NORTIV 8 has eight goals with every shoe they make. Their shoes should be comfortable, supportive, durable, adaptable, and weather resistant. They should have good traction, a good fit, and be a good value.
With each shoe that comes out, their goal seems to become more tangible. The pursuit of comfortable performance shoes at an affordable price is getting better every year, and these DualStride Armadillo shoes have the awards to show how far NORTIV 8 has come.
Let’s dive a little deeper to see why people (including me!) like them so much.
NORTIV 8 Hiking Shoes Overview
NORTIV 8 has eight goals with every shoe they make. Their shoes should be comfortable, supportive, durable, adaptable, and weather resistant. They should have good traction, a good fit, and be a good value.
With each shoe that comes out, their goal seems to become more tangible. The pursuit of comfortable performance shoes at an affordable price is getting better every year, and these DualStride Armadillo shoes have the awards to show how far NORTIV 8 has come.
Comparing my previous experience with the FieldLite Wander shoes, I was both nervous and pleasantly surprised upon first trying the DualStride Armadillo FieldLite shoes on. These shoes are quite comfortable–the insole is divine, has just the right amount of arch support and in the right place, and I felt like my feet could happily breathe in them. It was a refreshing experience, and I hoped that my cute new shoes would be as comfortable to wear out on my adventures to the different parks I like to frequent.
Where They Shine
Fit & Comfort
Fascinatingly for me, despite these being the same style of shoe as the DualStride Armadillo Boots, these don’t feel the same when wearing them. I thought they’d be more similar, though I imagine the differences may come down to the designs themselves of shoe vs. boot. Since a shoe doesn’t have ankle support built-in the same way as the boot style does, it wouldn’t be fair to expect them to feel the same out on a hike. And these differences have made it clear that as far as my preferences go, I am much more eager to pick up the boot style than these shoes. Preference aside, these shoes still performed well on my excursions.
The taller toe box made the walks a breeze, since I didn’t get several miles in and find my feet swelling uncomfortably. And despite being roomy on the inside, they didn’t feel too big or too tight. These shoes came with a nice level of arch support as well. The hooks on these shoes were better positioned for a secure lacing job, as compared with the Wander shoes where I wasn’t able to use these hooks. Being able to use them helped these shoes fit snug on my feet, where I could fasten the laces tightly just where I needed to, so that my feet wouldn’t wiggle around in the shoes too much.
Overall, the general comfort of the shoe is good. It’s got a nice, contoured insole for arch support, feels roomy and breathable, is lightweight (only 11.4 oz per shoe size 6, according to their website) and keeps my feet comfortable after several miles of walking. But where I feel the overall comfort could be lacking, is in the heels. The heel area is really firm and doesn’t have much give, which is likely there for added support since it is a hiking shoe. I found on my hikes with uneven terrain though, that this firm heel plus stiff upper would dig into my skin a bit depending on if I was stepping down off of boulders or hiking up a steep incline. I prefer to use these shoes for flatter or even paved trails because of this.
Intended Purpose
The DualStride Armadillos are meant to be a waterproof shoe that protects you from rain and mud, and they do a pretty good job of holding up to the task. I tested these shoes on a few different hikes and they stand up surprisingly well to quick submersion for river crossings. I will mention though, between these shoes and the boot version of this shoe style, the boots would be even better for river crossings since your ankles are more protected. Obviously with that caveat in mind, these shoes are great for crossings as long as you can keep the water line below your ankles.
Style
The DualStride Armadillo FieldLite shoes come in more of the classic hiking shoe look but come in 5 modern colors to suit buyer preferences. They have light pink, khaki, light grey (that comes with purple accents), dark grey (with pale blue accents), and a high-contrast style called grey pink that has a thick black band. Since these are waterproof shoes, they aren’t as breathable as a regular tennis shoe, but they perform well and look good doing it.
Traction & Durability
Testing these shoes has shown me that the Armadillo’s can stand up to a variety of environments. The traction is strong, with deep grooves great for gripping, so it’s hard to slip in most circumstances. NORTIV 8 advertises these as anti-slip and wear-resistant, and so far this has proven true for me. The one thing I would mention to look out for though, is losing traction on long hikes where the trail is dirt and mud. The deep grooves also mean that mud collects relatively easily, so you’ll want to be cautious about that and clean the soles to prevent any avoidable slips from happening.
In addition to traction, we have to consider the durability of these shoes, and the materials used are definitely stronger and sturdier than the FieldLite Wander series. The Wander series, which was designed to be incredibly lightweight and is not waterproof, had a mesh upper that started deteriorating pretty quickly just from my shoes brushing against each other. These Armadillo’s on the other hand, stand up much better to natural wear and tear. They have yet to show signs of wearing down despite seeing just as much if not more action than the Wander shoes.
Price
With NORTIV 8, they never steer you wrong when it comes to price. These waterproof shoes (which are always more expensive) are affordable at $71 per pair! The baseline expectation would be spending at least $100 for a decent pair of waterproof shoes, so NORTIV 8 delivers again when it comes to affordability.
Potential Pain Points
Maintenance
Like the boots, since these shoes offer so many light colors to sport, there will be more dirt and grime showing up and therefore be more cleaning involved in the upkeep. But that’s not too bad considering that’s not a huge part of shoe care.
Adaptability & Support
This is a bigger potential pain point, at least for me. Overall these shoes work well to adapt to a trail or an urban street, but I don’t find them to be the best shoe for everything. These are kind of a one-size-fits-all in the sense that they can work on more rugged trails, though off-the-beaten-path excursions aren’t ideal. These shoes shine more in civilized settings, being better suited to smooth, flat surfaces over the intense ups and downs that can come with rocky trails. The upper is a bit stiff and dug into my ankles when I took it on uneven terrain, so I found the rocky trails to be uncomfortable. On the other hand, I had no issues walking on the dirt trails through a park close to my home.
Overall, the general comfort of the shoe is good. It’s got a nice, contoured insole for arch support, feels roomy and breathable, is lightweight (only 11.4 oz per shoe size 6, according to their website) and keeps my feet comfortable after several miles of walking. But where I feel the overall comfort could be lacking, is in the heels. The heel area is really firm and doesn’t have much give, which is likely there for added support since it is a hiking shoe. I found on my hikes with uneven terrain though, that this firm heel plus stiff upper would dig into my skin a bit depending on if I was stepping down off of boulders or hiking up a steep incline. I prefer to use these shoes for flatter or even paved trails because of this.
Final Verdict
These shoes pass the test that NORTIV 8 designs by. They do their job, with both bold and fun “flying” colors, and are able to meet the needs for most wearers. The DualStride Armadillo FieldLite shoes have good fit, traction, durability, and weather resistance, great value, and the insoles are super comfortable. The comfort and support were the most dissatisfying traits for me, and that’s mostly because the experience of moving in these shoes felt stiffer and more uncomfortable as compared to the Dualstride Armadillo FieldLite Boots.
While its weakest points in my experience are the comfort and support in action, that doesn’t mean these shoes would be uncomfortable for more varying terrain with someone else wearing them. Most reviewers speak highly of the shoes’ comfort, which says a lot on its own.
I wouldn’t say these are perfect, being that adaptability as a trait makes these more of a general shoe. But, while they won’t be the top-notch pick for a multi-day backpacking excursion, they are still an excellent all-arounder shoe choice for those of us that like wearing sneakers anywhere.
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