Backpacking News : Oboz Ignition Review

When I first laced up my Oboz Ignition shoes, I was not sure what to expect. I had only recently heard of the brand, and knew they were a relatively new company. When I did a little research I learned that the company was founded by John Connelly. John is a veteran of the footwear industry, having spent over 30 years in the sporting goods and footwear industry, with stints at well known companies like Montrail, Tecnica, Vasque, and Five Ten.

After some field testing I fell in love with these shoes. I found these to be one of the best running shoes I have used, yet they still perform great for day hikes and peak bagging. When running I found the cushioning very adequate but not overkill. The shoes seem to fit narrower than Salomon shoes, but wider than Inov-8's.

The lacing system is the most comfortable I have used. This is due to the Radial Fit System. This system connects the lace loops all the way to the midsole so it fits your feet snugly. The mesh seems to be very breathable yet durable enough for rocky terrain. The custom insole provide out of the box comfort. Oboz offers a aftermarket grade tri-density insole in their shoes, no need to buy aftermarket insoles like Superfeet.

The Oboz Ignition uses a Dynamic Bootie Construction rather than the conventional tongue and gusset construction. The Dynamic Bootie construction is meant to provide a solid and comfortable fit while the floating forefoot cage ensures consistent pressure and feel. The Dynamic bootie makes for a shoe that slips over your foot more like a bootie/sock than a traditional shoe. It is a little difficult to get the shoes on the first few times, but I found that the bootie stretched out a bit with wear and made putting them on easier. The bootie acts a bit like a debris sock (small gaiter) to help keep small objects like pebbles out of the shoe.

I really like a number of features Oboz used in the Ignition shoes. Their proprietary Z-Grip rubber compound offers a great balance of traction and durability. The sole is non marking. The shoe feels very supportive and stable for shoe in this weight class. I was very surprised by the shoe's low weight. When placed on my scale, I found them to weigh exactly the same as my old Inov-8 Roclite 315's.

The Oboz Ignition utilizes a Strobel or Slip lasting. Strobel lasting maintains a soft feel underfoot, and allows the shoe to be more flexible.

Overall this shoe is a great choice if you are looking for a lightweight high performance trail runner that doesn't skimp on features, yet comes in at a great price.