REASONS TO BUY
Supportive
Waterproof
REASONS TO AVOID
Heavy
Some heel comfort issues
Tight fit
Oboz Sawtooth X Low Waterproof Review
This is a quality and supportive hiking shoe that can tackle most trails you have your eyes set on
Large panels of nubuck leather and small windows of Cordura mesh make this a durable shoe.
Credit: Ryan Huetter
RELATED: Best Hiking Shoes for Men of 2024
Our Verdict
The Oboz Sawtooth X Low Waterproof shoe is beefy, and we say that in a good way. While some are looking for the lightest and sleekest hiking shoes, this Oboz model recognizes its target audience — folks who want a comfortable shoe that is very stable and supportive. We found that it did well on a variety of trail types and conditions, and we enjoyed testing them. While some of other shoes performed as good or better in some metrics, this shoe is sure to be a crowd-pleaser for its competent performance and durability. See how it ranks next to the competition in our men's hiking shoe review.
Editors Note: This review was updated on November 1, 2024, to include information from continued testing and comparisons to new hiking shoes in our lineup.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Oboz Sawtooth X Low Waterproof | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Overall Hiking Shoe |  Best for Scrambling | Best Lightweight Technical Hiker |  Best Bang for Your Buck | |
| Price | $160.00 at Backcountry Compare at 3 sellers | $180 List $179.95 at Backcountry | $179.95 at Backcountry Compare at 2 sellers | $149.95 at Backcountry Compare at 3 sellers | $59.99 at Backcountry Compare at 2 sellers |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | This supportive shoe gives a lot in the way of comfort on rocky and uneven trails | Unbelievably comfortable and supportive, these awesome hiking shoes can do it all | This is a supportive hiking shoe that is perfect for scrambling and peak bagging | This is the definition of a solid hiking shoe, and is a perfect choice for those not wanting to compromise on off-trail performance | This inexpensive but good quality hiking shoe is a perfect choice for just starting out on the trails |
| Rating Categories | Oboz Sawtooth X Low... | Hoka Anacapa 2 Low GTX | Salewa Mountain Tra... | Salomon X Ultra 4 G... | Columbia Crestwood |
| Comfort (25%) | |||||
| Support (20%) | |||||
| Traction (15%) | |||||
| Water Resistance (15%) | |||||
| Weight (15%) | |||||
| Durability (10%) | |||||
| Specs | Oboz Sawtooth X Low... | Hoka Anacapa 2 Low GTX | Salewa Mountain Tra... | Salomon X Ultra 4 G... | Columbia Crestwood |
| Measured Weight (per pair, size 11) | 2.38 lbs | 1.99 lbs | 2.16 lbs | 1.76 lbs | 1.83 lbs |
| Upper | Oiled nubuck leather, Cordura fabric mesh | Recycled mesh, nubuck leather | 3F System with Kevlar® Cables, Armoured Mesh, Protective TPU rand | Synthetic, textile | Suede leather, mesh, webbing |
| Lining | B-DRY waterproof membrane | GORE-TEX Invisible Fit | Gore-Tex Extended Comfort | Gore-Tex membrane | None |
| Flood Height | 3.0 in | 3.0 in | 3.5 in | 3.25 in | 1.5 in |
| Last Board/Shank | Nylon | Not specified | Nylon | ADV-C chassis | Not specified |
| Midsole | ACT+ EVA | EVA (30% sugarcane) | EVA | EnergyCell | Techlite |
| Outsole | Trail Tread rubber | Vibram Megagrip rubber | Pomoca MTN Trainer Lite | Contagrip MA rubber | OmniGrip |
| Width Options | Regular, wide | Regular | Regular | Regular | Regular, Wide |
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Our Analysis and Test Results
The Sawtooth X Low is a sturdy and supportive hiking shoe that did well across all of our review metrics, but especially in support and durability.
Performance Comparison
The Sawtooth X is an all-around decent hiking shoe that offers good support underfoot.
Credit: Ryan Huetter
Comfort
Overall the Sawtooth X is a pretty comfortable shoe. Out of the box, it is easy to slip into and has a narrower fit last, so it fits a bit snug even when wearing thin socks. We appreciate the quality insole, and the materials used are relatively soft and pliable, ensuring that the break-in period to make these shoes truly yours will be minimal.
