Karrimor Bodmin Review UK | Best Budget Walking Shoe?

Name: Karrimor Bodmin Weathertite
Brand: Karrimor

The Karrimor Bodmin Weathertite is the honest budget walking shoe, and it is worth being clear about what that means before anything else. At around £43 it is a fraction of the price of a Merrell Moab or a Salomon, and it is one of the most reviewed walking shoes on Amazon UK for a simple reason: it is cheap, it is waterproof, and it carries a familiar British brand name. For a lot of people that is exactly the right combination for a first pair of proper walking shoes.

What it is not is a shoe that competes with the £100 field on comfort, grip or durability, and this review is here to inform that choice rather than push you towards it. If your budget genuinely stops in the £40s, the Bodmin is a sensible buy that will get you round a coast path in the dry. If you can stretch further, the money buys real gains, and that steer runs through everything below.

Who the Bodmin is for

The Bodmin suits three kinds of buyer, and it is honest about all three.

The first is the occasional walker. If you walk a handful of times a year, a few miles at a time on made paths, bridleways and gentle countryside, you do not need a technical hiking shoe and the Bodmin covers that ground fine.

The second is the newcomer who is not ready to spend three figures. Plenty of people want to try walking properly before committing £100 to a pair of shoes, and that is fair. The Bodmin lets you find out whether hiking is going to be a regular thing without a painful outlay if it turns out it is not.

The third is anyone who wants a knock-about waterproof pair they are not precious about: dog walks in the wet, the school run across a muddy field, pottering round a campsite. For that job, a cheap waterproof shoe you do not mind scuffing is often more useful than an expensive one you want to protect.

Who should look elsewhere? Regular hikers who cover real distance, anyone walking rough or steep ground under a loaded pack, and anyone who wants a shoe to last years of hard use. Those walkers are better served by the Merrell Moab 3 or a Salomon, and the reasons are set out below.

What you get for the money

For around £43, the Bodmin covers the basics of a waterproof walking shoe, and the spec sheet is straightforward.

The waterproofing comes from Karrimor's own Weathertite membrane, a breathable lining designed to keep light wet out over the height of the shoe. On dewy grass, shallow puddles and light rain, that is a real benefit and the thing that separates the Bodmin from a plain trainer at a similar price.

Underfoot, a Phylon midsole handles cushioning. Phylon is a compression-moulded EVA foam, light and inexpensive, and it gives the shoe enough give for shorter, gentler walks. The outsole is Karrimor's Duragrip rubber, a moderate multi-directional tread aimed at general trail and countryside rather than aggressive mud or rock.

The upper is a familiar suede and mesh combination, comfortable enough out of the box and reasonably breathable, with a low-cut collar and a standard moulded EVA footbed inside. It is a conventional, sensible build for the price, and nothing about it is trying to be clever.

That is the honest sum of it: a waterproof, cushioned, low-cut walking shoe from a recognised UK brand that does the job it is priced to do.

Where you feel the gap to a Moab or Salomon

Spend time comparing the Bodmin against the £90 to £100 field and the difference shows up in three places. None of it is a fault at the price. It is simply where the money has not been spent.

The first is cushioning. Phylon is a firmer, less refined foam than the EVA and air-cushion setups in a Moab, and it packs down faster with use. Over a short walk you will not notice. Over a long day on hard ground, the Bodmin feels flatter and less forgiving underfoot, and it is the kind of tiredness you feel in the last few miles rather than the first.

The second is the membrane. The Weathertite lining keeps light wet out when the shoe is new, but owner feedback points consistently to two limits: it is less breathable than GORE-TEX, so feet run warmer and clammier on a warm day, and it is less durable over time, with several long-term users reporting damp getting in after months of hard use. A budget membrane doing budget-membrane things, in other words.

The third is grip and support. The Duragrip outsole is adequate on dry paths and hard-pack, but on wet chalk, slick limestone and the clay-and-bog mix that defines a UK winter it is confident rather than reassuring, and the shallower tread clogs where a deeper lug would shed. The overall build is softer and less structured than a Moab or a Salomon too, so under a loaded pack on uneven ground it feels less planted. Fine for gentle terrain, out of its depth on the rough stuff.

Put simply, the Bodmin gets you dry feet and a comfortable shorter walk. The extra £50 or so buys a plusher, longer-lasting ride, a membrane that breathes and holds up, and grip you can trust when the ground turns against you.

Specs at a glance

Waterproofing: Weathertite breathable membrane
Outsole: Karrimor Duragrip rubber
Midsole: Phylon (compression-moulded EVA)
Upper: Suede and mesh
Footbed: Moulded EVA
Weight: ~480g per shoe (UK 8)
Cut: Low
UK price: ~£43

Pros and cons

Very cheap for a waterproof walking shoe, around a fraction of a Moab's price
Weathertite membrane keeps light wet out when new
Comfortable out of the box for shorter, gentler walks
Familiar UK brand and one of the most reviewed budget walking shoes online
A sensible, low-risk first pair or knock-about pair

Firmer Phylon cushioning packs down and tires over long days on hard ground
Weathertite membrane is less breathable than GORE-TEX and less durable over time
Duragrip outsole is adequate rather than confident on wet rock and mud
Softer, less structured build feels less planted under a loaded pack on rough ground
Not the shoe for regular hikers chasing years of hard use

Best for

Occasional walkers, newcomers not ready to spend three figures, and anyone wanting a cheap waterproof knock-about pair for dog walks, gentle countryside and the wetter half of the year.

