NORTIV 8 Armadillo Hiking Boots Review: cheap workhorse boots for daily walking

I’ve been wearing these NORTIV 8 Men’s Ankle High Waterproof Boots (Armadillo, 9 UK, Olive Suede) mainly for dog walks and weekend hikes. Nothing extreme like Everest, but a mix of muddy trails, wet grass, gravel paths, and the odd rocky hill. I’m not sponsored, I just wanted something cheap that I wouldn’t cry over if they fell apart after a season.

Before these, I used to buy mid-range hiking boots around £100–£150, and honestly they didn’t always last that long either. So when I saw the price of these and the amount of reviews, I figured I’d treat them as semi-disposable “beaters” for bad weather. I’ve put them through regular use, a few longer 10–15 km hikes, and a lot of wet mornings in fields.

Overall, they’re better than I expected for the money, especially for comfort out of the box and grip. But they’re not miracle boots. The big topic is the waterproofing: it’s fine at first, but you shouldn’t expect them to stay perfectly dry forever, especially if you’re out in constant rain or slogging through soaked grass every day.

If you’re thinking about these for casual hiking, dog walking, or work where you’re outside a lot but don’t want to wreck expensive leather boots, they’re pretty solid. If you need serious, long-term waterproofing in harsh conditions, I’d say they’re more of a compromise than a full solution.

For me, the real selling point of these NORTIV 8 boots is the value for money. You’re paying budget cash for something that can handle daily walks, weekend hikes, and general rough use without falling apart immediately. They’re not perfect, but when you compare them to boots two or three times the price that also lose waterproofing after a while, they start to look like a pretty sensible option.

If you’re the kind of person who does a lot of miles – dog walking every day, regular hikes, outdoor work – you know that boots are basically consumables. That Amazon reviewer who said they’d rather buy several pairs of these instead of one fancy pair makes sense to me. For the cost of one high-end boot, you could almost rotate a few pairs of these over a couple of years and not stress about scratches, mud, or general abuse.

Where the value drops a bit is if your top priority is reliable, long-term waterproofing. In that case, you might be better off saving up for a proper leather boot with a solid membrane and maintaining it well. But if your priority is comfort, grip, and not spending a fortune, these tick the box. They’re good enough for most casual hikers and daily walkers who just want something that works and doesn’t hurt their feet.

So in short: very good value as everyday beaters, decent for light to moderate hiking, and a smart buy if you accept that at this price, you’ll eventually replace them rather than repair them. If you go in with that mindset, you’ll probably be pretty satisfied.

Design-wise, these are classic mid-ankle hiking boots. The ankle height is enough to give a bit of support and keep dirt and stones out, but they’re not tall like full-on backpacking boots. I’d call them mid-cut. There’s a cap toe at the front which gives you decent protection when you kick rocks or tree roots, and the heel area is firm enough that your foot doesn’t slide around inside.

The tread pattern on the sole is quite aggressive: deep lugs with a pattern that sheds mud reasonably well. On wet grass and muddy paths, the grip is actually pretty good. I’ve gone down some slippery slopes with a dog pulling on the lead and didn’t feel like I was about to ski down on my face. On smooth wet pavement, they’re okay – not magic, but better than trainers with flat soles. The rubber feels on the firmer side, which usually means better durability but slightly less “sticky” feel on wet rock.

Visually, they’re low-key. Olive suede with some mesh panels, a few subtle brand logos, and standard lace-up closure. The lacing system is straightforward: regular eyelets down low and hooks at the top for quick tightening. No fancy BOA dials or anything like that. It’s the kind of boot you can wear with jeans and not look like you’re about to climb a glacier, which I like.

The only small design downside for me is that they’re a bit bulky and not the lightest-looking boots. They’re not bricks, but if you’re used to lightweight trail shoes, you will notice the difference. Still, for a boot that aims to be tough and cheap, the design makes sense: stability and protection first, style and sleekness second.

Comfort is probably the strongest point for these boots. I wore them straight out of the box on a 7–8 km walk with mixed terrain – fields, gravel, a bit of tarmac – and didn’t get any blisters or hot spots. No real break-in period, which is rare for boots at this price. The padded collar and tongue do a good job of cushioning the ankle, and the inside lining feels soft, not scratchy.

The EVA midsole and insole give a decent amount of cushioning. After a full day on my feet, my legs felt more tired than my feet, which is a good sign. The arch support is moderate – not super high, not completely flat. If you have very specific arch needs, you might want to swap in your own insoles, but for my fairly average feet, they were fine. The removable insole is handy for drying them out if you do get them wet inside.

In terms of fit, they run true to size in length for me (UK 9). Width is standard. If you have wide feet, you might feel a bit snug, especially with thick hiking socks. I wore them with medium-thickness wool socks and had no issue. The lacing lets you adjust the tightness around the ankle pretty well, so you can lock your heel in without crushing your toes.

Breathability is okay but not great. On cooler, wet days, no problem. On warmer days or long walks, my feet did feel a bit warm, which is normal for waterproof-ish boots with suede and padding. Still, for all-day comfort on typical UK-style walks and hikes, they do the job nicely. You’re not getting the light, airy feel of trail runners, but you’re also getting more support and protection.

The upper is a mix of suede and mesh, with a padded textile lining inside. The suede isn’t top-tier leather or anything, but it feels thick enough to handle daily abuse. The mesh panels help with breathability, though these are still boots – your feet won’t feel like they’re in running shoes. The inside padding is soft and comfortable from day one, no rough seams or hard edges rubbing against the ankle, which is a big plus.

