NORTIV 8 Men's Waterproof Hiking Boots Review: budget boots that get the job done

I’ve been using these NORTIV 8 men’s waterproof hiking boots in black (model JS19005M) as my main dog-walking and weekend hiking boots for a while now. I didn’t baby them: mud, wet grass, gravel paths, a couple of short, steep hills, and one very questionable puddle that was deeper than it looked. I bought them because I wanted something cheap enough that I wouldn’t cry if they fell apart, but still solid enough for 10–15 km walks.

First impression out of the box: they look like standard mid-cut hiking boots, nothing fancy. They feel a bit lighter than some of the heavier leather boots I’ve had, but not as light as trail shoes. The brand isn’t one of the big outdoor names, so I went in with modest expectations. I basically thought: if they last one season and keep my feet dry, that’s already a win for the price.

After a few weeks of regular use, I can say they’re not perfect, but they’re not junk either. They sit in that “pretty solid for the money” zone. Some things surprised me in a good way, like comfort straight out of the box and decent grip on wet paths. Other things are clearly budget, like the synthetic materials and the slightly stiff feel at the ankle at the start.

If you want a simple, no-nonsense pair of boots for walking the dog, casual hikes, or a school trip, they make sense. If you’re planning a week in the Alps with a heavy backpack, I’d probably look at something more serious. But for normal use, they hold up better than I expected for the price tag.

For me, the main selling point of these NORTIV 8 boots is value. They’re clearly priced below the big-name hiking brands, and you can feel that in some areas (materials, insole, breathability), but they still manage to deliver where it matters: comfort, basic waterproofing, and grip. If you compare them to budget supermarket boots, these feel more solid and more thought-out. If you compare them to premium leather boots that cost three or four times more, obviously they’re not in the same league.

What you’re paying for here is a boot that you can actually use in the real world without babying it. It’s good enough for:

• Daily dog walks on muddy paths
• Weekend hikes up to 10–15 km
• School trips or Duke of Edinburgh style outings
• Light work outside in wet conditions

There are a few things to budget for mentally. I’d strongly recommend planning to buy a better insole if you walk a lot. That adds a bit to the total cost but also makes the boots more comfortable and extends their useful life. Also, don’t expect them to last as long as a £150+ pair from a big brand. If you go in thinking “if they last me a couple of years of regular use, I’m happy,” they make sense.

Overall, I’d say they sit firmly in the “good value if you’re realistic” category. They’re not a bargain miracle, but they do the job without falling apart or torturing your feet, which is already decent at this price point. If your budget is tight and you need functional boots more than a logo, they’re worth considering.

Design-wise, these boots are pretty plain, which I actually appreciate. The all-black color with some subtle paneling makes them easy to wear with jeans or hiking trousers without looking like you’re about to climb Everest. If you want something that looks low-key for commuting plus weekend walks, the style works. There’s no glossy fake leather shine, more of a matte/satin finish, so they don’t scream “cheap” from a distance.

The mid-height shaft gives you ankle coverage without going too high up the leg. I noticed the ankle area feels a bit stiff for the first couple of outings, especially on descents, but it loosened up after 2–3 walks. The padding around the collar and tongue is decent, not super plush but enough that I never had rubbing on the ankles or top of the foot. The tongue is gusseted high enough to keep out most splashes and debris, which is important for wet grass and shallow puddles.

One design choice I liked is the absence of metal hooks at the top. Everything is regular eyelets, so there’s less chance of bent hooks or laces fraying where they rub on metal. It also makes them a bit less “technical” looking and more like everyday boots. On the downside, it’s a bit slower to lace up and tighten compared to speed hooks, especially if you’re in a hurry.

The tread pattern is quite aggressive, with multi-directional lugs. Visually, it gives you confidence they’ll handle mud and mixed terrain. In practice, they do grip fairly well (I’ll get into that in performance), but the design is heavily focused on traction rather than flexibility. That means they look ready for rough paths, but they’re not the sleekest if you want something that doubles as a casual city shoe. Overall, the design is practical and functional, not stylish or trendy, which is fine for this type of boot.

