Kamik Olivia Review

With a removable, mesh-lined insole, the Kamik Olivia is an EcoLogic rubber boot with recyclable soles. EcoLogic is a plant-based, 100% recyclable rubber that provides durability and a sustainable option for the market. The Olivia is a fairly simple, yet versatile contender with ample traction to keep you steady and dry.

Performance Comparison

Despite a stiffer shaft than the others, all-day comfort was high with the Olivia.

Photo: Sara Aranda

Weather Protection

Measuring 14 inches from the ground, the Olivia isn't the tallest in this review. But, with a shaft that hits the top of the calf, weather protection is high. With a mouth circumference of 15 inches at this height, the shaft is narrow enough to help prevent rain from sneaking in. That said, this snug circumference was deemed uncomfortable for reviewers with larger calves.

Weather protection is high with this competitor.

Photo: Sara Aranda

Comfort

The biggest drawback of the Olivia is in their relative stiffness. Being taller and thicker than some of the others we've tested, they are simply not as flexible. This means that driving and general all-day wear is a tad more cumbersome — but only slightly. They are still a comfortable pair to walk around in, to put on and take off, and lug around. As is common, heel slippage did occur, and the front of the shaft press into the shin slightly on inclines. Many of these particular drawbacks are to be expected, however, in boots with tall shafts. For our lead tester, who usually wears as 7.5, the foot box was just roomy enough for her foot and thick socks at the size 8 we tested.

The Kamik Olivia has a slim circumference relative to its shaft height, which makes wearing anything but leggings a challenge.

Photo: Sara Aranda

Traction

With a pronounced tread, the soles of the Olivia perform incredibly well across flat surfaces, with above-average scores in the snow and on grassy inclines. Overall, however, they did not fare as well as some of the more flexible and sensitive boots in the group. This means that the more rugged or icy the conditions, the worse our confidence became in our ability to stay upright.

The tread is very similar to the Kamik Heidi. However, due to the stiffer shaft and taller height, walking around in the Olivia isn't as sensitive or tactile.

Photo: Sara Aranda

Warmth

The thicker rubber of this competitor helps maintain heat quite well. They even held up when we walked across snow, but only for a short period of time. Not meant for winter, the thin lining is all you get. Best for temperatures fluctuating between 40 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit, it's easy to adapt sock thickness to your preferred comforts. Keep in mind, however, that higher warmth ratings mean sweatier feet if your environment is consistently warmer or if you plan to do a lot of activity.

This model performs fairly well in colder temperatures.

Photo: Sara Aranda

Style

With a matte, sleek look, the Olivia blends traditional with modern. The molded accents, coupled with the buckle, give off a horseback riding boot vibe, but not so much that versatility is limited. Wear them with skinny jeans, leggings, or long socks and a dress. The only catch is that, since the circumference is narrow relative to its height, it is more difficult to wear pants without them bulging or looking baggy around the top of the shaft.

A closer look at the accessory buckle and molded detail.

Photo: Sara Aranda

Fit

Kamik offers whole sizes from 6-11 and runs true to size. If you wear a half-size shoe, it is recommended to size up. The fit is generous enough to wear thicker socks, but not so much that your feet swim when wearing thinner ones. Again, the main gripe is the circumference of the boot opening. Being at the height that it is, the opening is right in line with the widest part of the calf (at least it was for us). This can be very uncomfortable or even unwearable for people with calves any wider than 14 inches in circumference. The buckles are non-functional and do not adjust anything, so make sure you know your calf measurements when considering this boot.

The front of the shaft flexed into our shins with incline, but it wasn't enough to discourage us from wearing the Olivia, even for short periods in the white stuff.

Photo: Sara Aranda

Value

Designed and manufactured in Canada, this model is cheap without skimping on quality and performance. We think this is a great value for rainwear, especially due to the sustainable practices of the brand, a celebrated company whose recycling practices are nearly unmatched in this market.

Conclusion