Men’s Oboz Bridger 8″ Insulated Winter Boot Review

Bottom Line

The Oboz Bridger 8” Insulated Boot is a durable winter hiking boot built for tackling rugged terrain and cold climates. Over two months, Gear analyst Miles Knotek wore the insulated Oboz Bridger on multiple hikes in Alaska through mud, slush, and ice water to test its comfort, traction, weather resistance, and durability.

Its waterproof nubuck leather upper, paired with an Oboz B-DRY membrane, ensures your feet stay dry in wet conditions. The boot features 200g of Thinsulate insulation, providing reliable warmth for winter hikes, and its molded rubber toe cap offers added protection against abrasions. Its unique blend of Oboz’s proprietary technology paired with the classical reliability of leather makes it one of our best hiking boots.

The Bridger requires a prolonged break-in period and can feel stiff and cumbersome because of the stiff ankles. Fully waterproof, these boots are great for splashing through slush and puddles and will keep your feet dry.

Although it lacks traction compared to other boots we tested, the Bridger is a great all-around boot. It’s not our first choice for long backcountry excursions, but we like it for in-town and front-country trails.

Comfort

When first wearing the insulated Oboz Bridger, it felt very stiff and clunky. This is not anything new to those who wear leather boots, but the Bridger required an extended break-in period, especially the shaft. Although the 8-inch height provides great ankle support and weather protection, there is little to no flex from the ankle up, making it tiresome to walk in for long periods. Eventually, our pair began to flex more and felt more comfortable walking.

We found that the boots have a standard shape and fit true to size. It’s not the most comfortable boot we tested, the Bridger 8” Insulated Boot felt like a well-constructed boot with moderate cushion.

Warmth

With 200 grams of Thinsulate, we found that the Oboz Bridger provides great warmth for most winter conditions. The boots themselves do not have as much dead airspace in the toes as others tested, but we still found their insulation to be more than adequate. The insoles have a thin heat-reflecting lining to them under the forefoot and toes. This thoughtful feature helps add additional warmth to your extremities. If you feel like 200 grams of insulation is not enough, the ten-inch version of the Bridger comes with 400 grams of Thinsulate for serious warmth.

Traction

We used the Oboz Bridgers on numerous hikes in a wide range of winter conditions. From muddy and wet shoulder season trails to the snow and ice of deep winter, we took these boots out on as many different surfaces as possible. The Bridger offered solid traction on dry trails but fell short when conditions turned wet, icy, or snowy. The sticky rubber performed well on solid ground, but the shallow lugs struggled to bite into snow, limiting our grip on slippery surfaces. The rockered sole, designed for a smooth stride, reduces surface area contact and makes it harder to dig into snow for stability. We found ourselves slipping and sliding much more in these than other boots tested, so they are not our top choice for an icy day. They performed best in shoulder season conditions with mixed dirt, mud, and a little snow.

Weather Resistance

Tested in the snow and rain of coastal Alaska, the insulated Bridger is a great boot to wear when the weather gets wet.

We loved wearing the Oboz Bridger on wet and muddy hikes since it’s completely waterproof to the top of the shaft. The attached tongue is a great feature that keeps water from entering the front of the boot. We didn’t notice any decrease in the boots’ weather resistance over time since they’re constructed with nubuck leather and coated with a DWR finish. However, the top of the shaft did not tighten as well as we would like, leaving the back of the boot open for snow to enter. This makes the Bridger less suitable for deep snow, but that problem is easily fixed by attaching gaiters to the built-in D-ring at the toe.

Durability

The insulated Oboz Bridger is constructed with strong and resilient nubuck leather that has shown no signs of weakness after being scuffed against rocks and taken through mud and water repeatedly. We love the durability of a leather boot, and our Bridger has delivered reliable performance hike after hike. 

However, two design choices leave us wondering about long-term durability. While all of the lace hooks and loops are riveted metal, the bottom two levels are thin strips of webbing. In our experience with other boots, these can be some of the first places to wear out. Additionally, there is no rubber rand past the toe cap that connects around to the heel. The flex point of the boot is through the leather outer, connected to the midsole without the rubber protection found around the rest of the boot. Although it shows no signs of weakness yet, that is another stress point to keep an eye on.

Should You Buy the Oboz Bridger 8″ Insulated?

The Oboz Bridger 8” Insulated is a durable, waterproof, and reliable boot that combines the classic rugged build of leather with modern updates. This is a great boot for anyone hiking on wet, muddy, and snowy trails, and it’s stylish enough to wear around town. However, it lacks some of the high-end performance required for long days in the backcountry  – at least in our gear analyst’s Alaskan home. for long days in the backcountry. Still, the insulated version of the Oboz Bridger is a great all-arounder. If you’re looking for one boot to wear for multiple uses, you can’t go wrong with the Bridger.

What other winter boots should you consider?

For more options, check out our full guide to the best winter boots. 

Keen Revel IV Polar Review – With a similar leather construction to the Bridger, the Keen Revel IV Polar offers more durability and better traction on snowy surfaces.

The North Face Chilkat V 400 Review – If you’re looking for a boot with a taller shaft height and better performance in cold weather, the Chilkat is a true winter boot that excels in cold temperatures.

Kamik Atwater Review – For a more casual boot, the Atwater still has reliable leather construction but is more comfortable and has better traction for days around town.