Oboz Katabatic Low BDRY Shoes Goretex
16th Apr 2025
Approach shoes are essentially a kind of half way house between a technical off-road running shoe, and a high ankle walking boot. I actually wear mine for pretty much all occasions. Before they become muddy and worn they can even double as street shoes. Oboz is becoming a recognised brand in the UK, which was quickly evident by the number of people who ask about the name when I'm wearing them. That said, I've been wearing them for a good few years now and I'm a fan. These Katabatic's are a new iteration of a shoe I have worn before. For an approach you they are relatively chunky, but managed to remain lightweight (335g). They have a Goretex membrane which means dry feet, for at least the first year before the membrane wears out.
I've just spent a week in the mountains of Scotland walking and scrambling in Glencoe, on Ben Nevis, and on the Isle of Arran. The shoes didn't put a foot wrong, excuse the pun. Granted it was very dry under foot but when I did step on what I thought was a stone, only to find it was some gravel on top of a bog, and my foot plunged through into the wet mud, the only evidence of this was the fact that the shoes was a little dirtier. Nothing penetrated through the barrier. At the end of each day, my feet were bone dry. Very impressed.
From a scrambling perspective I'd say they were good on grade one possibly grade 2, but probably not grade 3. For that I'd want something with a more rigid toe box, for standing on small edges. Grip wise the coped perfectly well on the Scottish granite, peaty hillsides, and heather yomping.
Mine were particularly narrow fit, but I do have relatively wide feet. I persevered and wore them in, and they now fit perfectly well. Personally, I'm not a huge fan of the grey colour (the manufacturer terms this 'Drizzle' which seems an odd word to associate with outdoor kit!), but they have drawn quite a few comments of positivity from people, so what do I know?
They retail at £150 which seems fairly standard for a pair of well made approach shoes.
Obóz website.