Comfort was the part I was most worried about, and honestly, it turned out better than I expected. Out of the box, I did a 6–7 km walk with the dog on mixed terrain (pavement, forest path, muddy field) and didn’t get any blisters or hot spots. That’s already a good sign. The padding around the ankle and tongue is enough to avoid pressure points, and the midsole absorbs a fair bit of impact, especially on gravel and small stones.

Where you feel the budget side is the insole. It’s okay for short walks, but once you go past the 8–10 km mark, you notice it’s just basic foam. After a couple of longer outings, I swapped in my own insoles with better arch support, and the comfort level jumped up. With good socks (I used medium-thick hiking socks), I could do 12–15 km without any real foot fatigue beyond normal tiredness. Thin everyday socks are not ideal; the boots run a bit warm and the thicker socks help prevent rubbing.

The boots are on the slightly warm side in mild weather, which is normal for waterproof boots with a membrane. On cooler days (5–10°C), they’re actually quite nice. In warmer weather, say 18–20°C and above, my feet did get a bit sweaty on longer walks, but not to the point of being unbearable. Ventilation is not their strongest point, so if you mostly hike in hot conditions, you might find them a bit stuffy.

The ankle support is decent. The collar is firm enough to give you a sense of stability, but not so rigid that it digs into your leg. On uneven terrain and side slopes, I felt more confident than in low-cut shoes. That said, the boots are not super flexible, so if you like a very natural, trainer-like walking feel, these will feel a bit clunky at first. Overall, comfort is solid for the price, especially if you upgrade the insole and use proper socks.

The boot uses faux leather and nylon on the outside, with a textile lining inside and an EVA/rubber sole. You can tell straight away it’s not full-grain leather, but for the price that’s expected. The faux leather panels feel reasonably thick and slightly flexible. They don’t feel like cardboard, which I was half-expecting at this price point. The nylon inserts help with breathability a bit, though don’t expect the same airflow as mesh trail shoes.

The sole is in two parts: EVA midsole for cushioning and a harder rubber outsole for grip and durability. The rubber feels quite firm, which is good for wear resistance but makes the sole less bendy. When you try to flex the boot by hand, you can bend it, but it’s not floppy. Walking on hard surfaces like pavement, you feel the firmness underfoot, but there’s enough cushioning that it’s not uncomfortable. It’s just not that “bouncy” feel you get from more premium midsoles.

Inside, the insole is a basic synthetic foam. It’s removable, which is a plus, but it’s nothing special. After a few longer walks, I started to feel that typical budget insole flattening. If you plan to do regular 10+ km walks, I’d seriously consider swapping them for something better with more arch support. The textile lining is smooth and hasn’t caused any hotspots or blisters for me, but it also doesn’t feel like high-end breathable fabric. It’s just standard functional lining.

The waterproofing comes from a mix of PU “leather” and a membrane. I didn’t cut them open to inspect the membrane, but in use they behaved like a typical entry-level waterproof boot: fine in wet grass, light rain, and shallow water, but I wouldn’t trust them for standing in water for ages. Overall, the materials are clearly chosen to hit a low price point, but they’re not flimsy. You just need to keep your expectations realistic: this is solid budget gear, not premium hiking equipment.

Durability is always the big question with cheaper boots. After several weeks of use, including regular 5–10 km walks on different surfaces and plenty of mud, they’re holding up better than I expected. The sole shows very minimal wear, even on the outer edges where I usually see the first signs of flattening. The stitching is still intact everywhere, and there’s no separation between the upper and the sole at the flex points.

The faux leather doesn’t crack or peel yet, even after drying them quickly a few times near a radiator (not ideal, but that’s real life). I just brushed off the mud and left them to dry, and the material still looks fine. Obviously, synthetic leather won’t age like real leather, so I don’t expect them to look good after years of use, but for now there are no ugly creases or damage. The nylon panels also haven’t snagged or torn, despite walking through brambles and low branches a couple of times.

