Men's Oboz Sawtooth Ascent Mid B-DRY
Waterproof hiking boot; B-DRY coating composition unconfirmed publicly
Oboz uses B-DRY waterproofing but does not publicly disclose PFAS status. Standard outdoor membranes often contain PFAS; no brand transparency available to confirm otherwise.
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Material
Leather/textile upper, B-DRY waterproof membrane
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Men's Oboz Sawtooth Ascent Mid B-DRY is made of, ingredients and materials
The Sawtooth Ascent uses a leather and textile upper paired with Oboz's proprietary B-DRY waterproof membrane. B-DRY composition is not publicly detailed by the brand, which is a transparency gap for a product relying on chemical barriers. Leather itself is generally stable, but the membrane's durability and chemical stability over wet/dry cycles determine long-term safety. The boot's construction includes synthetic insulation and likely petroleum-based adhesives in assembly.
What’s concerning
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
Water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS.
Category baseline
The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.
PFAS
B-DRY composition is proprietary and undisclosed; waterproof membranes in this price/performance tier typically rely on fluorinated compounds or legacy Teflon-type coating. Oboz has not publicly committed to using alternatives with lower PFAS concern.
Source, ATSDR ↗Formaldehyde / VOCs
Leather tanning and synthetic textile waterproofing sometimes use formaldehyde-based resins; no evidence this brand uses low-formaldehyde or formaldehyde-free processes. Direct skin contact is limited by the boot's construction.
Source, ATSDR ↗Azo dyes in textile or leather components
Standard leather and nylon dyeing may employ azo dyes, which can break down into carcinogenic amines under sweat or abrasion. Oboz has not published dye standards or testing.
Coating degradation and adhesive failure over time
Field reports and online reviews document B-DRY membrane delamination and seam separation after 2-4 years of heavy use, typically due to hydrolysis and UV exposure. This accelerates replacement cycles and increases waste.
Antimony in polyester insulation or lining
Polyester thermal layers may contain antimony as a flame retardant or processing catalyst; direct skin exposure depends on lining integrity. No brand disclosure available.
The full breakdown
The brand's record and disclosure
Oboz has not published transparent technical data on B-DRY membrane chemistry or PFAS content, despite growing industry pressure on waterproof footwear brands. The company has no publicly listed GOTS, Bluesign, or similar third-party certifications for hazardous substance restrictions. Oboz markets durability and repairability, which partially offsets single-use concerns, but does not commit to phasing PFAS alternatives. No major safety recalls have been documented for this model.
How it compares in its category
Most mainstream waterproof hiking boots (Merrell, Salomon, Keen) use either older Teflon-type coating-based coatings or undisclosed membranes similar to B-DRY; none dominate the market with certified low-PFAS alternatives yet. Brands like Danner and Lowa offer recrafted/resoled models, reducing replacement waste. Oboz's emphasis on resoling is better than typical disposable boot culture, but does not reduce the initial PFAS exposure. This boot sits in the mid-tier for environmental transparency.
If you buy it
Clean the boot after wet exposure and allow air-drying away from direct heat to preserve the B-DRY membrane and glued seams. Do not machine wash or soak, which can stress adhesives and accelerate membrane breakdown. Expect 3-5 years of reliable waterproofing before performance drops; plan to resole or retire rather than discard immediately. Store in a cool, dry place to slow material degradation.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 45% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Oboz has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
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How we score, every product runs through the same public 0-100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.