NORTIV 8 Men's Waterproof Hiking Boots Review: Cheap workhorse boots for daily miles

I picked up these NORTIV 8 men's ankle-high waterproof hiking boots mainly as a beater pair for dog walks, muddy fields, and the odd weekend hike. I wasn’t expecting much at this price, more like something to kill for a season and then bin. But after a few weeks of use in typical wet UK-style weather, they ended up becoming my default everyday boots instead of the pricier pair sitting by the door.

My use is pretty mixed: daily walks of 4–6 km, a couple of longer 15–20 km hikes on mixed terrain, plus general errands in town. So not hardcore mountaineering, but definitely more than just strolling around a shopping centre. I’ve had leather boots from big brands before that cost four or five times more, so I had that as a reference point when I started using these.

What struck me quickly is that these boots are clearly built with practicality in mind. They’re not pretty, they’re not trying to be a fashion item, they’re just there to get dirty and keep going. The promise of being waterproof and the big rubber sole pattern were the things that sold me, and that’s what I paid attention to most while using them.

Overall, my first impression was: decent comfort, better grip than I expected, and the waterproofing is good at the start but not bulletproof forever. If you’re expecting them to behave like £200+ leather boots after a year of abuse, you’ll be disappointed. If you treat them as a tough budget option you’ll probably be pleasantly surprised.

Value is where these NORTIV 8 boots really make sense. You’re paying budget money for something that behaves more like a mid-range boot in terms of comfort, grip, and lifespan. They’re currently priced well under what you’d pay for big-name hiking brands, and yet they hold up far better than the typical supermarket or no-name boots in the same bracket. When you factor in that one heavy user got close to 2,000 miles per pair, the cost per mile is hard to argue with.

Of course, there are trade-offs. You’re not getting premium materials, full-grain leather, or a high-end waterproof membrane. You’re also not going to resole them when they wear down; you’ll just buy another pair. But that’s kind of the point. One Amazon reviewer summed it up nicely: for the price of a single “posh” pair of boots that needed an £85 resole, he could have bought 5–6 pairs of these and still had a few in reserve. If your priority is value and you’re not trying to impress anyone with your gear, that logic is hard to ignore.

For someone who walks dogs daily, commutes in bad weather, or does regular weekend hikes, these boots are a sensible option. You get decent comfort, solid grip, and initially good waterproofing at a price where you don’t stress too much if you trash them in mud or work. If you’re going on a big multi-day mountain expedition or you want boots that last for many years and can be repaired, you’ll want to invest in something higher-end.

In short, I’d call the value very good for normal users who just need boots that get the job done without draining the bank account. Not perfect, but for the money, they’re hard to beat.

The design is pretty straightforward: ankle-high shaft, closed toe, lace-up, with a mix of nylon and faux leather panels. The colour I had, Black Grey, is very standard – black base with grey accents. It doesn’t stand out, but it hides mud and scuffs well, which is what I want for this kind of boot. The overall shape is slightly chunky, more hiking-boot than trainer, but not as bulky as some heavy leather models I’ve used in the past.

The lacing system is basic but functional. Standard eyelets all the way up, no fancy hooks or locking systems. You can get a snug fit around the ankle, and the tongue is padded enough so the laces don’t dig in. I didn’t have any issues with hot spots from the lacing, even on longer walks. The ankle collar has decent padding, which helps with comfort and avoids rubbing, especially if you wear them with mid-weight hiking socks.

The outsole design is where you see the most thought put in. The rubber sole is quite aggressive, with deep grooves and a pattern that grips well in mud and on wet grass. The tread is not as technical as some premium hiking brands, but for typical UK trails, fields, and wet pavements, it’s more than enough. They also have a 2 cm platform height, which gives you a bit of extra clearance from puddles without feeling like you’re on stilts.

Visually, they’re nothing special but they look like what they are: affordable hiking boots that mean business. No fancy logos, no bright colours, just a solid, slightly utilitarian design. For me, that’s a plus. If you want something stylish for the city, look elsewhere. If you want boots you don’t mind trashing in mud, this design makes sense.

Comfort-wise, these boots did better than I expected. Out of the box, there was almost no break-in period. I wore them straight away for a 6 km dog walk on mixed pavement and muddy paths, and I didn’t get any blisters or sore spots. The padding around the ankle and tongue makes a big difference; it feels snug but not tight, as long as you lace them sensibly. For an ankle-high boot, they feel quite natural to walk in.

The EVA midsole does a good job of absorbing impact. On longer walks (15–20 km), my feet felt tired, but not in a painful way – more the normal fatigue you’d expect. Compared to heavy leather boots I own, these feel lighter and less clunky, so you don’t feel like you’re lifting bricks with every step. The flat heel and decent cushioning make them comfortable on tarmac as well as on trails, which is handy if your walks include a bit of both.

Inside, the removable insole is cushioned and has basic shock absorption. It’s not as plush as some high-end insoles, but for a stock insole at this price, it’s fine. I did a few days with cheap supermarket insoles swapped in just to compare, and honestly, I went back to the original ones because they were better shaped. If you have high arches or specific needs, you’ll probably want to upgrade the insole, but for average feet they’re okay.

One thing to note: if you have very wide feet, you might find them a bit snug. I’m more on the narrow side and they fit me well. A reviewer mentioned having long narrow feet and also found them fine, which matches my experience. With medium-thick hiking socks, the fit was secure without feeling cramped. In short, for daily walks and moderate hikes, the comfort is genuinely good. Not luxury-level, but definitely good enough that I reach for them without thinking about it.

