Karrimor Men's Bodmin Weathertite Hiking Boots Review: budget boots that actually cope with real weather

I’ve been using these Karrimor Bodmin Weathertite boots (size 9 UK, Brown2) as my “don’t care if they get trashed” pair. Dog walks in the rain, muddy footpaths, supermarket runs in bad weather – basically all the boring stuff where I don’t want to ruin my pricier hiking boots. I wasn’t expecting much at this price, more like a throwaway backup, but they ended up getting a lot more use than planned.

In practice, the main thing that stood out is that they’re properly waterproof for normal use. I’ve walked through wet grass, puddles up to just below the laces, and steady rain for about an hour and my socks stayed dry. For a budget boot, that’s already a win. The breathability is okay, not crazy good, but my feet weren’t swimming in sweat either on cooler days.

Comfort-wise, I put them on straight out of the box and did a 6–7 km mixed walk (tarmac, canal path, a bit of mud). No hotspots, no heel rub, no blisters. The insole is basic and a bit thin, you can feel that if you’re used to more cushioned boots, but the midsole does enough that it doesn’t feel like walking on bricks. I’d call them “comfortably average” out of the box, which is honestly all I wanted.

If you’re expecting some premium hiking experience for long mountain days, that’s not what these are. But as everyday boots for dog walking, local trails, and autumn/winter slop, they get the job done better than I expected. I’ve tried worse boots that cost more, so for me these landed in that nice “cheap but actually usable” category.

For me, the value is where these Karrimor Bodmin boots actually shine. They’re regularly cheaper than a lot of big-name hiking boots, and you can often catch them on sale. For that money, you’re getting: real waterproofing, decent grip, usable comfort out of the box, and a boot you don’t have to baby. You can stomp through mud, walk the dog in a storm, or stand on a wet touchline watching kids’ football without worrying about wrecking expensive footwear.

Compared to more premium brands I’ve used (Salomon, Scarpa, etc.), you obviously feel the difference in materials and finish. The leather is thinner, the insole is basic, and the long-term durability probably won’t match a boot that costs three times as much. But that’s kind of the point: if you just need solid everyday waterproof boots, paying top money doesn’t always make sense. These fill that gap nicely between supermarket junk and serious hiking kit.

The hidden cost is that you’ll almost certainly want to buy two extras: better laces and better insoles. Even if you spend a bit on those, the total price still stays in a very reasonable range. Once you make those tweaks, the boots feel a level up from what you’d expect at this bracket. That’s why a lot of reviewers say things like “for the money these are brilliant” – I’m in the same camp. They’re not perfect, but they punch above their weight if you’re realistic about how you’ll use them.

If you’re a hardcore hiker doing long mountain routes every weekend, I’d say save up for something more robust and supportive. But if you’re a regular person who wants reliable, waterproof, everyday boots for walking, light hiking, and winter errands, these are good value for money. You’re paying for practicality, not prestige, and in that role they work very well.

Design-wise, these Bodmin boots are as classic as it gets. Brown suede, mesh panels, ankle height, lace-up. If you picture a generic hiking boot, this is basically it. No weird colours, no huge logos plastered everywhere. The Karrimor branding is there but not screaming at you, which I appreciate. You can wear them with jeans and they just look like normal outdoor boots, not like you’re about to climb Everest to pick up milk.

The ankle height is decent: enough coverage and support for uneven paths, but not so high that it digs into your leg. The padded collar and tongue are fairly generous, so you don’t get that hard edge cutting into your ankle. I’ve worn them with both normal cotton socks and thicker hiking socks and didn’t have to adjust anything; there’s enough padding to adapt either way. The shape is on the slightly wider side, which is good news if you hate narrow, pinchy boots. My forefoot had room to spread, and that made a big difference on longer walks.

Practical design touches: the Dynagrip outsole has a good lug pattern. The lugs are not super deep like proper mountain boots, but they’re deep enough for muddy fields and wet pavements. On packed snow and frost (we had a couple of cold mornings), they held up okay – not magic, but no worse than mid-range hiking boots I’ve used. On wet tarmac, grip was good; I didn’t feel like I was skating every time I hit a painted line on the road. The toe area has a bit of a bumper but nothing huge, so don’t expect serious toe protection against rocks.

