Don’t let the conservative good looks of the Arete from Oboz Footwear fool you. Built tough enough for the trails, but with a style that transitions seamlessly to the Urban Jungle, the Arete (available for men and women) is ready to navigate just about any terrain, from switchbacks to sidewalks.
On Performance…
Quality is often mentioned as the secret ingredient that makes the difference in whether a product survives or succeeds. Perhaps more importantly, when it comes to footwear, “quality” can make the difference in whether your adventures on the trail are a success, or a matter of just getting through the next mile.
Designed to help people get into the wilderness, Oboz understands that it’s the fine-tuned details that can elevate the performance and quality of a product. Their passion for the trail, and love for the design of shoes built for the trail, mean that you’ll enjoy your outdoor adventures more.
When it comes to the Arete, the details start with an urban-savvy styling. Nubuck leather exterior, metal hardware, all highlighted by a bold red (yellow in women’s) stripe that runs the length of the gusseted tongue, make this a trail ready performer with understated elegance.
The nubuck exterior is as durable as it is stylish, so the Arete doesn’t need to get buried in the closet when your midweek plans include a walk through the downtown farmers market.
For the days your adventures are a little more serious than picking out fresh fruits and veggies, the Oboz design team added plenty of trail worthy details to keep your feet happy. Arete’s to-the-toe lacing provides a near custom fit while a molded rubber toe rand adds extra protection from rogue rocks and roots along the trail.
Under foot, Oboz uses a proprietary high friction carbon rubber compound in their outsoles providing superb ground-feel and tacky traction. The low profile outsole feature a multitude of small lugs that not only sticks to a vast array of terrain, but resists the caking of sand and mud.
And for the moments you’re stuck behind the desk, in desperate need of inspiration, Oboz has included a unique detail on your behalf. The Arete outsole features a topo map of the Teton mountain range so even when you aren’t in the mountains, you can still be fantasizing about them.
For a soft ride mile after mile, the Arete’s midsole combines durable plyurethane and a lighter weight EVA, while a lightweight nylon shank provides torsional stability and protection underfoot. So the next time you decide to bounce from boulder to boulder, your foot won’t suffer from unwanted bruising.
The Oboz design team also included their BFit Deluxe Insoles. Constructed with a firm EVA resin that will maintain shape and stability over time, it’s a footbed that surpasses the quality and support of what you’d normally find in a light hiking shoe.
An O-shaped grab loop at the heel not only comes in handy for shoe entry, but gives you the option of hooking them to your pack when you decide to swap out the trail shoes for your water shoes and play in the bottom of the cascading falls.
Room for Improvement…
Our crew felt as though the Arete lacked the overall athletic fit and feel of other shoes in this category. That being said, the Arete did not disappoint in terms of performance and it still provided the snappy response and tremendous traction we appreciate for the moments your day hike hits those sketchy sections of trail.
The other critique offered by the gear guru who put the shoe through the paces centered on a lack of arch support. After several weeks of putting the shoe through the paces on the trail and around town, our high-arched hiker swapped out the factory Oboz footbeds with a pair of SOLE Dean Karnazes Signature Edition Footbeds. Not everyone will want (or need) to purchase aftermarket footbeds, however, for our team member, the aftermarket footbed offered more foot support, especially for days on the trail with pack over 20 pounds.
Bottom Line…
John Ruskin once said, “Quality is never an accident. It is always the result of intelligent effort.” With Oboz guiding philosophy of “True to the Trail” it will come as no surprise that Arete is the result, not only intelligent effort, but a result of a life inspired by the trail. If you’re looking for a lowcut mountain multitasker with a casual feel, trust the Arete to carry you in style.
MSRP: $120.00
MANUFACTURER: Oboz Footwear (www.ObozFootwear.com)
RETAIL AVAILABILITY: www.amazon.com Size: M’ 8-12, 13, 14; W’s 6-11
AVAILABLE COLORS: Men’s Charcoal; Women’s Shale
WEIGHT: Weight: Men’s 16.3 oz. (single size 9); Women’s 13.8 oz. (single size 7)