Altberg boots, heated vest, and sh!tty roads

[Austin]

the trip to Wales last weekend seemed to be the last stand for my "old" HG Boots - they have started to split and stitching seems to rotting away. So off I set to Richmond today to try on some Altberg boots and give my wife a chance to try out her new Exo vest, courtesy of WinXPs mate.

Good outcome allround apart from the roads. Came away with some Hogg Allweather boots and am sitting here wearing them now watching telly still giving them a "dry run" at home. They are warm comfortable and very very good. My wife's heated jacket never came off max heat but she stayed warm, nay hot even despite 2 hours of close to zero temps and above the snow lne at times happy wife = happy Austin. .

The roads though were sh!te - I went the interesting way and frankly wished I hadn't. They were damp, greasy, muddy, broken up, grit all over the place, slippy, and did I already say it ....MUDDY. In short a horrible ride I really didn't enjoy much. The bike was filthy - a fella in Lancaster was looking at It and asked if I had been on a beach or something. Took over an hour to clean this afternoon. Roll on summer days

[Alba]

Altberg boots are the daddy got a pair about a year ago, the quality of the workmanship and leather is remarkable. These are in a league of there own in may opnion and are made in this country. One of the few things that are, but that's another gripe....

Hope you like them Austin

[Tony Varadero]

music to my ears....I am thinking of making the same trip in the not too distant future to get a pair of proper boots but can't decide between the hoggs and the clubman with buckles....i think I better go to the shop and see whta they feel like in the flesh....

[Austin]

The clubman with buckles is a fine looking boot and I was very tempted, but I couldn't get my foot in due to a highish instep, even into a size 2 bigger than I would need. I also didn't like the velcro bits. I know that Altberg will custom fit but after putting on a pair or Hogg Allweather that felt like slippers straightaway, I knew what I would be getting, and then even better they said I could take them away there and then - normally you have to wait 6-8 weeks while they make them - mid to end April they were saying to other customers.

If you are going I would advise mid-week if you can, and phone up first. The shop was dead busy yesterday (its small too) and customer service was its usual patchiness.

Today.... the sun is shining, the roads are dry, and my bike is clean(ish). I think I will be giving the boots a proper outing shortly

[piguglyshandydrinker]

Glad to hear that you Had a successful trip Austin.

Hope that you are happy with your Altbergs.

Personally I find them comfy boots but rude, unhelpful staff & crap build means that I will never venture there again. Not even to get them repaired - been back several times already.....

Phil

[Alba]

crap build

Really disappointed that they can not keep consistent quality, as I said I have found the boot A1 can not speak for the staff never been to the shop.

[Austin]

Glad to hear that you Had a successful trip Austin.

Hope that you are happy with your Altbergs.

Personally I find them comfy boots but rude, unhelpful staff & crap build means that I will never venture there again. Not even to get them repaired - been back several times already.....

Phil

Aye, phil, I remember your saga of delay and disappointment. I am hoping my boots will be ok. Right now they look like they would withstand a nuclear blast.

[winxp-master]

How can she have that vest on max?... i was out today and had it on max (number 9) for about 10 minutes but had to dial it down to 3 as i was boiling!

It's really crap when you get those roads and it spoils a day out on the bike, chin up old bean, the summers not far away now....is it?

[Knobblywobbly]

I bought some Altberg Bandog Allweather boots a few years ago when they had a stand at the Classic Mechanics show. They´ve been great - comfortable, waterproof and quite warm (although not so today on my 270 mile ride!).

[bazza]

Always found them a good boot for work, warm, waterproof and comftable even when running stupid distances.
And never had a problem with the staff, my wife gets them fitted to her feet (odd toes) so were there quite a bit.

If any one is going there im only 2 miles away so the kettles always on.