Oboz Katabatic LT Low GTX Trail Shoes – Reviewed & Tested

Karolina put the Katabatic LT Low GTX trail shoe from Oboz Footwear to the test climbing, rambling, and running along all sorts of trails throughout South Africa.

The birthplace of Oboz is Bozeman, USA, an area known for its wealth of adventure activities and a gateway to Yellowstone National Park. The name is a combo of Outside and Bozeman, and the company lives and breathes the trails that surround the office. I hadn’t heard of the brand before, but after my experience with the Katabatic LT Low GTX shoe, I’m ready to add Oboz to my trusted brands list.

The new Katabatic LT range improves on the previous Katabatic shoes introduced in 2023. Materials are lighter and more environmentally friendly, with a design focused on enhanced performance.

Doing my best to find a scenic testing location

Why am I the right person to do this review?

Having hiked over 725km in multi-day trails over the last five years, I’ve had my fair share of shoes – good and not so good! And after having run my previous ASICS to the absolute ground (I put over 1000km on them), I jumped at the opportunity to try out a new brand and shoe!

I’m on an extended travel trip, and as luck would have it, a friend was meeting me in South Africa and delivered the Oboz trail shoes right into my hands from the Kathmandu store in Brisbane. Let’s dig in.

What? Your mates don’t deliver you shoes in other countries?

Quick Specifications

Weight: 281g per shoe
Stack height: Not listed
Heel Drop: 8mm
RRP: $279

Hiking shoe stack heights can be quite hard to find (please excuse the rogue lace)

Performance

The Oboz Footwear website states that the Katabatic LT Low GTX shoe is ‘Best for: Speedy Day Hikes, Fast & Light Overnights’. And indeed, after multiple day trails throughout Cape Town and a pretty hectic three-day loop through the Drakensberg mountains, the shoes were a fantastic choice.

I put them to the test: jogging on pebbly paths, jumping from boulder to boulder, scrambling down a sheer cliff face, walking on slanted rock through a canyon, and can report no operation failures. They kept me upright and planted to the ground through it all.  

The shoe’s outsole features Oboz’s own Trail Tread™ technology – a specific rubber formulation designed for superior slip resistance. This, along with the multidirectional lugs, means I continue to be impressed with how slip-resistant these shoes are.

They feel light but sturdy on the feet, both with or without any hiking pack and are quite responsive to the terrain. The ACTEnergy midsole provides a springy yet firm ride, and I felt very agile, quickly changing directions or jumping from rock to rock.

Weather Resistance

The waterproof model is made with Gore-Tex Invisible Fit technology and comes with a ‘Guaranteed to keep you dry’ promise.

However, when it comes to waterproof shoes, I’ve always been a sceptic. And unfortunately, the one element of these shoes that didn’t quite win me over was the waterproofing. The occasional splash? No issue. Slipping and dunking the whole foot? Also very okay. But, walking through dewy grass over patches of crunchy snow? Wet socks at day’s end.

The end result was still wet feet

Gore-Tex may keep water outside the shoe, but it also retains moisture within the shoe once oversaturated. The same goes for sweat. My feet were nice and toasty in the snow, thanks to the snug Gore-Tex lining. Alas, over a full day of hiking, they became hot and humid. The Invisible Fit tech boasts ‘enhanced breathability’ as a key feature. There, I’m not sold.

The Oboz Katabatic LT Low also comes in a non-GTX version, and that’d be my first choice next time. A quick-drying, moisture-releasing shoe is better for multi-day adventures.

Durability

After hiking around 125km of very varied terrain, the shoes look good. The toe mesh with its reinforced TPU overlays hasn’t been breached and remains fully intact. Laces and heel box are crisp. The lugs are showing some wear, but that’s to be expected from a shoe that’s used for both running and hiking.

