New Boots

There are lots of good boots out there and a lot of the boots marketed at the stalking world don't, in my view, give quite the same support as boots aimed at walkers or mountaineers.

I have Douvre Extremes and they are fine boots but not as supportive as some Scarpa (and other) walking boots that I own.

Also worth considering is the British Army "High Liability" boots. They are made by two suppliers so you can get them either from Altberg or Haix and they usually sell for around £50 as surplus items. I've been using a pair of the Haix ones and they are as good a boot as my Douvre Extremes I would say. The altberg ones seem pretty hard to find at the minute as I think there was considerable demand for them when people realised you could have a, pretty much, new pair of Altberg boots for £50 however there are still some of the Haix ones about. I ordered "grade 1" from these folks and when they arrived they were brand new and had never been worn:

Footwear - British Military Surplus


I've been looking at Altberg defenders on this site, after being impressed with a pair I saw in an Army surplus, but they are out of stock at the moment which at those prices I am not surprised! Worryingly they don't guarantee which width fitting you are going to get - so you have a 50% chance of not getting the right boot...
 
The altbergs issued arent to the same standard as the Boots you buy from richmond. They are produ ed elsewhere under contract i think. If your looking at Altbergs go for the field and fell boot.
 
Thanks lads,I'm now more confused that this time yesterday, I would like to buy boots from a company that specialise in making boots,no a company that just stick their badge on boots , have any of the worn hanwag tatras, they look a cracking boot and come in a wide version as well ,that may suite me better that regular , thanks for the replays thus far .
I believe Altberg do wide and narrow fitting and made to measure, I have Alberg and Meindle both very good, I would choose Altberg.
 
Worryingly they don't guarantee which width fitting you are going to get - so you have a 50% chance of not getting the right boot...

Yeah, but there are places that will allow you to select a width fitting, or you can pick up a pair on ebay of the correct fitting or... No end of options
 
be careful with meindl boots have had two pairs now that the layer between the boot and sole disintegrated it can be replaced but its expensive
i just picked up a pair of ridgeline warriors so will see how they go
 
+1 on the meindl extremes. Seen mega use and abuse, dry out and keep the treatment going on and they last for years. Two other stalker friends and all the guys on the estate in Scotland wear nothing else.
 
The altbergs issued arent to the same standard as the Boots you buy from richmond. They are produ ed elsewhere under contract i think. If your looking at Altbergs go for the field and fell boot.


Thanks for the heads up!
 
I have used Altbergs for 4 years found them to be hard wearing and comfortable , excellent customer service only had 1 issue and that was resolved straight away . I used to have Meindl but found the last pair not very hard wearing .
 
Hi have a look at Diotto boots, I have tried all sorts of boots and they are the best in my humble opinion.:)
You can find them on the internet.
 
One should look at real boot makers and think about what the boots are actually going to be used for, how, terrain, temperatures, etc. etc.

One thing is for sure, I am not buying another pair of 'hunting brand' boots or trousers or jackets again,,what a waste of money for products pitched into a market segment starving to be fed, with chinese manufacturing and no real way of servicing the product 'for life'.

Good handmade full grain leather boots/wares, good tailered hunting clothes (tweed, loden, moleskin, other, lined as per your needs and usage requirements)..going to serve you well for many many years. What is often spent on 'marketed hunting brands' in 5 years could probably pay for a couple pairs of both handmade boots and hunting clothes that could last you most of your hunting life if looked after.
 
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