For dwellers of the mountains or high desert, a good pair of hiking boots is essential. As a gear tester and editor at Matador, I’ve worn many pairs from brands both established and new, and given that I hike hundreds of miles per year, have become quite picky about what I want in a pair of boots for the trail. I recently acquired a pair of Oboz Cottonwood Mid Waterproof hiking boots, listed with the term B-DRY on the REI website, after demoing them at a trade show, and after a month of constant trail use, the boots have earned their place in my gear collection as my new pair of go-to hiking boots. Here’s why.
Photo: Tim Wenger
Our Gear Editor Found the Best Pair of Waterproof Hiking Boots
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First impression of the Oboz Cottonwood Mid Waterproof hiking boots
A good-looking pair of boots. Photo: Tim Wenger
Photo: Tim Wenger
Photo: Tim Wenger
Judging a pair of hiking boots out of the box is typically not doable because they take a few hikes to break in. This proved to be where the Oboz Cottonwood Mid Waterproof hiking boots stood out the most. Never have a pair of hiking boots felt so comfortable the first time I put them on. I opened the package, donned the boots, and immediately hit the Palisade Rim Trail near my house in western Colorado for a few miles with about 800 feet of elevation gain, The boots felt as though I’d owned them for years.
I’m a fan of mid-rise hiking boots because they provide ample ankle support for steep hikes without being overly bulky or heavy. The Cottonwood Mids were comparable in this department when compared to the Merrell Moab Mid boots and other top competitors in function and comfort from a mid-rise boot after a few wears, and excelled in comfort during the first two wears.
After talking with a brand rep I ordered a size 8.5 boot, even though I wear a size 9 shoe. He advised that the boots don’t run large, and for performance footwear I prefer a tighter fit. This proved to be the correct choice. They’re snug but my toes aren’t scraping the front of the boots at all, and sliding them on and off is quick and easy. With the laces tied tightly in a double knot, I hit the trail each time confident that the boots won’t slide or loosen even on hikes of eight miles or longer.
The same dependability is true after the hike ends. I’m a happy hour kinda guy, and in the grand tradition of Colorado’s mountain-lax style, I regularly show up to the brewery near my house fresh from the trail and still wearing my hiking boots. These Oboz boots fit in with the bluegrass crowd better than I ever have.
Testing the waterproof claim
Hiking on a rainy day. Photo: Tim Wenger
The week after getting the boots, I rode my bike to the Mt. Garfield trailhead in Palisade, which required going through a highway underpass tunnel to reach. I hadn’t anticipated there being knee-high water pooled in the underpass from a series of recent rainstorms, and, aside from nearly wiping out on my bike while fording across the water, I soaked both feet and boots in the process. Once I reached shore on the other side of the tunnel, I drained the water out of the boots and squeezed my socks as close to dry as I could. I took out the removable insoles and attempted to let the excess water drip out (notable how easy it was to do so). I then put the boots back on and did the incredibly steep hike – 1,000 feet of gain per mile – with sopping wet boots.
I noticed no impact on traction or performance, other than that the boots were a bit squeaky due to being wet. They were no less comfortable. As they dried in the summer sun while I moved along the trail, I realized that the hike would have been ruined before it started if I’d been wearing many – most, perhaps – of the other pairs of hiking boots I’ve tried over the years.
This was a full-on fording of the water. The boots, and the e-bike, held up fine. Photo: Tim Wenger
During the week of incessant rain I mentioned above, I’d taken the boots back to the Palisade Rim Trail to see how they’d perform in a more standard wetness setting. The Rim Trail is made up largely of medium-sized rocks and is also a “black-rated” mountain bike trail, so rarely is the surface smooth and easy to pass. Excellent grip is a necessity from a pair of boots, doubly so when it’s wet. I had no issues aside from a couple missteps on my part where I put my foot on a slanted rock face while descending, and slid momentarily before having to hop my other foot down in front. Better attention to detail on my part could have prevented that from happening.
Last remark on the waterproof aspect is that during both of the hikes noted in this section I came home with dirt covering much of the boots. A quick wipe down with a towel and they looked good as new, and there was no need to worry about negatively impacting the boots’ performance in doing so.
What the Oboz Cottonwood Mid Waterproof hiking boots could improve
I learned quickly to wear high-top socks with the Oboz Cotton Mid Waterproof hiking boots. The first time I took them out I failed to do so, and the heel of the boots rubbed the heel of my feet excessively, which caused reddening and nearly broke the skin. Again, and issue that was largely my own fault, but a softer heel would make these boots better on hotter days when higher-rising or thicker hiking socks aren’t primed for use.
This is more of a personal gripe, but I didn’t find that the color scheme I selected – Rockfall – was well represented by the name. The bottom of the boot is purplish where I expected maroon. That said, I do like the grayish-tan top that matches just about any hiking pants or shorts.
Overall, the Oboz Cottonwood Mid Waterproof hiking boots earned their spot as my go-to hiking boots for the foreseeable future. They have tough shoes to fill – the pair of boots they’re replacing has served me for a decade. Given the brand’s reputation and my experience so far, I’m confident the Cottonwoods will hold their own.
Oboz Cottonwood Mid Waterproof hiking boots specs
Photo: Tim Wenger
The Cottonwoods are Oboz’s most responsibly sourced hiking boots to date, featuring some 100 percent recycled elements like laces and webbing. Oboz uses gender-specific lasts to address the anatomical nuances between different types of feet. Here are the general specs for men’s and women’s options:
- LWG Gold ISA LITE Nubuck Leather
- Abrasion-resistant mesh
- PFC-free DWR finish
- Recycled laces and webbing
- ACTEco Midsole: A proprietary compression molded EVA that adapts to varying terrain
- Trail Tread Rubber outsole
- Waterproof and breathable B-DRY membrane
- No-sew overlays
- Molded rubber toe cap
- Removable O FIT insole
- Heel drop: 8mm
- Weight: 13.0 oz / 369g (women’s), 15.6 oz / 442g (men’s)
- Price: $165