The first real sign of wear and tear appeared on the way home from Injisuthi Cave, the second campsite on our Drakensberg loop (one that sits at 3,200m!). At some point along this 20km and 1,500m descent day, the outsole toecap slightly detached from the toe box. The deterioration hasn’t continued and is quite small, but once an outsole toecap unglues, it never reglues itself. I can see a similar thing happening on the other shoe, so I suspect it’s just a lack of glue in a critical corner section.

While this doesn’t inspire confidence, I’ll admit I was doing some of the most technical rock scramble descent of my life that day. I’m hopeful that these will last and reassured by this thread where one guy got over 1000 miles from each pair.

Comfort

The shoes are comfy once broken in. Unfortunately, I must report that blisters appeared during the breaking-in period, more so than I’ve experienced with other shoes. The toe box is quite snug, and those with wider feet might find it too snug at times. I went half a size up, and that was perfect.

Oboz’s O FIT Insole® feels really nice underfoot. The high-density EVA sculpted arch and medium-density EVA throughout the insole provide a comfy, responsive cushion. This is a nice contrast to the firm outsole and lugs.

Now that the shoes are worn in and moulded to my foot, they’re a joy to cruise in along trails and even on paved paths.

The break-in was hard-won, but worth it

Design

I love the sleek, no-nonsense design. The TPU overlays on the mesh provide reinforcement where it’s needed (like the outside of the little toe) and give the shoe a streamlined look.

The branding is subtle, featuring a grey Oboz just under the ankle and an indented O on the tongue.

The bottom of the laces features a little hook for gaiters, and the heel tab is wide and sturdy – perfect for clipping the shoes to a carabiner, if need be.

The GTX version comes in a light creamy ‘feather’ and classic black. I adore my black pair, which hide any dust or dirt, and coupled with the subtle branding, can also camo in a sneans evening look.

How concerned are we about how hiking shoes look, really?

Fit For Purpose

The Katabatic LT Low GTX Waterproof shoes are fantastic if you want to go travelling, do more techy adventures, and only bring one pair of sport shoes (that’s me!). They’re comfy once worn in and sleek for the 8+ hour days spent city walking, and even the occasional paved Saturday Park Run. As a trail runner or multi-day hiking shoe, they’re trustworthy.

Sustainability

The shoe’s polyester mesh is made from 100% recycled materials. The rubber outsole is also made with 15% recycled materials.

Oboz is loud about its commitment to the environment. Since its beginning in 2007, the company has planted a tree for every pair of footwear sold, partnering with Trees for the Future. This has amounted to over 6 million trees being planted. Oboz also gained B-Corp certification in 2023.

It’s important that outdoor brands do their bit for the planet

The company is very transparent about its sustainability policies. Its FAQ section is full of info on its manufacturing code of conduct and supply chain. I particularly liked the focus on circularity – keeping resources in use, which is reflected in the Katabatic LT range.

It’s nice to see a brand be so informative about its practices. Of course, corporate messaging carries a risk of greenwashing, but it looks like Oboz is ahead of other brands like Altra.

Price

The Oboz Katabatic LT Low GTX trail shoes are $279 but given that they’re sold (and owned by) Kathmandu, you’re likely to get them on sale. I’m forever a bargain hunter, and believe that you can get just as nice, or sometimes slightly nicer shoes at a better price, on sale, so I’d definitely be a satisfied customer if I bought the Oboz Katabatic LT Low GTX trail shoes at a discount. If I had more disposable income to spend on quality gear, $279 on par with most other high-end running shoes like the Hoka Speedgoat 6 ($289) or the Salomon Speedcross GTX ($269), especially as Gore-Tex adds to the price.

125km in, I feel like they’ll go the distance

Final Thoughts

As an all-rounder shoe, the Katabatic LT Low GTX has got your back (and feet/ankles!). Once they’re on, I can stop thinking about them and concentrate on picking a good line down the trail or the beautiful views. While the break-in period was painful, once on the other side, the ride is comfy and reliable. They’re great to have in case I spontaneously decide to do a multi-day hike elsewhere in Africa. 😉

Ok bye, time to go hiking again