great British made boots

[icenian]

Thought it was about time Altberg got a plug in this Forum. Try a search on "altberg" to find people's views invarious threads. Summary...

• :arrow: made in Richmond, Yorkshire by a small company
  :arrow: traditional construction, top quality leather
  :arrow: various styles, but no race/MX styles; if you like to wear kit smothered
  in Animal/Oakley/NoFear logos then Altberg may not be your thing
  :arrow: the waterproof boots really are waterproof, for years
  :arrow: walking boot soles, very comfy to walk in, good in muddy fields and camp sites!
  :arrow: available in half sizes, wide size range, modifications and full made to measure available
  :arrow: easy to get broken zips, worn out soles etc. repaired
  :arrow: they don't carry much stock, you may have to wait a while for them to make you a pair
  :arrow: also make lots of walking boots, combat boots, country boots etc. if that's your thing
  their boots are far, far, far better than their web site!!!

http://www.altberg.co.uk

[croydon@twin]

Sounds good but are they mail order only? I don't really like the idea of ordering a pair of boots without trying them on first.

Tony

[icenian]

Sounds good but are they mail order only?

No. You can go up to Yorkshire and visit them Or try to catch them at a bike show.

To supply shops they'd have to churn out loads of stock, and then pay middle men. So the boots would cost a fortune. So then they'd have to get them made by 13 year olds in the Phillipines. So then they'd be rubbish and fall to bits and you wouldn't be able to get them mended. So you might bas well buy Alpinestars or simmat like that

I don't really like the idea of ordering a pair of boots without trying them on first.

No worries - you get to try them on at home, send them back for a refund if they don't fit. Their web site says...

TRYING BOOTS ON - always wear them inside the house - make sure you are happy with the fit before wearing them outside. We are happy to exchange or refund the standard boot cost where there is a fitting problem - providing the boots are returned to us in "as new condition".

Phone them up for a chat on 01748 850 615, they'll explain.

It's far simpler to go to your local dealer and buy a mass produced boot. But factor in that you'll probably have to do that 3 or 4 times for time time one pair of Altbergs would last you

[DaveS]

Their prices are fantastic as well.

[croydon@twin]

OK. I'm convinced

What models have people here gone for? I want a waterproof boot that is robust. I don't like just velcro fastenings as the effectiveness of velcro fades over time. That seems to leave the Clubman Classic with Buckles and the Clubman Roadster (normal and microlite). I'm not sure I want buckles as I can imagine these taking time to do up.

My current boots are FT Aquas which I generally like although I find the waterproofness to fail after a couple of years. They are 29cm high and have the lace-up and velcro fastening which I really like. Looks like the nearest Alt-Berg will be the Clubman Roadster.

Toughts? Opinions?

Tony

[icenian]

the Clubman Classic with Buckles and the Clubman Roadster

by chance those are the two boots I have!

I bought the Roadsters about 9 years ago, as a winter boot (I got a half size larger than normal, so I can wear thick loop-stitched wool socks in them) to go along with my silly race style Italian boots that I wore in summer. They are the height of a normal bike boot, a zip on the side, and at the top there's a huge velcro flap that wraps right round and gives you a perfect fit by adjusting to your calf size.

The Classics are a higher boot, more like the height of a MX boot. Velro flap at the top doesn't have as much adjustment as the Roadster but it probably fine unless you have really skinny or fat calves. The buckles are fiddly for a week or two, then the leather beds in nicely - like with a well worn leather belt, after a while you don't seem to have to think about finding the right hole to use... Still takes longer than a zip: does taking at extra 5-6 seconds to get your bike gear on bother you? Or do the Terminator fantasies make up for it?

Just decide on whether you'd prefer the zip, or prefer a higher boot?

BTW I had walking boots with the "microlite" sole. It was noticebaly lighter but ultimtely I'm not sure it made much different when walking, so I wouldn't worry about it on a bike boot. Also, I am pretty sure that if you like the other boots (there are others with zips/buckles) they will add a waterproof liner for you. Last time I enquired this added 10 quid to the price.