NORTIV 8 DualStride Armadillo FieldLite Mid WaterproofPRO review

The more we tested the DualStride Armadillo FieldLite Mid, the more we found it appealing for a wide range of outdoorsy folks. You may be one of them if you are looking for the following:

• an illegally cheap hiking boot that feels and performs like a 2x more expensive boot
• a boot that's effective on moderate terrain but feels equally at home in the city (and doesn't make you look like you just came down from Mount Everest)
• a max-cushioned, comfort-oriented boot with fantastic impact protection for long hours on the trail

Unprecedently cheap, this NORTIV 8 surely has its limitations, and durability is one of them. The results of our Dremel tests cause concerns about this boot's long-term outsole resilience. If you want maximum durability, you'll need to invest in a more expensive option, like the KEEN Voyageur Mid or the Vasque Breeze.

And if you want to explore the benefits of other budget-friendly options, see our guide on the best cheap hiking boots.

An $80 boot that offers the shock absorption of a $240 HOKA Kaha 3 GTX? Wait a minute!

Yep, sandwiching as many as four cushioning layers, the NORTIV 8 DualStride Armadillo FieldLite reached an impressively high reading of 120 SA, proving to have 30% more impact protection than the average hiking boot!

That's a real blessing for tired feet and sore joints on a long day out and about.

But it doesn't simply absorb the shock; this NORTIV 8 boot also takes rebound seriously, using a supercritical foam for its insole. The high elasticity of this material is reflected in our lab tests, showing an above-average energy return of 56.6%!

On foot, this translates into a lively ride that makes long hikes more fun and less taxing as the rebound lessens the muscular effort required for each step. And it's one of the few hiking boots we've tested that don't feel dead on a concrete city street!

You can tell by its gigantic platform that there is a lot going on under the Armadillo FieldLite Mid's hood.

With a towering heel stack of 45.3 mm, it is almost 10 mm taller than average and is one of the thickest-soled boots in our catalog, alongside the KEEN Voyageur Mid.

Its forefoot stack also measures well above average, at a massive 28.9 mm. To say that our feet felt isolated from the ground would be an understatement.

Slipping into this NORTIV 8 boot for the first time, you will likely notice that it places your heel notably higher than the toes. Higher by 16.4 mm, to be precise.

This heel-to-toe drop exceeds the category average, so it can feel awkward to some folks. The good news is that it reduces the strain on the Achilles and calves on long distances with a heavy pack and makes the rearfoot feel well-cushioned.

But it can backfire on less predictable, technical terrain where a more level foot position is preferred for proprioception.

DualStride in the boot's name refers to the dual-density midsole, which combines softer and firmer EVA for a good mix of comfort and stability.

The primary cushioning layer that stretches from heel to toes is made of soft EVA with a lower durometer reading of 31.2 AC.

It complements the soft EVA Strobel and the supercritical foam insole on top of it, creating a very plush step-in feel.

The boot's very bottom midsole layer, made of firmer EVA, is limited to the heel and midfoot. It showed a higher durometer reading of 36.9 AC, making it 18% firmer than the cushioning layer above it but still much softer than the average hiking boot midsole.

The firm foam works together with a tough bottom-loaded midfoot shank to keep the ride stable and mute harsh impact from rocks and debris.

We are always a bit cautious about the fit and sizing of newer brands, as we are not yet familiar with their lasts, but this NORTIV 8 boot was a pleasant surprise.

Having created a gel mold of its interiors using a proprietary liquid, we measured its dimensions precisely with a digital caliper.

The widest part of the mold (in the ball of the foot area) showed a slightly above-average reading of 95.8 mm. This falls within the medium-width range but actually borders on wide, leaving some welcome wiggle room for a medium-foot wearer.

No wide versions available for the DualStride Armadillo FieldLite Mid, though.

The boot's toebox width also gravitates towards the wide end of the medium-width spectrum. Checking its width in the big toe area, our caliper recorded 73.3 mm.

Unless you have 2E feet or foot/toe deformities, there is a very low risk of developing any pressure points or hot spots here.

The toebox height of this NORTIV 8 boot came in at a standard 27.6 mm.

This grants sufficient vertical space inside its toebox as well.

There is no way a cheap boot like that can offer some of the tackiest outsole grip in our hiking boot catalog...Or can it?

Well, let our traction testing machine speak the truth because it recorded one of the highest friction coefficients in the category - 0.70!

Higher than average, it offers sticky traction even on smooth and slick surfaces like rocks, granite slabs, and wet stone and concrete urban surfaces!

Maybe this NORTIV 8 boot is named after an armadillo because of the mammal's long, sharp claws, but it has a rather moderate lug depth of 4 mm.

