ObozOboz Men's Firebrand II Low B-Dry Hiking Shoe, Earth, 13

oboz are a good shoe, but , from my exrperience, they run small, i thought i could "break in this shoe...it is way tougher than my foot, i ended up with foot pain ...try 1 size larger!!

I made the switch from Merrel to Oboz last year with a pair of of the "Bridger" boots. I really liked them a lot. So, I decided to try these this year as I was looking for something a little lighter for an upcoming trip to upstate new york.I broke them in for a week or two on our farm before heading to New York for 2 weeks of hiking, camping, and canoeing. Sorry Oboz, I think you make quality shoes but these ones, for me at least, are a swing and a miss.I'll start with 2 positive points. Traction was really good. I crossed a lot of streams and creeks on our trip and they did really well on wet rocks. Not so well on wet roots but I've never had a shoe that does.Second is that they did keep my feet pretty dry. I hiked through some pretty wet days and they did pretty good. They aren't waterproof really so if it was too wet I used another pair of boots but these did fairly well with wet.Overall though I hated these. From the moment I put them on I felt the sole was too tall and the fit was tight. Not the kind of tight that makes you think the sizing is wrong... but the kind of tight that is just like uncomfortably built and designed.I put probably 100 miles on them in our 2 weeks in the Adirondacks and they just never got comfortable. I felt they were very prone to twisting my ankle because they felt tall like clogs. They hurt the tops of my feet and overall I just felt disappointed. I was glad I brought along a backup pair of boots that I ended up using on some of the wetter days because on those days I got some relief from these boots. I just couldn't wear them every day because they are too hot.I guess these will just become a nice pair of shoes for when I'm out and about in town but I wont take these "off road" again.

Great fit, the roomy Toe Box helps my flat feet (thank you Marine Corps..lol) to be comfy.

The only hiking shoe that might be better would be a high top shoe. In this case I wanted a low shoe that provided a solid sole with a shank of some sort. I did have a long thorn from a mesquite penetrate through the sole and into the insole of the shoe. I don't see this as a product failure as these thorns will penetrate a truck tire.After trying the shoes for a short time in the house I almost returned them. I trued several other makes that I could find locally and was not satisfied with any. After another day or so wearing the shoes inside the house they broke in and are now quite comfortable. I mention this because you can expect a short break in period where they may not feel comfortable to you. I am difficult to please when it comes to foot comfort. These please me.

I think the arch support is far too high. I cannot wear the original arch support in them, as they hurt my arches. They appear to be wearing well. Time will tell.One year later, I have really liked these shoes. The are solid, wear well and I would not hesitate to buy again. I changed my rating to a five. I really can't ask for more except the insole may need replacing.

PRO: Without exaggeration, the best! Well made, ergonomic, no rubbing. Fit so nice, I can undo the laces and walk around like in flip flops comfortably. Serious hiking treads. Plus they look mega cool; dress-em-up, dress-em-down whatever. CON: Stepped in a 3"-deep puddle and some water came in thru the stitching near the front, but that's reasonable. I plan to treat them with a waterproofer spray. And I expect they'll last me years and years. Worth every penny.

Very good shoe. A little rubbing on ankle bone but doesn’t hurt just a cautious comment and as I use them more I’ll rewrite if need be

This is the work truck of hiking shoes. Very well built and sturdy. Comfortable right out of the box for my foot. My first pair lasted two years and hundreds of miles if not give or take thousands. Through work and trail this was my daily walker. My first pair blew out cause I don't baby my shoes they were used and abused and lasted two years. Had Merrell and keen before and they only last a year with my outdoor lifestyle. As long as the make OBOZ FIREBRAND II I will buy them again.