Product Review: Oboz Ousel Hiking Shoes

Oboz Ousel Waterproof Low Cut Hiker

When it comes to hiking, few items are more important than a good pair of shoes. The shoes provide the traction over the rough terrain, protect your feet from the jagged rocks and hopefully keep you dry! Nothing makes or breaks a hike faster than the hiking shoe. That is why we were so excited to try out the Oboz Ousel Hiking Shoes. They are only made for women so I had to bring in my friend Brooke to help me out with this product review! Brooke put the Ousel through its paces. She tested it out and wrote this review of her thoughts.

As a disclaimer I would like to mention that I was sent this pair of Oboz Ousel so that I could write this review. All opinions on this page are our own and based on our own experiences with this pair of shoes. I am not compensated for the opinions on this review. Your experience with the shoes may be different. This site also uses affiliate marketing ads. If you click on the buttons below and make a purchase I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

About Brooke

Brooke is a friend I met on a trail near Salt Lake. We met trying to figure out the best way down a sheer a rockface and that is where trust is formed! Brooke is an outdoor enthusiast, lifestyle model and hiker who loves to hit the trails on all of her travels. She has quickly become a friend and go to when it comes to reviews on women’s hiking gear for Fatmanlittletrail.com. You can follow her adventures on her Instagram page below. Thanks Brooke!

From Oboz

Before I get into my opinions I wanted to share some of the specs on the Ousel Waterproof Low Cut Hiker. In describing the Ousel, Oboz summoned the kids in all of us, “We all know that not every day is filled with sunshine and smiles, so we’ve added our highly breathable B-DRY waterproof technology to the Ousel to keep feet dry on those early morning dog walks or mud season jaunts. So stomp through those puddles in confidence!” Here are the rest of the specs from Oboz.com.

Specs

Price*

$145.00 usd

Sizes*

5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 10.5, 11, 12

Width*

• Regular and Wide options for all sizes.

Fit Notes*

We use our own gender-specific lasts to address the anatomical nuances between different types of feet. Length runs true to size. Form hugging heel cup, sculpted mid-foot, and a generous forefoot & toe box.

Technical:

Width

Standard – Women’s standard width is B in the heel and C in the forefoot (according to Brannock Device®). Patterns and materials in a given model may influence fit. We always recommend trying our footwear on to ensure the best possible fit.

Volume

Standard — Medium-High volume feet tend to be wider with higher arches and insteps.

Weight

12.3 oz./349 grams

Upper Material

• ‘Buttersoft’ LWG gold certified nubuck leather
• Abrasion-resistant breathable mesh
• Coated leather toe & heel cap
• Breathable mesh tongue
• B-DRY Waterproof Membrane
• Welded lace eyelets

Colors*

Cndr Stone, Port

*All spec information directly from Oboz.com

What I liked (From Brooke)

All of us avid hikers know the power of a great pair of hiking shoes (and wool socks!) and may have learned at one point or another the hard way of skimping on them. I had the blisters and foot/leg pain to prove it! I know I am guilty of this and can confidently say I will never, ever make that mistake again. Recently, I tested out the Oboz Ousel waterproof ankle boot and wanted to share my overall positive experience with you.

Fit (From Brooke)

I always worry about how a waterproof shoe will fit as they are often built sturdier and feel more hard upon initial use. I was pleasantly surprised when I first slipped my feet into these boots. They are not the typical tight and uncomfortable boots that I run into when I am typically in search of waterproof shoes. I’d consider them a happy medium of both comfort and sturdiness, even though still leaning more towards a stiffer fit.

The Look (From Brooke)

I typically gravitate toward all things colorful and bright when purchasing hiking gear. These boots were quite the contrast in what I typically use.In person, the color appears taupe-like. I loved how neutral they were and could literally go with anything I put together.

The height of the boot is just under the ankle and it is a laced- up style boot. It has breathable mesh, yet is lined in waterproof material. The front of the shoe is generous in size without looking too boxy and like I stepped out of a circus. Not too wide, yet not too narrow. Perfect for a medium sized width foot like mine.

The Grip Scale

On a slip scale from worst to best of: Oh-HOLY COW–NO NO NO, Woah, Not Bad, I Got This, No Worries I gave this shoe a HOLD MY DRINK! I GOT THIS!

