Oboz Bridger Vs Sawtooth | Which One Is Better?
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In this article, I'm going to share my HONEST Oboz Bridger vs Sawtooth comparison in detail after personally owning both Oboz hiking boots. I have thoroughly tested both of these hiking boots on the trails for countless hours, and I aim to offer a professional hiker's critical opinion.
I'll be comparing these two head-to-head in categories like price, comfort, traction, overall protection, fit, breathability, and durability. Both hiking boots have been around for quite some time, both the Sawtooth X and Bridger iterations were released in 2021.
Then, at the end, I'll share which product offers the best overall value for the money and provide my overall recommendation for which you should buy.
Also, if you're interested in learning more, I have tested each product individually in my Oboz Sawtooth X review and Oboz Bridger Review.
Oboz Bridger vs Sawtooth Price Comparison
At the time of this writing, the Sawooth is $48 cheaper than the Bridger.
Oboz Sawtooth Price : $152
Oboz Bridger Price: $200
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Comfort
Both the Oboz Bridger and Sawtooth are about average when it comes to comfort. There’s no doubt Oboz puts quality materials into their boots, they just are not as comfortable as others on the market.
The Sawtooth has slightly more comfort, it is reinforced with Adaptive Cushioning Technology in the midsole. I felt the midsole was comfortable, but couldn’t help but be bothered by the compression on the top of my foot by the tongue of the boot. I felt the mid foot of the boot was extremely compressive and did not have adequate volume.
The same went for the Bridger, but even worse. I felt the entire midfoot of the hiking boot to be comfortable, but compressive. I also found some heel discomfort with the Bridger. The Bridger felt extremely narrow, I even had trouble getting them on in the first place.
Moving towards the ankle, both hiking boots had good comfort. Both ankle cuffs have extra padding that is not too compressive allowing you to achieve full range of motion while hiking.
The toe box had more than adequate room for both the Bridger and Sawtooth. I didn’t feel any areas of compression on my toes.
Both hiking boots have a very thin sock liner. I felt this was an area that needed improvement for both. The sock liner was not comfortable enough to withstand the covering leather that can be quite compressive and stiff.
Overall, I felt Oboz put in great quality materials regarding comfort of both boots, I just found them extremely compressive and lacking enough volume, which unfortunately took away from the comfort scores on each.
I found the Sawtooth to be less compressive and overall had more comfort in the midsole.
Oboz Sawtooth Comfort: 3.5 out of 5
Oboz Bridger Comfort: 3 out of 5
Winner: Oboz Sawtooth
Traction
On a lighter note, both the Sawtooth and Bridger have great traction and grip. The midsole that makes up the Sawtooth is Trail Tread while the Bridger midsole is made from Granite Rubber.
I tested both boots in a variety of technical terrain, and they both performed very well. I even wore a 20lb backpack, which did not hinder the performance of either boot.
The Bridger is slightly more stiff than the Sawtooth. I felt the Bridger had slightly more grip and was able to hold an edge better than the Sawtooth.
I also noted the Sawtooth held onto a lot of mud, hindering its performance in wet conditions. Both boots were tested on snow-covered trails and performed great for winter hiking.
Both Oboz boots performed exceptionally well. I really felt these both are great backpacking boots because of how stiff they are, and how well they perform on technical terrain.
I must say, the Bridger has the upper hand in terms of traction.
Oboz Bridger Traction: 4.5 out of 5
Oboz Sawtooth Traction: 4.0 out of 5
Winner: Oboz Bridger
Overall Protection
Both Oboz hiking boots score very well when it comes to overall protection. Both these boots distinguish themselves from the market for superior defense and “rugged” materials made to withstand the elements.
The Oboz Bridger is equipped with rugged Nubuck leather giving you 360 degree protection from the elements. The reinforced toe cap is a nice rubber defense against any sharp rocks or roots.
The Sawtooth offers a more synthetic toe cap which is nice, but not as robust as the Bridger. The well reinforced leather is just as tough as the Bridger, not allowing anything to pierce or enter the boot.
Both the Bridger and the Sawtooth have great overall protection. I must tip my hat to the Bridger, with better toe cap protection.
Oboz Bridger Overall Protection: 5 out of 5
Oboz Sawtooth Overall Protection: 4.5 out of 5
Winner: Bridger
Oboz Bridger Vs Oboz Sawtooth | Which Fits Better?
