afganistan and wiggys

A first for Oboz as Gore-Tex goes into updated collection

19/02/2025

“Montana-based outdoor footwear brand Oboz has updated its Katabatic shoe collection for spring 2025.
One part of this is adding the Invisible Fit laminate technology from Gore-Tex to the shoes. This is the first time Oboz has used breathable, water-resistant technology from Gore in its shoes. 

Director of product management and design at Oboz, Dan Wehunt, described Gore-Tex technology as “the gold standard” in breathable moisture protection, and said Invisible Fit was “a huge improvement” in making footwear waterproof.

He added that Oboz had worked closely with the team at Gore to integrate the technology into the Katabatic collection.

Gore presents the benefits of Invisible Fit as technology that uses a PFAS-free membrane and has 70% recycled content. It bonds directly to the upper lining of the shoe providing better fit, feel and comfort than earlier versions of membrane technology. 

In addition, the new technology is lighter and dries faster.

For spring 2025, Oboz and Gore have worked together to create mid-height shoes for the Katabatic collection, in addition to the low-shoe designs of earlier versions of the collection. “

I have not heard of this company “OBOZ” before, so I researched for them and found they make a variety of hiking boots. apparently, they have not used goretex. That was a surprise as I assumed all footwear companies used goretex.

I investigated the gore website to find an explanation of “invisible fit” film. Gore takes their normal film and bonds it to the upper part of the shoe. Until now the film was glued to the inside of the shoe in different parts.

The result is a shoe that they claim fits better and is lighter. If you removed the goretex film from any footwear product and put it on a scale I would be surprised if you got a weight of “one ounce” of material.

I guess oboz thinks they will increase sales in a slow economy. Everything I read in the outdoor industry, mostly about footwear companies, is that they are suffering slow sales. All of them are gore customers and their goretex lined boots are not jumping out of the inventory shelves.

Gore is doing their best to get business in general I believe because so many know that goretex is a lie and even the big hitters like wolverine have probably reduced their use of it.

I have noticed recently smaller companies jumped on the gore train probably enticed with financial incentives. From what I have heard over the years this is not a new tactic.

I believe that these companies will sour on the waterproof breathable footwear in short order when they realize sales do not develop as they are suggested they will.

The following story can never be told about gore products or those that work or don’t about gore products.

Afghanistan

I was an employee/ contractor for another company in Afghanistan in 2006-2009. During my time there, I was part of a group of trades man that traveled from Forward Operating base to Forward Operating Base servicing the American Military.

One night, while on a FOB 12,000 feet above sea level, we literally got hit with a snowstorm that dumped 6 feet of wet snow. The main pole on one side of our tent we were sleeping in collapsed. In the middle of the night, we gathered up our stuff and slept on the tables of the DEFACT or dining hall.

Because the lack of hard structures available, we were forced to sleep in with the soldiers. Which is an honor, but also very crowded.

After the storm subsided the next afternoon, the weather turned to bitter cold, especially at night. So cold, when you got up in the morning, your coffee would literally freeze in your cup within minutes of pouring it.

Right after the storm, We, cleaned off most of the snow off the tent. We were just trying to salvage our sleeping areas and get our stuff. Just one end of the tent was in the air. The side I slept on, which was the furthest from the heater.

Well, little did we know that this cold front was moving in. I had my 3-part Wiggy's bag, good for 70 below. The rest of the guys who decided to try and stay in the tent with me that night, had other bags. I was not even asleep yet, and they were turning blue running for a warm place to stay. I slept all night and woke up well rested ... (till my feet hit the floor). Those other guys had to fight for bunks in a 16 x16 room lined with soldiers from floor to ceiling.

By the end of the trip, those poor guys looked haggard ... For the next week, I was the only one in the tent and slept just fine. It was like having my own hooch. What a wonderful thing.

I carried my Wiggy's bag all over Afghanistan in a compression sack. I was not too big, or bulky. I always had to pack light. I needed to haul materials and equipment for my job. There was no room for extras, except for the bag... it always went with me. It was something soft to lay on during the hot summers, and was warm during the coldest of nights... You just don't leave home without it.

Since that time, I have bought bags for my stepdad and wife. Now I am buying another bag for a client and friend of mine. She is only a fair-weather camper, but if the world ever comes to an end, and she needs a good bag... she will have it.... If they only came in pink.

– Brett M.

Brett many thanks for the story. I know that there were many civilians like yourself working there as well as many men in uniform. I am proud to have been a positive part of our presence there.