I recently Purchased a pair of karrimors Orkney hiking boots as my old faithful Boots had begun to let in & following a recent multi day hike I felt it was time to purchase a new pair.
I am more than the occasional hiker,trying to fit in as many days in the mountains as I can, so I need to give it some consideration & time to choosing a new pair.
Certain factors also needed to be included,such as cost & durability,basically I needed to find the best pair of boots for what I could afford,allowing for quite a low budjet of around £80:00.I also had to factor in that i’am a big lad with ankles like a Shire horse & would require a boot that offered me the much need ankle support but also allow me to tighten the boot to comfort.
Before you actually purchase you boots from either a store or online do some research into any pair you’ve been interested in,as the feedback you receive from this is going to be independent & not from retailer who’s not going to give you any negative information about a product their selling.Having ‘ Googled ‘ a number of brand & read the online reviews,mostly from Amazon I was quite happy about what I had read about the Karrimor Orkney boot.So I set of to my local sports/hiking outlet to try on some hiking boots,” try before you buy ” & don’t be rushed by over eager sales assistant,remember you don’t have to purchase for the first shop you go to,ask for a selection of sizes & wear the sock you would normally wear out in the hills.
Most professional hiking shops have an uneven surface for you to test your boots out on,mines did not,don’t be put off by this,if you can feel the terrain under foot you’ll have sore feet after a days trek,so if the shop has a staircase or step try pushing down & see if you feel it underfoot.So having found a boot you can afford & one that also fit you need to ensure you’re chosen boot is waterproof,the Orkney is a leather boot which has a natural water repellent property,don’t be fooled by thinking leather needs no care,it does,most sport shop,hiking outlet & shoe shops sell treatments for the care of leather boots.If you’ve chose fabric boots ensure they are gore-tex which gives it the best waterproofing & breathability.
Having used my Karrimor Orkney boots several times now on a varied terrain from scrambling to tramping through ankle high marches I have found them to be an excellent boot,that not only offers the budget minded hiker a choice but also provides comfortable support
Medium Term Update (9 months frequent usage)
While these boots showed great promise, unfortunately after nine months of hiking they have ceased to be waterproof. The boots were optimally cared for with washing and treatment after each outing, however I can no longer rely on them to keep me dry.
A more casual user may have a different experience. I have contacted Karrimor to determine if this is a fault with this particular pair of boots or a general design issue, however for the moment I can no longer recommend this boot for frequent use in the hills.
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Good to see you got a new set of boots: they look the business!
Would be good to know if the boots have stood up to your expectations after nearly nine months of wear?
It’s not looking good Malc.
Last week John’s boots started leaking – he does get out a lot more than the average person, but the boots have been looked after so we’d have expected longer from them.
I’d hold off on buying them until we get word from Karrimor about whether or not this is specific to John’s pair of boots, or if this is a known issue.
If you need a new pair of boots for right now, You could do worse than the Hi-Tec altitudes. Fellow blog author Spud has been wearing these on an average of 2 trips a week since early June and they haven’t let him down once.
See the review here:
http://www.hikersblog.co.uk/hi-tec-v-lite-altitude-ultra-luxe-ion-mask-review/
Spud’s medium term update is due in a couple of months, but they’re showing no signs of issues at the moment despite his intensive use.
While these boots showed great promise, unfortunately after nine months of hiking they have ceased to be waterproof. The boots were optimally cared for with washing and treatment after each outing, however I can no longer rely on them to keep me dry. A more casual user may have a different experience.
I have contacted Karrimor to determine if this is a fault with this particular pair of boots or a general design issue, however for the moment I can no longer recommend this boot for frequent use in the hills.
Hi John, just got these as an exchange for ones that leaked after a week! I’m curious to know what treatment you used? I have Nikwax Fabric and Leather treatment but after your comments maybe a wax or oil would be better?
Hi john.
I used these up until recently, they served me well, the support and comfort was fantastic. All was good until one day i decided to make my own path through ferns on the north side of the cave hill from the telecoms mast towards the zoo overflow carpark. They started at knee height and by the time i got to the bottom they were taller than me.
I was going to use them again for a weekend in annalong valley but the heel end of the sole had started squeaking. When i say squeaking, this is to put it mildly. I could feel it up through my lower leg and it felt like something structural had gave out. Also by this point they were as watertight as a pair of sandals. I had a pair of karrimor hot rocks that i wore a few times casually so i used them instead. Worst idea ever. I can’t even rate them other than atrocious. they left me lamed just by walking up rocky.
Anyways. The orkneys were good for a while. But they are like how I’d describe a so called budget performance car tyre. They are fantastic for a while but they will let you down in spectacular fashion.
I think your experience is pretty much exactly what the rest of us have seen here Karl.
The boots are definitely better suited to occasional hikers – someone who only gets out a couple of times a year will most likely get a while out of these boots, but with the frequent use John put these boots through they just didn’t hold up over time.
I reviewed the Merrell Crestbound here and while it is a good boot which has stood the test of time, I find myself more and more going for a lighter, lower profile option and keeping some mobility in the foot.
I bought these boots just over a year ago for occasional walks (3 or 4 times a month). They looked the part and appeared well made but they are now no longer waterproof in heavy rain.. As they are very comfortable I’m still wearing them and putting up with the occasional damp socks! I won’t be buying Karrimor boots again.