I tested both hiking boots and a size 10 and a half, both normal width. As I mentioned before, there was an issue with compression on the top of my foot with both of them. My foot easily fits into normal sized hiking boots without trouble, however I felt I needed a wide fit for both.
When trying on both I really had to loosen the laces up just to get my foot in. With the laces I was able to get a nice secure knot with both.
I felt each boot I had issues with fit. The Oboz boots are crafted to fit too narrow, which is okay. However, a heavy rugged hiking boot with not enough room is a really bad combination.
What’s disappointing is the fact that the inside of the boot is decently comfortable, the tight fit really diminishes the score for both here.
I felt the fit could’ve been improved on both models. However, the Sawtooth had more room compared to the Bridger.
Definitely get the wide fit if you have anything remotely close to a wider sized foot.
Oboz Bridger Fit Fit : 3 out of 5
Oboz Sawtooth Fit : 3.5 out of 5
Winner:Oboz Sawtooth
Breathability
The Oboz Sawtooth features significantly more breathability than the Bridger. The Sawtooth highlights areas of integrated mesh around the medial and lateral aspects of the boot allowing for nice ventilation especially while hiking in the summer.
The Bridger is a full-on leather hiking boot without any areas of ventilation. The Oboz Bridger while warm in the winter, can get quite hot in the summer. I suggest wearing very breathable hiking socks such as the Darn Tough Full Cushion or Micro Crew when wearing the Bridger in the summer.
Both boots have a waterproof membrane B-dry. The waterproof membrane does take away from the breathability of both boots. I Would say, this is on par with the Gore-tex membrane.
Both hiking boots are decent for breathability, I give the award to the Sawtooth, the integrated mesh definitely helps in this case.
Oboz Sawtooth Breathability : 4 out of 5
Oboz Bridger Breathability : 3.5 out of 5
Winner:Oboz Sawtooth
Durability
There is doubt that Oboz crafts their hiking boots with high quality materials. The outsoles of both boots have taken a beating while hiking but still hold true to this day.
Both have traditional stitching which is commendable, the new-age hiking boots have more welded materials which definitely are not as durable.
I haven’t noticed much scuffing of either hiking boot, the leather is thick and robust. I would say it’s going to be quite a long time before either hiking boot breaks down.
Overall, Oboz makes dependable long-lasting hiking boots. You won’t have to worry about not getting your money's worth for either boot.
Sawtooth Durability : 5 out of 5
Bridger Durability : 5 out of 5
Winner: Tie
Oboz Sawtooth Overall Rating: 8.2
Comfort: 3.5 out of 5
Traction: 4 out of 5
Overall Protection: 4.5 out of 5
Fit: 3.5 out of 5
Breathability: 4 out of 5
Durability: 5 out of 5
Total: 24.5/30
Oboz Bridger Overall Rating: 8.0
Comfort: 3 out of 5
Traction: 4.5 out of 5
Overall Protection: 5 out of 5
Fit: 3 out of 5
Breathability: 3.5 out of 5
Durability: 5 out of 5
Total: 24/30
Oboz Bridger vs Oboz Sawtooth Which One Is Better Overall?
Both of these Oboz hiking boots are made with extremely high quality materials that will last you a long time.
After my head to head comparison , I have to say the Oboz Sawtooth is the clear winner here.
Paying $48 less than the Bridger is an added bonus. Don’t forget about the better comfort and breathability the Sawtooth has over the Bridger.
I think the Oboz Bridger is a very niche hiking boot. They are really made for more narrow-footed backpackers.
Overall, I wish Oboz would make improvements to the fit and comfort of each hiking boot. I found them very restrictive, which is an easy fix. I felt the comfort of the midsole was there, it was just distracted by the narrowness and compression of both boots.
If you are interested in more comfortable hiking boots that are more comfortable without the sacrifice of performance, check out the Hoka Kaha 3 or Hoka Anacapa 2.
Order HERE for the LOWEST PRICE AVAILABLE
(Do NOT pay retail):
Currently at the time of this writing, you can purchase the Oboz Sawtooth X Mid for $180 retail. However, they are available on Amazon.com for as low as $150 via the link below. We ensure to update our links to give you lowest possible price on market.
Adventure Awaits,
Tyler
Disclosure: Some of the links in this article may be affiliate links, which can provide compensation to me at no cost to you if you decide to purchase. We update the links to give you the lowest possible price on martket