By Jane Jackson ⋅ Senior Review Editor ⋅ Mar 23, 2022
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These sturdy yet stylish boots have it all — support, traction, durability, and water resistance. The Oboz Sapphire Mid's low overall weight and simple design make them perfectly suited for moderate hiking. These boots still have the same attention to detail and durable design that is a theme among Oboz products. Their women's specific shape means they are relatively low-volume, so wide-footed women may need to look to a different boot. Also, the sizing seems to run a tad small, so getting a half size up is not a bad idea.
In terms of best uses, the Sapphire does well in rugged terrain. Their soles are sticky with aggressive tread, and their leather uppers are durable and water-resistant. It's also a plus that these boots are stylish and sleek and can be worn around town.
Editor's Note: This review was updated on March 23, 2022, to shed more insight on which boots we would recommend to a friend.
Very stiff, takes time to break in, not very adjustable
Not as supportive as a traditional leather hiking boot
More expensive price tag, 0mm drop heel takes some adjustment time
Lack some durability of boots with thicker material
Lacks support underfoot, lacing system is not very durable
Bottom Line
The Sapphire Mid is a burly, yet still feminine hiking boot that provides support, traction, and durability
A lightweight, breathable, waterproof, and supportive hiking boot that excelled in multiple testing metrics and offers maximum control when moving through technical terrain
These hiking boots have a similar design and feel to your favorite running shoe while also offering a durable outsole, grippy lugs, and a spacious toe box
A hiking boot with a minimalist design that saves on weight while delivering high performance and excellent traction
These boots are consistent and comfortable right out of the box, but they fall short in terms of durability and water resistance
Rating Categories
Oboz Sapphire Mid W...
La Sportiva Ultra R...
Altra Lone Peak ALL...
Salomon OUTline Mid...
Merrell Moab 2 Mid WP
Comfort(25%)
6.0
9.0
9.0
9.0
8.0
Support(25%)
5.0
8.0
9.0
7.0
6.0
Traction(15%)
8.0
8.0
8.0
9.0
5.0
Water Resistance(15%)
8.0
8.0
7.0
7.0
7.0
Weight(10%)
8.0
9.0
8.0
8.0
6.0
Durability(10%)
6.0
8.0
5.0
7.0
6.0
Specs
Oboz Sapphire Mid W...
La Sportiva Ultra R...
Altra Lone Peak ALL...
Salomon OUTline Mid...
Merrell Moab 2 Mid WP
Weight (per pair)
1.70 lbs (size 7.5)
1.68 lbs (size EU 40)
1.60 lbs (size 8.5)
1.53 lbs (size 8.5)
1.96 lbs (size 7.5)
2.15 lbs (size 8.5)
Upper
Nubuck leather
AirMesh, microfiber, TPU
eVent fabric
Synthetic textile
Suede and mesh
Width Options
Regular, Wide
Regular, Wide
Regular
Regular
Regular, Wide
Water Resistant Membrane
BDry
Gore-Tex
eVent
Gore-Tex
M Select DRY
Heel Height
1"
1.8"
1"
1.2"
1.4"
Shaft Height
5.7"
5"
5.5"
4.2"
4.9"
Midsole
Dual density EVA with TPU Chassis
MEMlex
Altra EGO
EVA
EVA
Sole
Swiftcurrent
FriXion XF 2.0 Rubber
DuraTread Rubber
Nonmarking Contagrip rubber
Vibram TC5+
Show full specification detailsHide full specification details
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Sapphire Mid is a lighter-weight yet durable all-leather hiking boot made by Oboz. They excel in the support, traction, and durability metrics. Since they are super stiff and take some time to break in, the Sapphires received slightly lower scores in our comfort metric than many of the other boots tested. Their leather construction makes them durable and water resistant, though this also makes them fall a bit short in breathability.
Performance Comparison
The Oboz Sapphire Mid are worn here in the southern Utah desert.
Credit: Eric Bissell
Comfort
The Sapphire is a narrow boot designed for a women's specific fit. We found that this boot ran a little small, and would order a half size up next time. This, combined with the narrow fit, made them fall short in the comfort metric. That said, they broke in with time and ended up being comfortable. The boots have a similar stiffness to other Nubuck leather models.
Though the Sapphire's took a bit of time to break in, they ended up being one of the more comfortable boots we tested, especially considering their stiffness.
Credit: Eric Bissell
Support
Though this boot fell short in comfort, they excelled in our support metric. The stiffness in the toe box and ankle provided plenty of support throughout the entire foot, and this combination of a supportive midsole and ankle support earned the Sapphire high scores in this metric. Their design is similar to that of our Best Buy Award winner, the Keen Targhee III Mid. Both boots have a mostly-leather upper, which adds to the overall support of the boot.
The Oboz Sapphires is stiff underfoot and supportive in the ankle, making them a great option for rugged, rocky terrain.
Credit: Eric Bissell
Traction
The Sapphire has a sleek yet still aggressive sole. The Swiftcurrent rubber sole provides good traction without an obviously aggressive tread pattern. The soles do not stick out on the sides, like the Keen Targhee III, and are sleeker in design.
The aggressive tread pattern make these boots a great option for keeping traction on rocky, loose terrain.
Credit: Eric Bissell
Water Resistance
The Sapphire received high scores in our water resistance metric, due to their leather upper and seamless tongue. Once laced up, there are very few ways for water to enter these boots. Though the ankle height doesn't come up as high as the Lowa Renegade, the Sapphire still kept water out, ensuring our feet stayed dry on the trail. The only downside is their lack of breathability, due to their all-leather uppers. For the best breathability and water resistance, we love the Salomon X Ultra Mid 4.
The reinforced rubber toe caps on the Oboz Sapphire make them equally as durable as their beefier counterpart, the OBoz Bridger Mid.
Credit: Eric Bissell
Weight
At 1.7 pounds, the Sapphire falls in the lighter weight half of the spectrum regarding weight. It is important to consider the type of materials used in a model when looking at weight - leather models will usually be heavier but more durable than synthetic or mesh boots. For a contender that still provides support and protection, while retaining a lightweight feel, the Sapphire is a good choice.
Durability
Oboz is a small company known for its quality footwear and for taking great care to produce products that last. The Sapphire is no exception. The soles are solid, and the leather uppers seem to resist wear and tear with ease. The only exception we found was the lacing system; the laces are thin, and the eyelets have been known to come off, according to a few online reviews (although we never experienced this during our testing period).
The one flaw we found with the Sapphire was their lack of adjustability due to the small tongue. This makes the boots difficult to adjust for wider feet.
Credit: Eric Bissell
Should You Buy the Oboz Sapphire Mid?
The Oboz Sapphire is a good boot with quality craftsmanship. It scored highly for its good traction, water resistance, and low weight. We also dig the sleek profile. However, it's less breathable than some, and it has a narrow fit that may not work for folks with wider feet. The Sapphire is a good option for a lightweight model with the classic features of an OBoz boot.
What Other Hiking Boots Should You Consider?
If you have wider feet and know a narrow boot won't work for you, check out the Keen Targhee III or the Topo Athletic Trailventure, both of which get great marks for comfort and boast a wider profile. For another tall-shaft, all-leather boot with great water resistance, the Lowa Renegade GTX is a great choice that comes in a plethora of color options.
With so many options for hiking footwear, it can be a...
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