Meet Kilpi: The Shield Against the Elements
The name says it all. Kilpi means shield in Finnish, and everything the brand makes flows from that single idea. Serious protection for serious outdoor use, without the bulk or rigidity that so often comes with it.
You may already know Kilpi from our Madagascar blog, where we donated 40 pairs of their Bare High boots to the conservation teams of the Madagascar Fauna and Flora Group, working alongside Chester Zoo in some of the most demanding terrain on the planet. Seeing those boots put to work in a rainforest feels like a great introduction to what Kilpi is all about.
Born from the North
Kilpi was established in 2002, drawing on the mythology and uncompromising climate of Nordic landscapes to create outdoor clothing and footwear that could genuinely hold its own in harsh conditions. The brand is Czech in origin, but Nordic in spirit, and that combination of central European craft and northern resilience runs through everything they make.
Central to that ambition is their own proprietary waterproofing technology, Siberium®, developed over more than a decade of research. It is firm, breathable and highly elastic, designed to provide reliable protection against the elements without restricting how you move. It remains the technology that underpins their footwear to this day, and it is genuinely impressive for the price point at which Kilpi operates.
The design ethos is straightforward. Outdoor gear should be functional, reliable and protective. Everything else follows from there.
Kilpi's Range of Barefoot Footwear
Kilpi produce a broad range of reliable, tough, outdoor clothing and footwear, from ski jackets and base layers to walking shoes and boots. Within their footwear range, it is the barefoot boots that brought them to our attention at Happy Little Soles.
It turns out the barefoot philosophy and the outdoor performance philosophy have rather a lot in common. A thin, flexible sole that keeps you genuinely connected to the ground is not just good for foot health. Out on a trail, on wet roots or uneven rock, it gives you sensitivity, balance and a level of confidence that a thick, rigid sole tends to work against. Kilpi understood this and built it into their boot design properly
Their Bare High boot brings together a zero-drop flexible rubber sole, a high-performance Siberium® waterproof membrane, a removable Kevlar insole for shock absorption, and a deep-tread outsole that handles both wet and dry surfaces reliably. It is a boot designed for the real world, and real adventures.
Kilpi Barefoot at Happy Little Soles
We currently stock two styles from Kilpi's barefoot range. The Bare High Waterproof Walking Boot is the boot that started it all for us.
Available in four earth tones, it is a high-ankle waterproof boot built for hiking, trail walking and any day when the weather has ideas of its own.
The sole has a hefty total stack of 14mm thanks to its nicely luggy tread, but that can be reduced to 9mm by removing the insole, for those who prefer a closer-to-ground feel.
Vegans will be pleased to hear this is a vegan-friendly boot, lined with soft microfleece and fastened with a secure lace-up system.
The Barelo Low Walking Shoe is the lighter, more everyday option, available in Black, Dark Blue and Green. It shares the same barefoot principles but in a lower-cut, more versatile shape.
Barelo is a good choice for those who want Kilpi's outdoor credentials in a shoe that works just as comfortably on a Saturday walk, or a day’s work, as on a proper trail.
Both styles sit at a price point that makes genuinely good barefoot outdoor footwear accessible to more people, and makes them a great entry shoe if you are new to barefoot.
Are Kilpi for You?
Kilpi's barefoot boots are for people who spend real time outdoors and need their footwear to keep pace. Hikers, trail walkers, dog walkers, anyone covering real ground in real conditions who wants a boot that is both properly protective and genuinely foot-friendly.
They also suit those who are already committed to the barefoot philosophy and have been searching for a waterproof option that does not ask them to compromise on natural movement. A genuinely barefoot-designed waterproof boot at this price is not easy to find. Kilpi fills that gap honestly.
You'll find the Bare High runs slightly small compared to other brands, so measuring your foot in centimetres and checking our size chart before ordering is always a good idea. The toe box has a nice shape, sloping rather than fully square, and suits narrow to medium width feet most comfortably. It is not the widest boot in our range, so if your feet are on the broader side, do get in touch and we will help you find the right fit. We offer free returns, so there is nothing to lose in trying.
Why We Love Kilpi
When we were looking for a boot robust and foot-friendly enough for a conservation team working daily in the dense jungle terrain of Madagascar, Kilpi was the most obvious choice. Thanks to Chester Zoo, forty pairs of these incredible boots reached the group, to aid in the vital work protecting this unique environment.
We also appreciate that Kilpi makes genuine barefoot performance accessible without inflating the price to match the ambition. High-performance barefoot hiking boots can be expensive, and Kilpi makes a convincing case that it does not have to be that way.
In Summary
Kilpi is a brand that gets on with it. The Siberium® waterproofing does what it promises, the barefoot sole delivers real ground feel, and the price is fair. These boots have been worn by conservation volunteers in a Madagascan rainforest, which is about as thorough a field test as we could ask for.
If you are looking for a waterproof barefoot boot that will handle whatever the British weather and the British countryside put in its path, Kilpi is well worth your time.
You can explore the full Kilpi range on our website.
And if you have not yet read our Chester Zoo - Madagascar blog, please read and support their work if you can!
