HI Tec Reviews 123

Nonexistent customer service.

Took 19 days after sending a return to get refunded and then it wasn’t the full amount.

By law you have to refund the postage paid also when a full order is returned.

I shouldn’t have to fight for this basic consumer right.

Have emailed multiple times, no one replies.

Have they gone bust?? Do not buy online direct from their website. Received a pair of boots one much smaller than the other. Their website says returns postage must be paid by customer unless faulty and to contact to arrange a return. Well that sounds easy . .. NOT no response to emails or calls and had to then pay to return as only given a 14 day period now I have no faulty boots or a refund and guess what yep still no response to my emails.shocking will now be going via credit card company to get my money back.

***UPDATE GOT A REPLY TO MY ORIGINAL EMAIL STATING THEY DO NOT CONSIDER ONE BOOT SMALLER THAN THE OTHER A FAULT. I even sent pictures clearly showing with a tape measure there was a difference in lengths of the boots as well as the insoles were different in length how is this not a fault ?! what sort of company is this! Shocking

I brought a pair of hi tec blast on the 29th September. After 1month the top pvc layer is peeling away. Ill be lucky to get two months from them before they get thrown in the bin

Not great, cracking after 3months not much wear. Cheap for a reason.

Less than 12 months old and full of cracks and letting in water

Bought a pair of Eurotrek in April this year, was told they were waterproof, hardly used them through summer as the weather has been good. It's now October, the boots are completely shot, peeling and letting in water, really disappointed. Used the enquiry form on the website, totally ignored, what a poor company.

Every pair of Hi tec shoes I've had, the laces only last about 3-4 weeks

The leather is delaminating , the skin of the leather is falling off and leaving on water proofing , these boots have been cared for with regular polishing , Waste of money

I’ve had several pairs of Hitech boots: on the plus side they’re comfortable and reasonably priced.
I walked two 100-mile long distance trails in a month with one pair and still had them in good condition thereafter.
I purchased another equally well-fitting pair of Hitech and averaged five miles daily for a year after which they started to shed stitches.
They may not live up to a totally waterproof assurance from the manufacturer, but in my experience neither do other brands of boots for three times the price.
So for Hitech’s £45 and up, I’d buy again.
A year’s tough reliable walking for that figure is good value.

I bought a vortex jacket at a good price. It is branded both hi-tec and dri-tec so I assume this is the place for a review. Well it was great for about 18 months but now all the seams have come apart especially the front outside pockets. They were glued, which is fair enough for waterproofing, but the glue has let go everywhere. Despite the low price this is not adequate quality. I would not recommend.

Boots failed on a walk. After looking after them and always drying, then applying grangers beeswax these boots let water in from the sole. Only had them for 1 year and i would have thought a D of E award winning boot would have stood the test of time better than this.
Put me off buying this brand now. Shame as they are comfy. But do not stand the test of time. Made my walk very uncomfortable indeed. Top half can put up with getting wet. But i draw a line when your feet are soaking wet. Think HI-TEC need to do some more testing of there so called water proof boots!!

I was looking for a robust walking shoe to be used every day, the Hi- Auckland lite walking shoe fitted the bill. Comfortable and smart in all respects, I was particularly pleased with the sole as I had been let down with the quality of other walking shoes, this sole is robust and hard wearing. Well recommened.

Haven't bought a pair in a long time, reason was that I was so disappointed in my last purchase.

Now years later, I bought another pair of hiking shoes and gave them the benefit of the doubt....

Wow, again what a disappointment.
These shoes won't see 3 months. Top is already showing cracks not even a month in.

I can never in good conscience promote or buy another ht shoe again.

Have emailed them twice re a complaint and they don't bother to even reply let alone deal with the issue
Extremely poor .Will not buy their products again

Bought Hi Tec MD Traction ,supposedly waterproof but I queried this design with the shop as they have a part mesh like flexible top. The shop told me they had a totally waterproof inner but I can confirm they are not waterproof. Walking through wet grass today and my feet are soaked.

I have same experience like Ant Morris....I’m repeat customer, bought new pair Hi-Tec. ..today I wear them second time . first time I use them for may be ...no more then 1hr...today after 10 min....they fell apart!!!

As a repeat customer I bought a new pair of expensive Hi-Tec walking boots in South Africa , naively expecting the same quality as the old pair . Wrong , with very little wear on the soles the sides of the uppers are splitting on both sides near the toes . (Photographs available). I notified Hi-Tec , who do not appear to be concerned or embarrassed by this material failure and have made no attempt to recall these boots for technical examination in order to prevent similar future problems . My costs ? Money wasted and a cold example of Profit before Reputation .
I wish I had seen your column earlier !
Ant Morris

I bought a pair of Hi-Tec Aysgarth May 2022. Now April 2023. Like many posts below, the soles have begun to delaminate at the toe so they flap like alligator jaws! And this year I have unfortunately only walked one hill – mostly flat Bedfordshire walking. Feet now get wet, and I have to waddle like a duck. Also the front upper has a black protection strip that lasts about 2 seconds before the plastic (yes plastic!) skin comes off. Tomorrow I will to talk to the retailer (Go Outdoors) – who I notice no longer stock Hi-Tec. Let’s see what happens! Will I get the lame excuses that I read below from Hi-Tec? This is definitely a design/production/materials fault.
UPDATE 08/04/2023 - Went to local Go Outdoors. The manager gave me a traight: simple ‘wear and tear’ nothing wrong here move along! Apparently under a year of infrequent use is too much! Next step retailer HQ!
UPDATE June 2023 - Credit to the HQ - they immediately agreed I was due a refund. I went back to the local shop and received the refund no problem. The nasty manager of the local shop was unfortunatly no where to be found!
Summary: Don't buy Hi Tec, and stand up for your rights with Go Outdoors.

My husband bought Hi Tec walking boots. He's worn them for a grand total of 9 hikes and they've split. I've had my Karrimor boots over a year and they're still going strong. The shop have stated no refund as he has damaged them....how? By wearing them for the intended purpose? Really? AVOID AVOID AVOID!!!!

Great shoes on a “budget” comfortable and just simple value for money had mine 6 years and still going strong