Our caliper measurement confirmed the product stats to the decimal, showing exactly 4.0 mm. This is a perfect depth for city-to-trail use and mixed terrain where you can encounter a little bit of everything, from gravel and rocky descents to light mud and soft grassy ground.

But for anything more demanding, we recommend leaving the dirty job to technical boots like those from Salewa with their 5-6 mm claws.

Checking the bottom of the NORTIV 8 DuelStride Armadillo FieldLite Mid WaterproofPRO, we found a rather well-executed lug pattern, which doesn't look inferior to any of the more expensive hiking footwear brands.

We've got spaced-out chevron lugs that change direction depending on the area to accommodate ascents and descents. They get smaller and pointier in the toe area for better climbing grip and larger in the heel for stronger braking power.

We didn't expect much flexibility from the boot's chunky platform, but it surprised us again! The DualStride Armadillo FieldLite Mid only required 25.5N to bend by 30 degrees, whereas some of the stiffest hiking boots need as much as 55-65N!

The absence of a full-length rock plate, an all-leather upper, or unforgiving overlays makes this NORTIV 8 boot less technical but more pliable, contributing to all-day comfort.

'Lighter than a bottle of water' states the boot's product description. That's an interesting reference point, but let's put it in the context of our lab-tested hiking boots.

Weighing the Armadillo in a men's US size 9, we got a below-average weight of 17.5 oz (496g) indeed! And it's also a few ounces lighter than the other high-stacked boots in our lab!

Breathability is practically non-existent in this waterproof NORTIV 8 boot. And as our lab test below shows, it doesn't even let a faint plume of smoke come out of its upper.

The boot's textile is also incredibly tightly woven, with no hint of ventilation pores.

Thus, we can confidently rate the DualStride Armadillo FieldLite Mid's breathability with the lowest possible score of 1 out of 5.

We just love how NORTIV 8 keeps proving that great performance can be achieved with minimal budget. And its highly stable construction supports that statement.

First of all, this boot is untwistable and requires a solid torque of 23.8 Nm to shift by 10° in our torsional rigidity test. This side-to-side sturdiness made our feet and ankles feel perfectly aligned and supported, even on hilly terrain.

Its heel counter also proved to have great structure, securing the rearfoot in place. On a 1-5 stiffness scale, we gave it a solid score of 4. Not too rigid to cause discomfort, though.

The DualStride Armadillo FieldLite Mid's massive stack height wouldn't work without a wide base to support all that bulk.

Measuring the widest part of its forefoot with a digital caliper, we got an above-average reading of 120.9 mm. So if you thought the HOKA Kaha 3 GTX was a bulky boot (115 mm), wait until you take a step in the NORTIV 8!

Expectedly, the heel of this boot also showed one of the widest readings at 96.5 mm. The greater contact area of the DualStride Armadillo FieldLite Mid promotes stability and better load distribution, especially if a heavy pack is involved.

If you think cheap synthetic leather can't stand up against abrasive rocks and sharp bushes, take a look at our Dremel test below.

The reinforced toebox of this NORTIV 8 boot hardly showed any signs of wear after 12 seconds of targeted drilling! That earns its toebox durability a 4 out of 5!

Unfortunately, the boot's internal mesh lining showed less reassuring results, scoring only 2 out of 5 due to tangible wear.

The same goes for the Armadillo FieldLite Mid's outsole durability. That's where an $80 hiking boot falls short compared to more advanced, expensive options.

But even though the dent was deeper than average at 1.2 mm, it's not a horrible result either. Especially for the price!

The boot's rubber outsole isn't particularly thick at 2.5 mm. This is one of the factors that helped it retain some of that forefoot flexibility.

A generously padded insole of 7.4 mm increased the amount of bouncy material inside the NORTIV 8 DualStride Armadillo FieldLite Mid, enhancing its comfort and energy return.

Even though the insole is removable, we wouldn't recommend swapping it for another insert unless you're okay with losing the rebound of its supercritical foam.

To mimic winter conditions, we kept the Armadillo FieldLite Mid in the freezer for 20 minutes and repeated the durometer measurement for its thickest and longest slab of EVA foam.

With a moderate 17% incease in firmness, we found that it doesn't get much harder in low temperatures, retaining its moderately soft ride.

We found no reflective elements on this NORTIV 8 boot.

There is no lack of interior padding either, as our clipper measured the thickest section of its tongue at a generous 12.8 mm.

The boot's tongue is fully attached to the upper on both sides, effectively guarding its interiors from the elements, sand, and debris.

Two finger loops, one in the heel and one on the tongue, help with the on-and-off action.

They are particularly handy because of the boot's fully gusseted tongue, which limits the opening.

This is officially the cheapest hiking boot we've ever tested! And it's mind-blowing how much goodness NORTIV 8 managed to pack into an $80 package!