NORTIV 8 Ankle-High Waterproof Hiking Boots

By NORTIV 8

8.9Excellent matchFeature and use-case score

NORTIV 8's ankle-high hiker earns praise for instant comfort and solid trail performance, but at least one independent tester found its waterproofing fails over time.

Waterproof membrane construction (brand-unspecified technology)
Suede/synthetic leather upper
Gusseted tongue with two-hook lacing

See Price at the store →Price, delivery, and configuration can change at the retailer.

ByTopFiveFind Research Desk

How this was made: AI-assisted research and drafting organize the evidence. Exact product identity, source claims, owner-feedback patterns, conflicts, and publication checks are documented before indexing. No hands-on or human-expert testing is claimed unless a page explicitly shows that evidence. Read the full methodology.

Best fitAlso Consider

CategoryBoots

BrandNORTIV 8

Catalog score8.9 / 10

Product overview

What Independent Testing and Owners Found

NORTIV 8 is an established budget-outdoor footwear brand with its own site and enough of a following that multiple independent outdoor/gear blogs -- Mountains for Everybody, Mountain Weekly News, and Wilderness Paths among them -- have published hands-on trail reviews of its hiking boot lines, which is more independent scrutiny than most Amazon-only footwear brands receive. This listing is the Ankle High Waterproof Hiking Boot in a men's 14W, one of many size/color combinations in the line.

Per the brand and reviewers, construction includes a suede/synthetic leather upper, a waterproof membrane (NORTIV 8 doesn't name a specific membrane technology, so it isn't Gore-Tex), a gusseted tongue with a two-hook lacing system, a reinforced rubber toe cap, a multi-directional-traction (MDT) rubber outsole, and a removable cushioned insole over an EVA midsole.

The strongest independent evidence we found is a detailed hands-on review from Mountains for Everybody, which tested a closely related NORTIV 8 ankle-high model over roughly 30km of Alpine terrain -- rock, snow, and water crossings -- reporting zero break-in period and no blisters or pressure points, and giving it a high overall score. Notably, the same reviewer specifically re-tested waterproofing after 6 months of regular use and reported it failed, documented with video -- a genuinely useful, honest data point rather than marketing copy.

Broader buyer comments echo the out-of-box comfort theme and note good ankle support from the padded collar and gusseted tongue, plus short-term water resistance holding up fine against wet grass, shallow puddles, and damp trails. The consistent caveat across multiple sources is that waterproofing and material durability are the weak points versus premium hiking boots, particularly past the first several months of use.

This is a budget hiking boot, not a technical mountaineering boot. Independent reviewers describe ankle support as "moderate at best" and don't recommend it for multi-week thru-hikes or technical terrain -- it's best suited to day hikes on established trails rather than heavy backcountry use.

What Owners Report

Recurring themes synthesized from the linked owner-review sources. These are reported experiences, not TopFiveFind test results.

Immediate out-of-box comfort

Both independent reviewers and buyer reviews consistently report no break-in period and no blisters, even after long trail days.

Waterproofing degrades over time

An independent long-term test found the waterproofing failed after about 6 months of regular use, despite fine short-term performance against wet grass and puddles.

Key Listed Features

Waterproof membrane construction (brand-unspecified technology)

Suede/synthetic leather upper

Gusseted tongue with two-hook lacing

Reinforced rubber toe cap

Multi-directional-traction (MDT) rubber outsole

Removable cushioned insole over an EVA midsole

Good fit for

Good for casual to moderate day hikers who want true out-of-box comfort without a break-in period.
A reasonable pick if your hikes involve short wet-grass or puddle crossings rather than sustained rain or stream fording, given the reported waterproofing drop-off after months of use.
Not recommended by independent reviewers for multi-week thru-hikes or technical mountaineering, given only moderate ankle support.

Check before buying

Don't rely on the waterproof claim for long trips or wet climates -- at least one independent tester found it failed after 6 months of regular use.
Confirm the wide (14W) sizing fits your foot shape; wide-width hiking boots vary more across brands than standard widths do.
Check current reviews for the specific colorway (Brown/Black/Tan) since NORTIV 8 sells several visually similar ankle-high models.
If technical terrain or heavy pack loads are the goal, look at boots with confirmed ankle-support ratings -- reviewers call this model's support "moderate at best."

Research sources

Buying questions

Quick Answers

Is this boot actually waterproof?

It has a waterproof membrane and performs fine against short wet-grass or puddle exposure, but at least one independent long-term tester found the waterproofing failed after about 6 months of regular use.

Does it need breaking in?

No -- multiple sources, including a 30km independent field test, report zero break-in period and no blisters straight out of the box.

Is it Gore-Tex?

No -- NORTIV 8 doesn't name a specific waterproof membrane technology, and reviewers note it isn't the same tier as a premium Gore-Tex boot.

Is it good for serious backpacking or mountaineering?

Independent reviewers don't recommend it for multi-week thru-hikes or technical terrain, citing only moderate ankle support; it's better suited to day hikes on established trails.

What width options are available?

This specific listing is a wide (14W) option; NORTIV 8 sells the line across a broad size range including standard and wide widths.