Kodiak Reviews

A long time ago I had a pair of Kodiak Boots. They had pale brick red Vibram soles and were the best boots I ever owned. Indestructible. Styles change and after ten years they were beat up and I threw them out, but I could not WEAR THEM OUT.

I went away from Kodiak for a while, but a while back I saw them in a store and, based on my previous experience, enthusiastically bought another pair. I didn’t wear them often, perhaps 20 – 30 times over about 20 months, but the last time I wore them the heels and soles basically fell apart – turned to powder really, deep inside the sole.

I was disappointed, but was sure this must just be a bad batch of sole compound and a known problem. I was sure they would be apologetic and do something appropriate.

To be brief, that discussion was even more disillusioning. The essence of their reply was this quote: “The boots seem to be experiencing a common phenomenon known as “hydrolysis” … the breakdown and chemical decomposition of the polyurethane compounds due to a reaction with moisture in the air.” This mostly occurs, according to them, when the boots are kept for a long time in an enclosed storage like a box. Mine were kept in a large open closet and, although not worn frequently, were worn regularly. [To be fair, i was offered a 20% discount on a replacement pair but, given the fact that this problem is "common", I would not trust another pair at any price, for fear they would fail in rough country at a critical time, causing injury or worse.]

So, we have a fairly expensive pair of outdoor boots, now apparently being made with a far lower quality sole than the previous Vibram (which based on a variety of boots is a great material). These Kodiak boots, presumptuously touted as “Canada’s Boot” by the manufacturer, apparently are not designed to be used in any place where there is “moisture in the air”; this is a state seldom encountered in Canada. Perhaps they should more correctly be called Saudi Arabia’s Boots!

My advice to the company – Go back to Vibram soles or find some other material that can tolerate moisture without disintegrating; don’t sell boots that fall apart. My advice to the potential buyer – check the sole material; until it changes, use and store Kodiak boots only in the desert, where they might serve you well.

I have never used before waterproof hiking shoes, so when I saw these shoes at 39.00 at Sierra, I decided to give it a try.

This is my overall experience after one month.

Pros:
- price:
by far well below what competitors offered for the same shoes
- style:
good quality, fashionable shoes, nice leather
- waterproof:
I was hesitant to step in almost 3 '' deep puddles, but when I did, I was impressed. No water got in.
stepping in deeper puddles, or hiking in the rain, will bring some water in, through the top, but as I was hiking, excess water was squeezed out through the waterproof breathable membrane.
- outsole
slip resistant indeed. I was able to comfortably handle all surfaces, including the ones that normally I would be afraid of being too slippery with other shoes.

Cons:

- a little discomfort due to the way the tongue attaches to the shoe. There is a fold of stiff material that can press into one's foot. Never bothered me when biking in the rain, but I noticed it several times when walking sometimes on one foot sometimes on the other. There are times when that fold does not bother me at all.
I believe that it is related with the way I put on the shoes (specifically the tongue) or with the amount of tightening of the laces.

These are really cute, functional, high quality boots, comfortable and warm. I have a perfectly medium width foot, and I have to wear thinner socks with these. When I first tried them on they felt a bit narrow, but after wearing them a bit they loosened up and now they feel good - but still, with thinner socks. So great boots - they lean toward the narrow side.

These look to be very well made boots, but too narrow to fit my feet. If you have Medium-leaning-Narrow feet, they would be terrific.

I love the way these look; but I was very disappointed that not only were they tight across, but they were uncomfortable on the ball of my foot. So I will probably be sending them back. My granddaughter says she wants them, so I'll have her walk around the house in them to see if they're uncomfortable for her as well. Otherwise they're going back.