Oboz Gallatin Low-cut Hiking Boot

Oboz has released a new low-cut hiker that bridges the gap between casual and durable. The boots ventured from Oregon to El Salvador in an all-out test for comfort and performance.

The multi -sport Oboz Gallatin fit my needs nicely as a good all-around shoe that worked well on day hikes, around town, and were even comfortable to wear on a plane, but small enough to pack easily in a duffel.

The tread patterns is not over the top, but gripped well and didn’t cake with sand and mud; small rubber circles break up mud clogs. They also cleaned easily and even feature a topo map.

For a low-cut shoe, the Gallatins had great foot support while going down cliffs and through terrain that resembled Swiss cheese. In El Salvador, I didn’t have any foot rolling problems even on nasty hills.

The Gallatins are also waterproof, which came in handy on multiple stream & puddle crossings. The water beads up and rolls off Oboz’s own waterproof/breathable membrane. They have an oiled suede and nubuck leather upper, and bomber rubber toe.

In Oregon, the shoes put up with extremely abrasive rocks, and in El Salvador, light jungle treks with thorns were no match. The shoes were great for 5-mile hikes with a 25-pound pack; for more serious treks I’d want a bit more support.

I started hiking with them right out of the box and was impressed with the comfort. I have wide feet, so it was a relief not to have any rubbing out of the box. In El Salvador, the shoes breathed well and weren’t hot in the stifling heat.

Photos & text by Joe Flowers