Oboz Sawtooth X Low Waterproof - Women's Review

The Sawtooth X Low Waterproof is the newest addition to the Sawtooth hiker series, named in celebration of the company's 10th anniversary. It comes equipped with a few notable enhancements — a superior slip-resistant outsole and an updated, even softer midsole — all to ensure a cushier, more stable ride. Just like earlier versions, this is one of the most comfortable hiking shoes on the market for long hauls.

Performance Comparison

Comfort

As with every new pair of hiking shoes, individual fit and thoughtful design are the two keys to ensuring comfort and success on the trail. Fortunately, the Sawtooth X has maintained the same smart overall design as seen in earlier iterations, well-suited to all types of feet with a reasonably roomy forefoot and a well-padded backend that narrows to lock the heel securely. While not the thickest midsoles in the group, the Sawtooth X delivers new Adaptive Cushioning Technology built of a proprietary dual-density rubberized EVA meant to be more easily adaptive to changing terrain with deeper cushioning to improve efficiency and create an even softer heel strike zone. All-in-all, a nice improvement for a shoe that already ranked high in comfort underfoot.

What one quickly notices in the Sawtooth X is not only the high level of support built-in underfoot (both under the arch and laterally) but also just how well-cushioned the foot is, from heel to toe and even under the tongue. Why is this so impressive? With ample padding across the entire length of the footbed, your feet will feel far less strained going up and downhill, no matter how many trail miles you log or pack weight you carry. Models in the group with less padding quickly revealed themselves to be less appealing options when faced with longer hauls.

While the Sawtooth X midsole offers significant shock absorption and substantial interior padding, we did note a pronounced firmness to the footbed from the get-go. We wondered if it might not turn to discomfort down the road. But in motion, and with so much softness cradling the foot from top to bottom, the sturdiness in the base only translates into added confidence with each step. Some reviewers have commented that the new Sawtooth is a bit narrower than the older version. We didn't have this experience in our own fit. But if you have a slightly narrow foot and previous iterations were not quite right, it might be worth testing out the updated X to see if it suits your needs.

Support

When it comes to support, the Sawtooth X is at the top of the pack, with excellent arch support, an effective lacing system, and solid lateral support. The X comes with the same "O Fit" insole of the previous model, offering sturdy and solid structural support under the arch. We found it much more robust than most insoles we saw in this test.

The lacing system is designed well to lock down your ankle, with a set of runner's loop eyelets up top to provide maximum flexibility and adjustability in fit. The cut of the Sawtooth X also cradles the heel remarkably well. So unlike other shoes in the test suite, we never felt like we had to crank our laces too hard or often to keep each heel in check. Plus, the stiff upper adds another layer of structural reinforcement. Few other hikers in this group could match such a dialed-in fit.

Without a doubt, these shoes are our top pick for multi-day trips with a heavier pack. The outsole of the Sawtooth X is prepared to withstand rough terrain, with enough torsional rigidity to easily manage boulder hopping and scrambling. When your pack weighs more than 25-30 pounds, many hikers will point you toward a hiking boot as the best choice in footwear. And it is true, a taller boot will provide more ankle stability. But for some, they can also create hot spots and uncomfortable pressure points. If that's you, consider this Oboz as a great alternative. It's also the perfect shoe for anyone who needs a solid option for a few shorter backpacking trips but wants to avoid buying boots for regular use.

Traction

Good traction is critical to confident hiking., and how your tread handles loose scree and rock slabs will determine what types of trails you tackle. This becomes particularly important once pack weight is involved. And, of course, wet, slick terrain will quickly reveal the strengths (or weaknesses!) of rubber outsoles. We tested and scored for all of these factors, and the Sawtooth X performed very well across the board.

The Sawtooth X features deep, chunky, zig-zag-shaped lugs and ample rubber siding to allow for easy movements and solid grip when confronted with everything from loose rock and mud to more technical situations. Out on the trail, the soft, sticky rubber outsole performs excellently on both slick rock and moist logs. And the well-defined heel and toe tread pattern proved superb when heading up and down steep inclines, allowing us to dig in and stabilize easily when crossing all kinds of terrain.

Weight

All of the exceptional features in the Sawtooth X don't come without a price. This is a heavier hiking shoe (among the heaviest in the test group). But, while it's true that weight is an important consideration, we believe all the Sawtooth offers — exceptional stability, support, grippiness, and top-in-class comfort — make this shoe worth the extra weight.

More like a boot than an athletic shoe, this is not a fast and light hiker. This is the solid foundation upon which backcountry memories are built. Longer trail days ahead? Carrying a pack? No problem. The Sawtooth X is ready. But if it's a lighter shoe you're after, you could certainly cut up to 4 ounces off each foot by choosing another option. Then again, what you cut in weight, you also lose in comfort, protection, and durability. If you want maximum performance, this shoe is the clear winner.

Water Resistance

Constructed with a proprietary BDry waterproof membrane and advertised as both waterproof and breathable, the Sawtooth X performed admirably during stream crossings as well as under controlled testing (submerged in 3 inches of water for 5 minutes).

There were no signs of leaks at seam lines or seepage through venting nor any other indication of failures. The only water that made it inside came over the ankle collar and worked its way down into the shoe from above. This shoe also proved reasonably breathable throughout all activities.

Durability

The Sawtooth X continues to impress with its strength and staying power. True to form, the X incorporates triple stitching along its leather and Cordura AFT fabric upper, plus a heavy rubber outsole that rides high for extra protection.

We saw no issues anywhere along the seams between the upper and lower, nor among the lacing or tread systems. We also found no pattern of complaints among online reviewers calling out issues of durability. The only item to note is that these are meant to be trail shoes, not city shoes. So their sticky rubber soles are likely to wear out faster if you plan to regularly walk on concrete or asphalt.

Should You Buy the Oboz Sawtooth X Low Waterproof?

After several rounds of testing across each iteration, the Sawtooth remains a favorite shoe for all kinds of hiking objectives. The X stands out as especially comfortable, with excellent support, waterproofness, and traction. It is ready to tackle any adventure you can dream up yet will still cost less than a full pair of boots (and many other test shoes in this collection). Priced right in the middle of the pack, we think it's an option many hikers will be very happy with. There is also a lighter, non-waterproof version available at a lesser cost for those who don't need the added protection.

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