As with many shoes that emphasize the midsole, we felt like the Sawtooth X had a bit of a stiffer gait, especially when compared to models with much more of a plush foam midsole — still, the adaptive foam midsole made them perform much better than many other tested models. We also felt like the heel cup was a little too low, contacting the Achilles area in a way that made long strides somewhat uncomfortable. This dissipated over time as the material softened.
We found the Sawtooth X to be comfortable for on-trail excursions, though it did have some fit issues.
Credit: Ryan Huetter
Support
Support is a metric in which the Sawtooth X Low did quite well. It features a nylon shank to impart structural stability to the shoe, and we found it to be stiff, while the adaptive foam midsole added cushioning to make walking feel better — though not as soft as more running shoe style hiking shoes. This is a great shoe for those who can go without the added support of a higher ankle cuff but still want to minimize jarring impacts of terrain underfoot, carry heavier backpack weight, or venture off trail where there will be more uneven surfaces. We did feel that the height of the heel cup impacted stability - it feels like unless you have a low volume heel, you end up riding tall, and the heel cup does a poor job at securing the ankle against rolling.
The robust midsole found on these shoes helps to absorb some of the typical impacts from foot strikes on the trail.
Credit: Ryan Huetter
Traction
Oboz uses their tried and tested Trail Tread rubber compound to make up the outsole of the Sawtooth X Low. This compound is of average density, making it a good overall performer on firm and loose surfaces, both dry and wet.
The tread pattern on the edge of the Sawtooth allowed us to cut steps more easily while crossing this snowy meadow in the early season.
Credit: Ryan Huetter
The treads on the Sawtooth are wide and elongated, while still being deep enough to grip adequately in scree or pumice. We did have a near-miss while hiking in these shoes over talus when they slid out unexpectedly sending our foot into a hole in the rocks, and formal slide testing on a boulder confirmed their diminished grip on smooth rock surfaces. We like that the lugs extend around the edge of the outsole and, combined with the shoe's inherent stiffness, make kicking steps in very loose sediment or snow easier.
We found that during our tests as well as in real world use, they slide quite a lot when there is nothing for the lugs to bite into.
Credit: Ryan Huetter
Water Resistance
These shoes use the proprietary Oboz B-Dry waterproof/breathable membrane to ensure that your feet stay dry. We found them to outlast our 5-minute water bath test and do admirably well when crossing shallow creeks while testing them in the field. The Sawtooth X Low doesn't have a very high flood level, measured at only 2.5 inches from the bottom of the sole to the point at which water will enter the shoe, so they are more useful for hiking on wet days rather than trying to ford deep crossings and expecting dry socks on the other side.
We measured the flood height of the Sawtooth shoes at 3 inches.
Credit: Ryan Huetter
Weight
The Sawtooth X shoes are on the heavy end of the spectrum of shoes that we tested. This weight comes with some benefits, such as durable materials and a more supportive midsole than many shoes have, but they are hefty. For long, lightweight trips that don't require the higher degree of support that these shoes give, lighter-weight hiking shoe options may be preferable.
The Sawtooth shoes are on the heavy side, for sure, though a lot of that weight comes from the beefy midsole.
Credit: Ryan Huetter
Durability
With an upper made of a small amount of Cordura mesh to let perspiration escape and oiled nubuck leather for the majority of the upper, we found the Sawtooth X to have a higher-than-average level of durability. Important seams along the base of the upper where the heel cup and toe bumper connect are double-stitched.
Since these are leather, treating this material with an aftermarket conditioner or waterproofing agent will help to keep them performing well over time. Our only issue that we had was that over repeated entry into the tight fitting heel, we noticed the material begin to break down and fold over.
We found these kind of tight to get into, and started to notice the heel material breaking down from repeated entry and exit from this shoe.
Credit: Ryan Huetter
Should You Buy the Oboz Sawtooth X Low Waterproof?
The Sawtooth X Low is a good quality hiking shoe that will appeal to those who want a comfortable and supportive shoe that will last a long time. They are a good value for the quality craftsmanship that we expect from this brand.
These are good all-around hiking shoes that are waterproof and supportive.
Credit: Ryan Huetter
What Other Hiking Shoes Should You Consider?
While the Sawtooth is quite stable and supportive, we found the Salewa Mountain Trainer Lite GTX more supportive at a lighter weight. For an incredible balance of support and weight, check out the Salomon X Ultra 4 Gore-Tex, as well as the uber-comfortable Hoka Anacapa 2 Low GTX.
—
Ryan Huetter
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