Oboz Sapphire Mid Waterproof - Women's Review

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.