Oboz Yellowstone II Hiking Boot : Transition Season Trekker

I haven't been out hiking on a trail for a few months... winter can be like that.   Today was unseasonably warm and my calendar was free, so I headed to one of my old reliable early season hikes in the Cascade foothills. It's still winter in the high country but spring is slowly making its way up the valleys. In just a few hours I got a taste of a wide variety of trail conditions. My Oboz Yellowstone II boots turned out to be the perfect footwear for just such a day.  

If I know I'll be on dry trail all day I go with a hiking shoe (such as the Oboz Firebrand).  If I know it'll be a slog through mud or snow I go with a full-on boot. I knew today would be a little bit of both so I wanted footwear that was a little more universal. My Oboz Yellowstone II boots combined with a pair of low gaiters were light enough that I could cruise thought the dry sections, but my feet stayed dry as the snow and mud began to appear further up the trail.   

Another thing that makes my Yellowstone II boots a great choice for varied conditions is that they offer more support and protection than a shoe for when I'm carrying extra warm stuff in pack. I've heard too many horror stories to go out unprepared for unexpected weather and trail conditions.   At the same time, they're lighter, more flexible, and less fatiguing than a full-on backpacking boot. They let me go farther and faster than more "specific use" footwear would.       

Note: Right out of the box I re-laced my Yellowstone II boots to avoid the bottom center eyelet near my toes so my gaiters could hook on properly. It had no noticeable impact on how they fit.    

Oboz makes a variety of trail and sport shoes and boots for men and women.

Bottom LIne: A great choice for someone who needs a multi-purpose, lightweight boot. --A.S. (Mar 10)

BUY ONLINE : $145, click for REI

Manufacturer's Site: www.obozfootwear.com

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