The sole is EVA plus rubber. The EVA (the foam part) makes the midsole lighter and gives a bit of cushioning, while the rubber on the outside handles grip and wear. You can feel there’s some shock absorption when you walk on hard surfaces like pavement or rocky tracks. It’s not as bouncy as some high-end hiking boots, but it’s good enough for long walks without your feet feeling beaten up. The insole is removable EVA too, which is useful if you want to swap in your own orthotics or a thicker insole.

Where you notice the price is in the small details. The suede marks and stains quite easily, especially in wet mud, and it doesn’t clean up as nicely as better leather. The mesh also looks like it could snag if you get caught on branches or sharp rocks, though I haven’t torn mine yet. The stitching so far has held up, but you can tell it’s built to a cost: functional, not fancy.

Overall, materials are in line with the budget. They don’t feel like cheap plastic boots, which is good, but don’t expect the feel or longevity of high-end leather hiking boots. For what you pay, it’s a fair trade-off: solid basic materials that get the job done without any luxury touches.

Durability is where these boots actually surprised me a bit. Considering the low price, I was expecting them to fall apart fairly quickly, but so far, the sole and structure are holding up well. The outsole shows normal wear after regular use, but nothing alarming – the lugs still have plenty of bite. The stitching around the upper and sole hasn’t blown out, and there are no big gaps or delamination yet.

One Amazon review talks about doing 8–9 miles a day and getting 32–34 weeks of use (around 1900 miles) before the waterproofing failed, which is honestly pretty respectable for boots under £50. That user even compared them to a £250 pair that needed a resole after less mileage. Based on my use, I can believe the mileage claim: the structure seems to outlast the waterproof membrane or coating.

The weak point is clearly long-term waterproofing, not the physical build. After months of regular exposure to wet grass, puddles, and rain, you should expect them to start letting in moisture, especially around the flex points near the toes. The suede also scuffs and stains, but that’s cosmetic. Functionally, they keep going, they just stop being truly waterproof and become more like water-resistant hiking boots.

If you see them as semi-disposable workhorse boots – something you’ll beat up for a year or so and then replace – they’re good value. If you expect multi-year, fully waterproof performance like a high-end leather boot that you regularly wax and baby, you’ll be disappointed. For the price bracket, I’d say durability is solid, but manage your expectations about staying dry forever.

On the trail, these boots perform better than I expected for the price. The traction is solid: wet grass, muddy paths, forest tracks – they hold on well. I’ve walked in heavy mud and only slipped when it was the kind of slime where almost anything would struggle. On gravel and rocky paths, the sole feels stable, and the ankle support is enough to save you from minor twists when you step in a hole or on uneven ground. One Amazon reviewer mentioned stepping in a ditch and barely feeling it – I’d agree, they do a good job of keeping your foot supported.

For daily dog walks of 5–8 km and weekend hikes up to 15 km, they’re perfectly fine. The cushioning from the EVA midsole keeps your feet from feeling like you’ve been walking on concrete all day. They’re not super light, but the weight is reasonable, so you don’t feel like you’re dragging bricks after a few hours. The flat heel and overall shape feel stable when carrying a backpack, though I wouldn’t use them for serious multi-day mountain treks with heavy loads.

Now, the big point: waterproofing. When new, they handle puddles, wet paths, and light rain pretty well. Walking through shallow puddles and wet ground, my feet stayed dry. But after repeated use in wet conditions, especially long walks in soaked grass, the waterproofing does start to fade. Some users reported losing waterproofing after several months or around 1500–1900 miles, which is actually not bad for cheap boots, but they’re not permanently watertight. Another user mentioned getting wet feet even in light rain after some time, so it clearly depends on how hard you push them.

In practice, I’d call them water-resistant for a good while, not forever waterproof. If you spray them occasionally with a waterproofing spray, you’ll extend their life. For general UK weather, dog walks, and casual hiking, they’re fine. For constant heavy rain, bogs, or long days in soaked terrain, you’ll eventually get damp socks.

Out of the box, the boots look like typical mid-height hiking boots. The Olive Suede colour is pretty neutral – more of a dark greenish-brown that doesn’t scream for attention. They came laced up, with an extra pair of laces in the box, which I appreciated because I tend to destroy laces faster than soles. No fancy packaging, just a standard shoebox. It feels like the money went into the boot, not the box, which is fine by me.

On paper, they’re sold as waterproof, ankle-high hiking boots with suede and mesh on the outside, EVA and rubber sole, and a padded textile lining. The marketing list is long: hiking, camping, climbing, cycling, running, backpacking, mountaineering, traveling, and probably making coffee if you read between the lines. In practice, they’re mainly good for walking, light hiking, and general outdoor chores. I wouldn’t run in them, and I definitely wouldn’t treat them as technical mountaineering boots.

The size label is in US sizing, which is a bit annoying. You have to double-check the size chart to match your UK size. My usual UK 9 converted fine, and the fit was as expected lengthwise. Width is on the regular side – not super wide, not super narrow. If you’ve got very wide feet, you might feel a bit snug at first. There’s nothing premium here, but nothing that screams “cheap junk” either.

So, presentation-wise: plain, functional, no nonsense. If you like flashy outdoor brands with big logos and fancy tags, this isn’t that. If you just want a pair of boots that look like boots and don’t cost a fortune, this fits that role pretty well.