The Great OutdoorsAugust 2019 85Oboz
Women's Sawtooth II
Mid BDry
£130 874g (size 4)insole, sole unit, heel counterfeet overheat, lacing systemUppers: nubuck leather, textile, Oboz BDry lining
Mid/outsole: Oboz outsole, dual-density EVA midsole, nylon shank
Sizes: 3.5-8.5 (men 6-13)
obozfootwear.com
This is a new version of the original Sawtooth, which I tested in
2017 (and, I confess, preferred to this model). This has more mesh
and less leather, and notably smaller volume. I found the size 4
very snug indeed. Luckily, the Oboz O-Fit insole is excellent, and
the only one I didn’t have to swap out. Oboz say it is “moulded
to match the specific shape and construction of every pair we
make”; blurb aside, it does actually support the foot. The extra
mesh panelling is intended to increase breathability, but my feet
overheated almost immediately in these boots. Yes, there are
bigger panels; but there also appears to be a lot of padding, so the
proprietary breathable, waterproof lining stands little chance
of allowing airflow. The collar is lower than before, although the
boot still squeaks into the ‘mid’ category. Lacing starts behind
the toe flex, with five fabric loops leading to two ankle hooks;
it’s a bit of a fight to adjust as the laces must be pulled through
each individual loop (rather than running smoothly). The sewn-in
tongue is generously padded, with the tightened laces perilously
close to the top of it, with no tongue hook to hold them in place.
A rubber toe bumper is very necessary, given the mesh panel
over the toes, and the heel counter is excellent, providing support
and a secure fit. The sole unit has widely spaced lugs that worked
well on moderate terrain. But I never felt sufficiently confident in
these to take them further up the mountain: I found them just a bit
too floppy and hot.
Zamberlan
491 Trackmaster GTX Wmn
£185 915g (size 37)quality of construction, sole gripinflexible upper, stiff sole for its height and
‘lightweight’ labelUppers: Hydrobloc Perwanger leather, Gore-Tex lining
Mid/outsole: Zamberlan Vibram Starlite, EVA wedge
Sizes: 37-43 (men 40 -48)
zamberlan.comTrackmaster GTX has a solid, almost retro look. The upper is a
single chunk of thick leather, with none of the panels in textile
or lighter suedes that most lightweight boots now feature. A
fabric cuff above the reinforced heel box offers comfort for the
ankle, although with less dip at the back than other boots, above
a narrow strip of perforated leather. With little flexibility in the
leather upper, and the stiffest sole flex of all the boots in this test,
I felt like I was wearing old-fashioned winter boots. The lacing
doesn’t help: there are just three metal eyelets, then three hooks,
including one on the ankle and one to anchor the heel. Combined
with long, wide, flat laces, I found it difficult to consistently find
the right tension to secure the boot for walking (plus the laces
were so long I had to tie them in multiple bows to avoid standing
on excess length). I consider the solid heel box to be slightly too
roomy (especially compared to other boots in this test), which
increased the need to secure my heel via lacing. The sole unit
is top-notch, with an aggressive, squared-off heel that worked
well in muddy conditions. The footbed has a hint of shaping but
didn’t offer real support. The toe has neat PU reinforcement, and
the toe box itself is also solid. Ankle height is what I’d expect in a
lightweight boot – lower than Meindl, higher than Oboz – but the
overall rigidity of Trackmaster somehow made it feel lower than
it is. I never felt that these boots moulded to my feet; my footfall
was almost rocking forward and back, rather than stepping and
flexing. Zamberlan offer a wide range of beautiful boots, and I
love that they are made in Italy, but for me the cut of this boot is
too low for its stiffness and one-piece upper construction.comparative review Gear