Testing the Traction

If you ever want to give hiking boots the true test of time, take them along with you to a trip to the Adirondacks in Upstate New York. What a perfect way to break in the boots then in terrain like the ADK. If you know anything about this magical place, you know there are extremely steep ascents in short distances and plenty of rocks to hike up. And in my experience, there is always plenty of mud and rain too. Perfect for boots that claim they are waterproof and are known for their grip traction.

I want to start off by talking about the grip traction in the damp terrain and the mud and rain, which I experienced in two of my trips to the ADK this Fall. I chose to do “hard” terrain both times which included extremely steep ascents in short distances. Add mud and rain to the equation and I had myself one heck of a mix….and adventure! On the first hike, I was ascending over 2,000 + ft in under 2 miles. It was A LOT on the body and I was worried because it was my first time wearing these shoes. I knew with that came the risk of blisters and lots of discomfort if these boots weren’t any good.

A big part of making it to the summit of this never ending trail and making it back down safely is highly attributed to the grip on the boot. The grip and pad are SOLID! The rocks I was climbing up were SUPER slippery and I had to be strategic in every step I took. Even the best shoe was not going to help me if I took one wrong step.

Wet or Dry in the Oboz Ousel Waterproof Hiking Shoe

I remember another hiker warning me on my way up that she kept slipping and that my feet would get soaked on this hike like her and other hikers did. Naturally, these boots of course got mud on them, but my feet never got soaked walking in all of those puddles. They were relatively deep too. I did get some water into the boot, but my feet stayed dry and the water that did seep in dried up real quick too.

After returning from ADK, I wanted to try out my boots in drier terrain and took them on flatter lands near me. I did trails that consisted of both dirt and rocks alike to see if I noticed any difference in the grip without damp terrain. The boots held up just as well in a less drastic setting and maintained the same grip on some of the loose rocks.

Overall Grip (From Brooke)

I was impressed with the overall grip of these shoes. I felt they held up well in every terrain: bouldering/ rock walking , damp tread, dry trail, mud-everything! The protection and pad of these shoes really kept my feet stable and in place on slippery slopes, especially going downhill. I know there’s no guarantee for even the best of shoes as one wrong step in bad weather conditions can send you tumbling. I felt confident with these as they definitely saved me a few times in the rain. They felt sturdy, but comfortable on every terrain I was able to take them on. I’d prefer a shoe like this in more extreme weather conditions as I think a grip like this is a little much for my preference on flat surfaces , grass, or packed dirt.

What I didn’t Like (From Brooke)

It was really hard for me to come up with something that I didn’t like about this shoe. I genuinely love Oboz and believe they are a quality brand! If I had to pick something, I would say the overall boot was a little stiff and hard to break in, even though as I mentioned a good happy medium. It wasn’t an annoyance and something that hindered any of my hiking experiences.

With that being said, I’m also comparing these to my main trail shoes (and past ones) that are very lightweight and feel like I’m walking on a cloud. I know when it comes to waterproof, that they typically feel more sturdy and stiff (based on past experience) as that’s what the boots are intended for. As I mentioned, I’d probably lean more towards using a boot like this in terrain that is not as dry or flat as having that much grip is not necessary for me otherwise.

Wrap Up of Oboz Ousel Hiking Shoe (From Brooke)

I don’t think I ever took what I wore on my feet as seriously as I do now being in my late 30’s, but when I did become older and wiser- I began to extensively research hiking shoes. Oboz was always a brand I remember seeing people rave about. I was always curious, but I had never tried them as I was religious to another brand I love. It’s hard for me to stray away from things that I know work for me, but thankfully I got a chance to give the brand a shot and I can’t say I’m disappointed at all.

I truly loved these boots and would recommend them to any of my friends! I think Oboz nailed the happy medium of a waterproof boot- not too heavy or not too clunky on the foot- like I had experienced with other hiking shoes. Plus, I think that was one of my biggest concerns trying these out in a place as extreme in terrain and weather as ADK. I knew it was a gamble and I could either have an extremely bad day or an extremely good day. But I also knew doing so would truly help me see if Oboz really provided the level of quality in dryness and support that it claims. I can confidently say that it does both 🙂

More from the Fatman

For a list of other products that I have reviewed you can check my Product Review page here. If you have any products you would like me to review or any comments you can email me at fatmanlittletrails@gmail.com or you can follow me on any of the below social media platforms. Happy Hiking!