These boots use a mix of nylon and faux leather on the outside, with textile lining inside, and an EVA + rubber sole. So, no real leather here, and you can feel that when you touch them. The faux leather panels are smooth and a bit stiff at first, but they soften up after a few days. The nylon parts help with flexibility and breathability. It’s clearly a cost-saving setup compared to full-grain leather boots, but it doesn’t feel cheap in the way some supermarket boots do.

The sole is a combination of EVA midsole and rubber outsole. The EVA is what gives you cushioning and keeps the weight down, and the rubber gives you grip and durability. Compared to more expensive hiking boots I’ve owned, the rubber feels slightly harder, which usually means better durability but slightly less grip on polished wet rock. In practice, on mud, grass, gravel, and tarmac, it did the job very well. The tread didn’t clog up too badly in sticky mud either, which is a bonus.

Inside, the insole is a removable textile/EVA one. It’s cushioned and has a bit of arch support, but nothing crazy. I’d call it standard comfort. If you have fussy feet or need orthopedic insoles, you’ll probably swap them out, which is easy enough because they’re fully removable. The lining is textile and feels fine against the foot, no rough seams that I could feel, and no rubbing spots once broken in.

Overall, the materials are clearly chosen to keep the price low but still be functional. You’re not getting premium leather or fancy membranes, but you are getting a synthetic setup that can handle daily abuse. For the price, I’d say the materials are pretty solid. If you want long-term re-soleable leather boots, this is not that category. This is more: use them hard for a year or so, then replace without crying over the cost.

Durability is where these boots punch above their price, but with one important caveat: the structure and sole hold up well, the waterproofing is what usually gives up first. On the physical side, after regular use, the soles show wear but not dramatic chunks missing or peeling. The stitching around the upper and sole area stayed intact for me, and the synthetic upper didn’t crack the way some cheap faux leather boots do.

That long Amazon review from the guy doing 8–9 miles a day is a good benchmark. He reported getting 32 weeks and around 1,900 miles out of his first pair before they stopped being waterproof, and the second pair lasted 34 weeks. That’s a lot of real-world abuse. He compared them to a £250 leather boot that needed a resole after about 960 miles, which kind of tells you where these sit in terms of value per mile. You’re not going to be resoling these, but you also paid a fraction of the price.

In my own, more moderate use (a few hundred kilometres so far), the main signs of wear are scuffs on the toe area and slightly smoothed-down lugs on the heel. Nothing that affects function yet. No delamination, no broken eyelets, and the laces are still fine. The spare laces in the box are a nice touch in case they do go later on. The inside lining has compressed a bit at the heel, which is normal, but it hasn’t torn or frayed.

So, durability summary: for the price, pretty solid. Don’t expect them to last five years of daily hiking and still be waterproof. Expect one or maybe two hard seasons of regular use with good grip and structure, then either reproof them or replace them. For a boot under £50, that’s honestly decent, especially if you compare the mileage to more expensive brands.

In terms of performance, there are two big points: grip and waterproofing. Grip first: on wet pavements, muddy fields, and loose gravel, these boots hold up really well. The rubber sole with deep grooves gives you confidence when you’re going downhill or stepping on wet grass. I walked a few times in fairly sloppy mud and didn’t feel like I was skating around. One Amazon reviewer mentioned using them for daily dog walks and being happy with the traction, and I’d agree with that. For general hiking and outdoor use, the grip is a strong point.

Waterproofing is where things get a bit more mixed. Out of the box, they are properly waterproof for normal use: puddles, wet grass, light to moderate rain. My feet stayed dry on several wet days, including walking through damp fields and shallow puddles. However, like several reviewers mentioned, this doesn’t last forever. After a good number of wet walks and some heavy rain days, you can feel the waterproofing starting to fade, especially if you’re in constant wet grass or prolonged rain.

One heavy-use reviewer on Amazon reported getting around 32–34 weeks of daily 8–9 mile walks before the boots stopped being waterproof, which is a lot of mileage. That’s roughly 1,500–2,000 miles, which is very respectable for budget boots. On the other hand, another reviewer said they lost waterproofing much sooner, even in light rain. My experience is closer to the first: they’re waterproof at the start, then gradually become more “water resistant” than truly waterproof unless you maintain them with spray.

Overall, performance is good for what they cost. Grip is consistently strong, comfort holds up over long walks, and waterproofing is solid initially but not permanent. If you accept that you might need to reproof them now and then, or eventually replace them after heavy use, they’re a reliable option for everyday outdoor stuff.

Out of the box, the boots look like standard mid-range hiking boots: black and grey, synthetic upper, chunky sole. Nothing fancy, nothing that screams premium, but also nothing that feels like a toy. They come laced up, with a spare pair of laces in the box, which I liked. At this price, I usually don’t expect extras. The overall feel when you first pick them up is: solid but not heavy, clearly designed to be used, not displayed.

The model I tested is the ankle-high version in Black Grey, size 7 UK. The tag and outsole are in US sizing, which is a bit confusing at first, so you do have to check the size chart properly. I normally wear 7 UK in most brands and these were consistent with that – no weird sizing surprises. The boot height is genuinely ankle-high, not mid-calf, so they feel more like sturdy walking shoes with ankle protection rather than full-on mountain boots.

They’re clearly aimed at people who want one pair of boots for a bit of everything: hiking, dog walking, casual outdoor work, and general rainy-day use. The look is fairly neutral, so you can wear them with jeans without looking like you’re about to climb a glacier. If you’re into sleek or fashionable footwear, these aren’t it. They give off more of a practical, workhorse vibe, which for me is totally fine for what they’re meant to do.

In short, the presentation is simple: functional design, clear outdoor focus, nothing flashy. It matches the price point and the Amazon listing pretty well. You’re not getting a premium unboxing experience, but you are getting boots that look ready to be used right away, which is what matters here.