The Oboz Bridger 10″ is a water-proof and insulated winter mountain climbing boot with 400-gram Thinsulate insulation, making it appropriate for excessive chilly climate. Oboz doesn’t publish a temperature score for them, however they’re akin to different 400-gram insulated winter mountain climbing boots (rated to -40F) when it comes to heat. I’ve been winter mountain climbing in these boots within the excessive peaks of New Hampshire and Vermont since 2015. I’ve simply damaged in my third pair for mountain climbing this winter, after my final pair bit the mud final spring, when the snow melted.
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Notice: the 400 gram designation refers back to the thickness of the Thinsulate used within the boots, not its weight, a standard false impression. 400-gram Thinsulate is about twice as heat because the 200-gram Thinsulate utilized in many insulated mid-height winter boots.
- Gender: males’s (ladies’s mannequin is known as the Bridger 9″)
- Insulation: 400g Thinsulate (rated to approx -40F)
- Waterproof/breathable: Sure
- Uppers: Leather-based Nubuck
- Large sizes: Sure
- Shank: Nylon
- Gaiter ring: Sure
- Break-in time: Nearly none
- Weight Per Pair: 3 lbs. 8 oz. (males’s dimension 10.5)
The Bridger 10″ has thick nubuck leather-based uppers and a beefy, rubber entrance toe kick offering your toes with ample safety when carrying snowshoes, crampons, or microspikes. The tongue is gusseted to stop water from leaking into the boot should you step right into a deep puddle, and there’s a entrance gaiter ring on the base of the laces. The again of the boot encompasses a inflexible heel cup for wonderful stability and a slender, protruding “shelf” to seize a rear snowshoe strap so it doesn’t slip off. It’s priceless for retaining the boots within the snowshoe binding.
The higher a part of the boot extends effectively above the ankle and covers the underside half of your calf. This retains your ft and decrease legs a lot hotter than ankle-high cuffs on different, less-insulated boots. It additionally requires a barely completely different gait, propelled extra by your shins than by your ankles, as a result of your ankles have a lot much less vary of movement in a taller boot. Regardless of the distinction, it’s not onerous to get used to strolling with the Bridgers, and also you won’t even discover any distinction in comparison with common mountain climbing boots.
I’ve tried numerous completely different winter mountain climbing boots, however the Bridger is among the best to hike in. In contrast to the Bridgers, many 400-gram insulated winter mountain climbing boots really feel like cinder blocks on the path, and so they seem like them, too. The Bridger 10″ is way more agile as a result of it’s curved and molded like a shoe, with a definite forefoot, heel, arch, and gently rockered sole. The distinction is sort of noticeable when fancy footwork is required, similar to traction-assisted scrambles up sloped rock faces and ledges, the place nuanced boot placements are required.
Whereas the only does flex some, it’s fairly stiff, which is helpful when mountain climbing with microspikes, crampons, or snowshoes. The toe field can also be strong sufficient to withstand compression by the elastomer straps on light-weight traction like Microspikes or Hillsound Path Crampons. This is usually a actual downside with softer boots and may result in chilly or cramped toes, because the compression restricts the blood move wanted to maintain them heat.
When it comes to sizing, the Bridger 10″ boots run barely slender however true to dimension. Oboz says that the heel is a dimension “C” width, which is certainly slender, whereas the toe field is an everyday dimension “D” width. Regardless, the Bridger 10″ is additionally accessible in extensive sizes, and people can be found should you want extra foot room.
The Bridger 10″ comes with a wool-covered insole that’s coated on the underside with reflective mylar. The insole is sculpted to cup your heel and has a small shock-absorbing pad beneath. It gives good arch help and is a superior insole as producer insoles go. REI even sells them as a standalone thermal insole, side-by-side with insoles from Superfeet and Sole. You possibly can exchange them, in fact, however the wool insoles make the boot noticeably hotter and assist cut back odors.
The Bridger 10″ has an aggressive exterior sole with large lugs that present wonderful traction on snow and off. The lugs run up the edges of the only a bit, making them good for scrambling on free gravel or open ledge. For those who’ve owned Oboz path sneakers or boots, you then’re in all probability accustomed to the Granite Peak outsole used on the Bridger 10″, because it’s additionally discovered on lots of Oboz’s different mountain climbing sneakers. The only real additionally encompasses a nylon shank for very agency heel help, a TPU chassis to soak up shocks, and a excessive arch for compatibility with gaiter straps.
In fact, you’ll nonetheless want microspikes or snowshoes for traction when snow and ice make the scene, however the sole gives wonderful traction on packed trails by itself. I attempt to hike so far as potential with none traction aids, as a result of snowshoes and traction aids are heavy, and also you’ll fatigue much less should you maintain them in your pack after they’re pointless. That may make an enormous distinction on excessive winter hikes that final 8 hours or extra.
The lacing system makes use of a mix of cloth loops, steel eyes, and pace hooks close to the highest collar. The boots include spherical laces which are a bit quick. For those who determine to switch them, try Ironlace Spherical Bootlaces. They’re so powerful to interrupt, they’ll in all probability outlast your boots.
The surface of the Bridger 10″ is coated with DWR, which rubs off fairly shortly as a result of snow and ice are so abrasive. For those who ask the producer, they’ll let you know to retreat the outside leather-based with Nikwax DWR to revive the water repellency and preserve the boots’ “breathability.” I put that in quotes as a result of, in my expertise, insulated, waterproof/breathable winter mountain climbing boots have by no means been breathable, even with waterproof/breathable linings.
I like to recommend sealing the outside with SnoSeal, a waterproofing beeswax that penetrates the leather-based and gives a lot longer-lasting safety. Regardless of what SnoSeal claims, the boots received’t be breathable as soon as utilized (I’ve confirmed this with SnoSeal). I soften it with a blow dryer so it soaks deeply into the leather-based and boot seams. It really works nice. Do it every year, and your boots won’t ever get soaked by means of. It can darken the leather-based, although, so be sure that’s what you need as a result of there’s no going again as soon as it’s utilized.
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The Oboz Bridger 10″ is a cushty and heat winter boot with 400 gram Thinsulate insulation and wonderful traction. The excessive cuffs present wonderful ankle help and assist seal in warmth, whereas the boot’s sturdy leather-based uppers supply safety and sturdiness. The aggressive Granite Peak lugged sole is equivalent to that used on lots of Oboz’s different boots and sneakers and is equally succesful in snow and slush. For those who already use Oboz boots or sneakers and love the best way they match, then getting the Bridger 10/Bridger 9 might be a no brainer. For those who’ve by no means tried an Oboz boot, these are nice cold-weather hikers, well-built, and with loads of safety to maintain your ft heat and blissful on lengthy, all-day hikes and snowshoeing journeys. The Oboz Bridger 9″ is the ladies’s model of this 400-gram insulated mountain climbing boot.
Oboz has assured me that the 400g 10″ and 9″ Bridgers will nonetheless be within the product line subsequent yr, however these boots promote out quick, so should you plan to hike this winter, it is best to seize a pair now.
Disclosure: The writer bought these boots.
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