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.
buy now from amazon
If you like the look of this gear, please consider purchasing from Amazon via the link below. We receive a small referral fee at no cost to you if you do. Please also be assured that this in no way affects the content of our reviews, you’ll see these purchase links in the products we hated too, just in case you disagree with us!
Find a bargain on eBay
To search eBay for Karrimor Orkney boots
John Surginor
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