The laces and eyelets are still solid. No fraying, no loose eyelets, no tearing at the lace holes. Because there are no metal hooks, there’s less risk of those bending or ripping away from the boot, which I’ve had happen on other cheap boots. The laces themselves feel basic but not flimsy. If something is going to fail first, my bet would be the insole flattening over time and maybe the waterproof membrane losing some effectiveness after a season of heavy use.

Realistically, I’d expect these to last a regular dog walker or casual hiker at least a year or two of frequent use, maybe more if you rotate them with other shoes and don’t abuse them. They’re not the kind of boots you resole and keep for a decade, but for the price bracket they sit in, the durability so far is pretty solid. If you treat them as workhorses rather than heirlooms, you’ll probably be satisfied.

In practice, these boots handled typical UK-style wet conditions pretty well. I walked through soaked grass, shallow puddles, and even waded into water almost to the top of the boot for a quick test. As long as the water stayed below the top of the tongue, my feet stayed dry. After 30–40 minutes in wet grass and light rain, no leaks. If you stand still in water for a long time, you’ll probably push the limits, but for normal walking they do the job.

Grip on mixed terrain is decent. On dry dirt, forest trails, and gravel, no issues at all. On wet mud and slick grass, they still hold, but like any boot, if you hit thick, greasy mud, you’ll slide a bit. The lugs are deep enough that they bite into softer ground, and the sole doesn’t feel like hard plastic on rocks. On wet pavement, they’re okay, not slippery, but you still need to be sensible on smooth surfaces like painted lines or metal grates. I’d say the traction is good for casual hiking, not specialist winter or alpine stuff.

Stability is one of the stronger points. The sole is fairly rigid torsionally, so your foot doesn’t twist much on uneven ground. Combined with the ankle-high shaft and reinforced heel, it gives you a secure feeling when walking on rocky paths or side slopes. I did a couple of steeper descents on loose gravel and felt confident enough; no sensation of the foot rolling inside the boot. The trade-off is less flexibility and a more “boot-like” feel, but if you’re prone to twisting ankles, that rigidity is a plus.

For long distances, they’re fine up to moderate hikes. I’d happily do 10–15 km in them regularly. For multi-day treks with a heavy pack, I’d personally go for something higher-end and better ventilated, but for weekend walks, dog walking, and occasional hill days, they perform well. They’re not high-performance mountaineering boots, but as general-purpose outdoor boots, they hold their own.

These are mid-height men’s hiking boots, ankle-high, lace-up, in plain black. Nothing flashy, no weird colors, no huge logos. The outer is faux leather with nylon panels, and they’re sold as “waterproof” with a membrane and PU leather. The sole is EVA plus rubber, with a fairly chunky tread pattern that’s clearly aimed at mixed terrain: forest tracks, muddy fields, gravel, that kind of thing.

On the foot, they feel like classic hiking boots rather than sneakers. The shaft comes up just over the ankle, so you do get some support. The toe is rounded with a rubber cap for protection, and the heel is reinforced and quite rigid. The lacing system is straightforward: normal eyelets all the way up, no metal hooks, which I actually like because there’s nothing to catch on trousers or destroy laces.

Weight-wise, they sit somewhere between a heavy walking shoe and a full-on mountaineering boot. You feel you’re wearing boots, but they’re not bricks. For everyday walking and 2–3 hour hikes, it’s fine. I wouldn’t call them ultra-light, but I didn’t feel like dragging my feet either. The insole is removable, so you can swap it for your own orthotics or a better insole if you want more support.

In terms of use cases, they’re clearly built for general outdoor stuff rather than technical mountaineering. The product page lists hiking, camping, fishing, trekking, even running, but honestly I wouldn’t run in these. For walking, casual hikes, and light backpacking, they fit the bill. That’s the level where they make sense: everyday outdoor boots that you don’t mind getting dirty.