Walking shoes at Blacks

Prices pulled live from Blacks, updated daily. Links are affiliate links.

Scarpa Men's Ribelle Cross 2 Mid GORE-TEX Hiking Shoe

£165

Merrell Men's Moab Adventure 3 Waterproof Walking Shoes

£125

Merrell Women's SpeedARC Matis Hiking Shoe

£160

Salomon Men's Barrakee Outdoor Shoes

£59.97

adidas Terrex Men's Multi CLIMAWARM Half Zip Fleece

£65

Merrell Men's Moab Speed 2 Walking Shoes

£99.97

New Balance Women's Fresh Foam X Hierro Trek Shoes

£99.97

Altra Men's Olympus 6 Trail Running Shoes

£131.97

Verdict: is the Karrimor Bodmin worth it?

For the right buyer, yes. The Karrimor Bodmin Weathertite does exactly what a budget walking shoe should: it gives you a waterproof, cushioned, low-cut shoe from a familiar brand at a price that does not sting. If you walk occasionally, you are new to it and testing the water, or you want a cheap pair you are not precious about, it is a sound, sensible buy and its huge review count reflects how many people it suits.

The compromises are real and they all point one way. The Phylon cushioning is firmer and packs down, the Weathertite membrane trails GORE-TEX on breathability and long-term durability, and the grip and support are adequate rather than confident once the ground gets rough or slick. For gentle, dry-to-damp walking that is fine. For serious mileage or rough UK terrain it is out of its depth.

So the steer is this. If your budget stops in the £40s, buy the Bodmin with clear eyes and it will serve you well within its limits. But if you can stretch to around £90 to £100, the Merrell Moab 3 or a Salomon buys real gains you will feel on every walk: plusher and longer-lasting cushioning, a membrane that breathes and lasts, and grip you can trust on wet chalk and mud. For a shoe you will actually rely on, that is money well spent rather than money saved.

Rating: 3.8 / 5

Buy the Karrimor Bodmin Weathertite on Amazon

FAQ

Are Karrimor Bodmin shoes any good?

For the money, yes, within clear limits. The Karrimor Bodmin Weathertite is a waterproof, cushioned, low-cut walking shoe at around £43, and it is a sensible buy for occasional walkers, newcomers and anyone wanting a cheap knock-about pair. Where it falls short of the £100 field is over distance and in rough conditions: the Phylon cushioning packs down, the Weathertite membrane is less breathable and less durable than GORE-TEX, and the grip is adequate rather than confident on wet rock and mud. Buy it for gentle, dry-to-damp walking, not for serious mileage.

Are the Karrimor Bodmin waterproof?

They use Karrimor's Weathertite breathable membrane, which keeps light wet out over the height of the shoe when new, so they handle dewy grass, shallow puddles and light rain. Owner feedback is mixed on longevity, though: several long-term users report damp getting in after months of hard use, and the membrane is less breathable than GORE-TEX, so feet run warmer on hot days. Treat them as reliably waterproof when new, and as a budget membrane that will fade with heavy use.

How much do the Karrimor Bodmin cost?

Around £43 is the typical selling price, and they are frequently discounted below that at outdoor retailers, so you will often see them cheaper still. That low price is the whole point of the shoe. For context, the Merrell Moab 3 and most Salomon walking shoes sit at roughly £90 to £100, and that gap buys noticeably more comfort, grip and durability.

Is the Karrimor Bodmin good for hiking?

For gentle day hiking on made paths and easy countryside, it does the job. For serious hiking, rough or steep ground, or long days under a loaded pack, it is out of its depth: the softer build feels less planted, the cushioning tires over distance, and the shallow Duragrip tread does not grip wet chalk or shed mud the way a deeper, grippier sole does. If you hike regularly on real terrain, a Moab or a Salomon is the better tool.

Karrimor Bodmin or Merrell Moab 3?

The Bodmin at ~£43 and the Moab 3 at ~£100 are aimed at different buyers. The Bodmin is the budget pick for occasional and new walkers who want dry feet on gentle ground for as little as possible. The Moab is the default all-round UK walking shoe: plusher and longer-lasting cushioning, a Vibram outsole with confident grip, better breathability and a wide-fitting option. If you can afford the Moab and plan to walk regularly, it is the smarter long-term buy. If your budget truly stops in the £40s, the Bodmin is the honest choice.

Comparing the full field? The Bodmin is the budget pick in the best walking shoes UK 2026 guide, and the walking shoes hub has every review and buying guide in one place.

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