My only real gripe on design is the cheap laces. They’re thin and slightly shiny, and they just don’t last. They started to fray where they rub through the eyelets. It’s not a deal-breaker, but I’d just factor in buying a better pair of laces from day one. Apart from that, the design is simple, practical, and easy to live with – more “everyday outdoor” than hardcore technical, which matches how I actually use them.

Comfort was the main surprise for me. I expected a stiff break-in period, but these were comfortable right out of the box. I did about 6–7 km on the first day – mix of pavement, park paths, and some muddy track – and didn’t get any hot spots or rubbing. The collar padding and tongue do their job, and the ankle support feels light but present. You’re not locked in like a mountaineering boot, but for everyday walking it’s more than enough.

The fit in size 9 UK felt true to size, maybe slightly on the roomy side in width, which I actually liked. If you have wider feet or you prefer thicker socks in winter, that’s a plus. There’s enough toe room that I wasn’t banging the front of the boot on descents on small hills. The heel hold is decent; I didn’t feel my heel lifting much even going uphill. I’d still say: wear proper hiking socks, not thin dress socks, and you’ll be fine.

Now the honest bit: the standard footbed is basic. After a couple of longer walks (10–12 km), I could feel that the insole wasn’t giving much arch support or cushioning. It’s not painful, just a bit “flat” feeling, especially if you’re used to better insoles. Once I dropped in a pair of aftermarket insoles I already had at home, the comfort went from “pretty decent” to “actually very good for the price”. So the boot itself – shape, padding, midsole – is fine; it’s just the stock insole that holds it back a bit.

In different conditions, they behaved well. In cold, damp weather my feet stayed warm enough with normal hiking socks. I haven’t done -30°C arctic stuff like one of the Amazon reviewers, but for a few hours in low single digits and drizzle, no cold toes. On longer pavement walks, the cushioning is okay; you feel that they’re not premium, but my knees and feet were not complaining at the end. For me, as a daily beater boot, the comfort level is more than acceptable, especially once you fix the insole issue.

Materials are where you clearly see the budget side of these boots, but they’re not trash. The upper is a mix of suede leather and mesh. The suede is fairly thin and flexible, so the boots don’t feel stiff or brick-like, but you also know you’re not getting heavy-duty leather that will last ten years. The mesh panels help with breathability and reduce weight, but they’re obviously not going to take the same abuse as full leather if you’re constantly scraping against rocks or brambles.

Inside, the lining is a standard fabric over a waterproof/breathable Weathertite membrane. It feels smooth enough with normal socks and didn’t cause any rubbing for me. The waterproof membrane actually works: I’ve had them in wet grass, shallow puddles, and steady rain and the inside stayed dry. The breathability is okay for cooler weather; on a warmer, fast-paced walk my feet did get a bit warm, but not outrageously so. If you run hot, you’ll notice it on mild days, but for autumn/winter they’re fine.

The sole setup is rubber outsole + phylon midsole + standard textile insole. The rubber feels grippy and has not worn down too fast so far – after a couple of months of regular use, the lugs are still well defined. The phylon midsole gives some cushioning without making the boot too soft. It’s not like walking on clouds, but it takes the sting out of hard pavements and gravel. The insole is the weak point: flat, thin, and not very supportive. If you have fussy feet, I’d just drop in a better insole straight away; the boot has enough volume to accept one.

Overall, the materials are perfectly acceptable for the price, but you can feel the compromises: thinner suede, basic insole, cheaper laces. For casual hiking, dog walking, and daily wear, it’s fine. For long multi-day hikes with a heavy pack, I’d personally step up to something more robust. But if you just need a waterproof boot that you won’t cry over if it gets covered in mud, these materials do the job.

Durability is always the big question with cheaper boots. So far, after a couple of months of regular use (several walks a week, mostly 3–8 km, plus general day-to-day wear), these Bodmin boots are holding up better than I expected. The suede hasn’t cracked, the stitching is still intact, and the sole is firmly attached with no signs of separation at the toe or heel. They’ve been through mud, rinsed off, dried by the door a bunch of times, and they still look decent once the dirt is brushed off.

