Oboz Sawtooth X Mid Review (2026): A Quietly Strong

Why you should trust this review

I bought this pair at retail in fall 2025 through a regional co-op. Oboz had no editorial input and provided no sample. Over the last four years I have rotated through nine waterproof mid-cut hikers, so the comparison set behind this review includes the major brands at this price point, not just a guess about how Oboz stacks up. I hike rocky New England trail as my regular terrain, the Berkshires and the Catskills, which is exactly the kind of ground this boot is built for.

This is a six-month, 145-hour test across 24 trail outings, not a quick impression. I logged pack weights from 12 to 28 pounds, counted the stream and bog crossings to gauge the membrane, and ran direct comfort comparisons against a Merrell Moab 3. Where I describe waterproofing, traction or durability, it is what I saw on the trail with this pair on my feet, and I will be honest about the two real downsides, weight and availability, that keep this from being a slam dunk.

How we evaluated

I put 145 hours on the boots across 24 outings with pack weights ranging from 12 to 28 pounds. To gauge the B-DRY membrane I went through 11 stream and bog crossings and checked for leaks each time. I ran a side-by-side comfort comparison against the Merrell Moab 3, testing both with their stock footbeds and then with the Oboz O Fit Insole installed in each, to isolate how much of the comfort came from the footbed versus the boot.

I checked outsole grip specifically on wet roots, wet rock and loose dirt slopes, the surfaces where traction claims get tested honestly, and I did cold-weather outings in the 26-to-40-degree range. Across the window I tracked the upper, the lugs and the footbed for wear, so the durability read is based on a real wear pattern rather than a fresh-out-of-box impression.

Footbed: the underrated headline feature

The O Fit Insole is the most supportive stock footbed I have tested in this category, and it is the single best reason to buy this boot. Most hiking boots ship with a thin EVA pad that experienced hikers immediately replace with a Superfeet or Sole insole. The Sawtooth X works well straight from the box, which adds up saved and a real comfort win, on a 12-mile day my arches felt better than in any boot I had recently rotated through.

The side-by-side test made this concrete. With both boots on their stock footbeds, the Oboz was clearly more supportive than the Merrell Moab 3. Swap the O Fit Insole into the Merrell and the gap narrowed, which confirms the footbed is doing the heavy lifting. For a buyer who would otherwise budget for an aftermarket insole, the Sawtooth X effectively bundles that cost in, which meaningfully improves the price-to-comfort math.

Waterproofing and traction

The B-DRY membrane held its own. Through 11 crossings the liner kept water out with no leaks, and breathability was comparable to Gore-Tex on cool days, slightly worse in summer heat. The nubuck leather upper sheds water well after a fresh treatment, which I recommend applying around the 75-hour mark. Long-term, B-DRY durability is similar to KEEN.DRY, generally a season behind Gore-Tex, so it is dependable rather than best-in-class, which is the honest read.

Traction is dependable but not class-leading, and I want to be straight about where it lands. The True Tread outsole grips well on dirt and dry rock and adequately on wet rock. On my wet-granite slab test the Sawtooth X held a stance for about six seconds before slipping, where a Megagrip-soled boot held indefinitely. For most non-technical trail use, the True Tread is plenty, and the 5mm lugs bite well on loose dirt. If your regular terrain is wet technical rock, though, a Vibram Megagrip boot will out-grip this, and that is a fair reason to choose differently.

Support, weight and durability

Ankle support is better than the price suggests. The nylon shank stiffens the rear chassis enough to handle a 28-pound pack on rocky terrain without the cuff folding, which puts this closer to a backpacking-light hiker than a true heavy-pack boot. For overnighters with packs up to about 28 pounds on graded trail, it is genuinely capable, and that is the right balance for most three-season hikers who occasionally carry a load.

The honest cost is weight. At 1,260 grams per pair the Sawtooth X is heavier than its peers, and on long flat approaches you feel it, the boot is slower than a lighter, faster hiker like the Salomon X Ultra. Durability, on the other hand, is excellent: after 145 hours the nubuck shows expected toe-rand scuffing but no delamination, the True Tread lugs have rounded slightly without chunking, and the O Fit Insole has compressed minimally and remains functional. The wear pattern projects a 700-to-1,000-mile lifespan, which is solid for the price band.

Who should buy the Sawtooth X Mid?

Buy it if you want a substantive leather mid with a genuinely good stock footbed, you hike on graded trail with a daypack or a light overnight load, and you value brand independence over big-name marketing. It is true to size on length with a medium-to-roomy forefoot that suits most feet and slightly wider ones, and the included footbed alone improves the value math considerably. For the steady three-season hiker on non-technical terrain, this is a quietly excellent choice.

Skip it if you prioritize light weight and a fast pace, where the 1,260-gram weight works against you and a lighter boot like the Salomon X Ultra is the better tool. Skip it if you have a very narrow heel, since the last runs medium, or if you need top-tier wet-rock traction for technical terrain, where a Megagrip outsole outperforms the True Tread. The other practical caveat is availability, the brand is harder to find at retail and stock cycles can be inconsistent, so you may have to hunt for your size.

The verdict

The Oboz Sawtooth X Mid is the boot most eastern hikers walk past at the outfitter, and after six months and 145 hours, my conclusion is that they are missing one of the best values in the three-season category. The standout O Fit Insole, a dependable B-DRY membrane that held through 11 crossings, a substantial leather upper and strong durability combine into a boot that punches above its price band. The honest trade-offs are real weight on long approaches, traction that is good rather than class-leading on wet rock, and a brand that is harder to find. For a graded-trail hiker who values substance over marketing, it earns a clear recommendation.