running shoe, with a noticeable curved rocker that makes them easier to walk with.
In terms of sizing, the Bridger 10″ boots run narrow and about a 1/2 size small, so size up. Oboz says that the heel is a size "C" width, which is indeed narrow, while the toe box is a regular size "D" width. The Bridger 10″ is NOT available in wide sizes, like many of Oboz's other boots, so be forewarned. Unfortunately, the Bridger 10″ is the only 400 gram insulated boot made by Oboz and their other models, some which are available in wide widths, only have 200 grams of Thinsulate insulation.
The Bridger 10″ comes with a wool covered insole that is coated on the bottom with reflective mylar. The insole is sculpted to cup your heel and has a small shock absorbing pad underneath. It provides good arch support and is a superior insole as manufacturer insoles go. But I'd still recommend swapping it out with an aftermarket insole, like a Superfeet Green, because it prevents the pronation, which can lead to plantar fasciitis.
The Bridger 10″ has an aggressive exterior sole with big lugs that provides excellent traction on snow and off. The lugs run up the sides of the sole a bit, making them good for scrambling on loose gravel or open ledge. If you've owned Oboz trail shoes or boots, then you're probably familiar with the Granite Peak outsole used on the Bridger 10″, since it's also found on many of Oboz's other hiking shoes. Of course, you'll still need microspikes or snowshoes when snow and ice make the scene. The sole has a nylon shank that provides very firm heel support with a TPU chassis to absorb shocks and a high arch for gaiter compatibility. A men's 11 weighs 3 lbs 7.7 oz/pair.
The lacing system uses a combination of fabric loops, metal eyes, and speed hooks near the top collar. However, the laces have a habit of untying themselves, so I usually triple knot them so they don't come undone. The laces are round and I suspect that switching to flat laces will help ameliorate the problem, but I'll leave that as an exercise for the reader.
Recommendation
The Oboz Bridger 10″ is a comfortable and warm winter boot with excellent traction. The high cuffs provide excellent ankle support and help seal in the heat, while the boot's beefy leather uppers provide excellent protection and durability. The aggressive Granite Peak lugged sole is identical to that used on many of Oboz's other boots and shoes and equally capable in snow and slush. If you already use Oboz boots or shoes, and love the way they fit, then getting the Bridger 10's is probably a no brainer, provided you don't need a wide width. If you've never tried a Oboz boot, these are great cold weather hikers, well-built and with plenty of protection to keep your feet warm and happy on long, all day hikes and snowshoeing trips. The Oboz Bridger 9″ is the women's version of this 400 gram insulated hiking boot.
Compare 2 Prices
Disclosure: Oboz provided the author with a pair of boots for this review.
Help support this site by making your next gear purchase through one of the links above. Click a link, buy what you need, and the seller will contribute a portion of the purchase price to support SectionHiker's unsponsored gear reviews, articles, and hiking guides.The post Oboz Bridger 10″ BDry Winter Hiking Boots Review appeared first on Section Hikers Backpacking Blog.
from Section Hikers Backpacking Blog https://ift.tt/2Kry7O7
No comments:
Post a Comment