The outsole wear is reasonable. The lugs have rounded a tiny bit at the heel where I hit the ground most, but nothing worrying. I’d expect to get at least a solid year or two of regular casual use out of them, maybe more if you rotate them with other shoes and don’t hammer them every single day. Obviously, if you’re doing daily long hikes or working on rough ground, they’ll wear faster – they’re not built like industrial work boots.

The weak spot is clearly the laces. Mine started to fluff and show splits where they run through the eyelets after a few weeks. They haven’t snapped yet, but I don’t trust them long term. This matches several Amazon reviews where people mention both laces failing in under two months. Replacing them with a better pair of outdoor laces is cheap and instantly removes that headache, but it’s still a corner that Karrimor has cut.

Another thing to mention is the waterproof membrane over time. I obviously haven’t had them long enough to say how it’ll be after a full year or two, but so far there’s no sign of leaks. I’d still treat the suede with a spray every now and then to help the outer material shed water and mud; that usually keeps membranes working better for longer. Overall, I’d rate durability as good for the price: not bombproof, but not disposable either, as long as you accept you’ll probably need new laces and maybe better insoles.

Performance-wise, I mainly care about two things in this kind of boot: does it keep water out, and does it grip properly. On both, these Bodmins are solid. The Weathertite membrane has held up well so far. I’ve done repeated wet dog walks, standing around in soaked grass, and short sections through shallow puddles. Water has never come through the upper – the only time my socks got damp was when I stupidly let water come over the top of the boot. As long as you keep the water level below the lower lace hooks, you’re fine.

Breathability is average. On cold or cool days, no problem at all. On a mild day doing a faster pace, my feet got a bit warm, but not swampy. That’s pretty standard for waterproof boots in this price range. If you want super breathable, you probably shouldn’t be buying waterproof boots to begin with. For autumn and winter, I’d say they’re in their element. In warm summer weather, they’ll feel a bit much, but that’s expected.

The Dynagrip rubber outsole is better than I thought it would be. On wet pavements, muddy fields, and compact dirt trails, grip is good. I didn’t have any scary moments where the sole suddenly lost traction. In shallow mud they bite in enough; in deeper mud you’ll still slip because the lugs aren’t super aggressive, but you’re not face-planting every two steps. On frosty paths, they were okay – obviously not as secure as boots with winter-specific soles or microspikes, but good enough for normal careful walking.

If you’re planning serious mountain hikes with steep, rocky terrain and heavy loads, I’d say these are out of their depth. The support and sole stiffness just aren’t on that level. But for low-level walking, dog walks, commuting in bad weather, and easy trails, they perform well. That matches a lot of the Amazon reviews too: people using them daily in all weather and being happy with how they hold up. For the price bracket, the performance is honestly one of the stronger points.

On paper, the spec is pretty straightforward: suede and mesh upper, a Weathertite waterproof/breathable membrane, Dynagrip rubber outsole, phylon midsole, and a standard insole. They’re ankle-height boots with a flat heel and a closed toe, so classic hiking boot shape, nothing fancy. Made in China, like most stuff in this price range, and they come in this Brown2 colour which is basically dark brown with some lighter mesh panels.

When you unbox them, you can tell they’re built to a price, but not in a disastrous way. The stitching is mostly neat, a couple of tiny glue marks here and there around the sole, but nothing that screams “these will fall apart in a week”. The suede is on the thinner side compared to premium brands, but it doesn’t feel like cardboard. The fabric lining inside is standard – not plush, not rough, just normal boot fabric that you forget about after five minutes.

Weight-wise, they’re lighter than they look. I don’t have a scale at home, but compared to my heavier leather boots, these feel easier on the feet for daily use. That lines up with the phylon midsole and mesh bits – it’s clearly aimed at comfort and lightness more than tank-like durability. The lacing system is basic: fabric eyelets down low and metal hooks at the top. It works, but the supplied laces are weak – mine started to fluff and twist after a few weeks, and that matches the Amazon reviews complaining about laces splitting.

Overall, the presentation is: “no frills, does the job”. You’re not getting premium leather, fancy insoles, or technical buzzwords all over the place. You’re getting a fairly standard hiking boot layout with a waterproof liner and a decent sole, which is honestly what most people buying at this price actually want.