When you work on a farm, shoes aren’t just shoes—they are the difference between a good day and a miserable one. I wake up before dawn, and the ground is always wet from dew, or slick with mud after rain. For me, footwear has to be more than just durable. It needs to keep me steady when the pigs are restless, when the cows crowd at the gate, or when I’m wading through puddles that form in uneven spots on the property. That’s how my bond with Oboz began.
At first, I didn’t think much about brand loyalty. Any boot that looked sturdy seemed fine. But years of working outdoors quickly taught me that bad shoes don’t just wear out—they wear you down. Blisters, sore arches, and slipping in the mud are more than just small inconveniences when you’re responsible for animals and heavy work. The first time I put on a pair of Oboz boots, I noticed the difference right away: snug around the heel, supportive through the arch, and with traction that made me feel planted, even in the sloppiest pens.
What impressed me most was how well they handled water. On the farm, water is everywhere—hosing down pens, scrubbing feed buckets, or crossing the pasture after a storm. Cheap boots let it seep in, soaking your socks and chilling your feet until you can barely focus on the job. My Oboz held their ground. The waterproofing worked like a shield, and even after hours of chores, my feet stayed dry. That one feature alone saved me countless days of discomfort, not to mention the risk of slipping and injuring myself when the ground was slick.
I remember one morning during lambing season when everything seemed to happen at once. A ewe was struggling, rain was coming down sideways, and I had to move fast from one shed to another carrying supplies. The mud was ankle-deep in spots, the kind that usually tries to pull your boots right off your feet. With my Oboz, I never once lost footing. By the end of that chaotic day, I realized I had leaned completely on my boots, trusting them with every step while my mind focused on the animals. That kind of confidence is priceless.
Of course, comfort is another story. Farm work doesn’t end in a couple of hours. It stretches across long days where standing, bending, and walking are constant. Most boots I wore in the past felt like bricks after half a day. Oboz managed to blend sturdiness with cushioning that didn’t give out, even after months of wear. I used to peel off my boots with a sigh of relief at the end of the day; now I almost forget I have them on. That kind of relief isn’t flashy, but when you live in boots, it matters more than anything.
Over time, I started to notice how durable they were too. Normally, a season of wet weather, combined with the constant grind of farm life, would shred the seams of my boots or wear down the soles until they were slick. Oboz seemed to hold together longer than I expected. The stitching stayed intact, the waterproofing didn’t fail after a few months, and the grip on the soles held strong through gravel, mud, and straw-covered floors. It felt like the boots were made with the same mindset I bring to farming: steady, no-nonsense, and built to last.
Some of my fellow workers joke that I talk about my boots like they’re part of the team. Maybe that’s true. When you spend twelve hours a day in the same pair of shoes, you get to know what works and what doesn’t. And for me, Oboz works. They’ve become as much a part of my daily routine as feeding the animals or mucking out the pens.
That’s why, when someone asks me what gear makes farm life bearable, I always point to my boots. If you’re working outdoors, you don’t need anything fancy—you just need something you can count on. For me, that something has a name: oboz australia.