Ex-army boots - Haix Vs Alltberg

How do the Haix wide compare to Miedl Dovre's (they say they're wide) for width? I have very wide feet and although I can just get away with the Dovres I can only really wear thin socks in them . I use size 10.5 so maybe thinking Haix 11 wide.
 
i use the Haix Cold Wet Weather Boot as both a stalking boot and as a general hill-walking boot - i also wore them pretty much constantly for a 4 month winter tour in the Falklands...

i'm very, very happy with their support, their robustness, and their waterproofness (word?).

having also worn the Alt-berg Defender i can back up the view expressed up thread that the Alt-berg feels (to me at least) a softer boot - its a very comfortable boot made well with high quality materials, and if i'm doing a long walk on tracks or forestry roads, or running anywhere, then the Alt-berg gets the nod, whereas if i want something thats going to cope a bit better with trackless mountain walking in Snowdonia or the highlands of Scotland i'll take the Haix.

personally i never got on with the Haix High Liability boots - i'm not a fan of gore-tex linings in boots that i might where in warm weather, so my winter boots are the Haix Cold Wet Weather, and my summer boots are the Alt-berg Defender. they do also look like clown shoes...

the Haix CWW boots have a Thinsulate and Gore-tex lining, the Haix high liability have just Gore-tex, and the Alt-bergs have none - the huge advantage of the Alt-bergs is that they are much more comfortable to wear when wet inside compared to the other two, and that it dries out much quicker. once a boot with a Gore-tex lining is wet inside its going to stay wet, and often not even a whole night in front of the fire in a bothy with dry them out - with the Alt-berg, at least ypu don't get that horribly dispiriting wet squelch as you put your boots on in the morning...

as ever, a boot that doesn't fit is a torture device regardless of how much youpay for them, and you need to pick the features to suit what you want the boot to do - not what some no-mark off the internet reckons makes the best boots in the world.
 
Being in the military I have the choice of either boot, the Altbergs are much comfier and lighter in my opinion although not waterproof like the Haix if you have the option of both, I'd choose the Haix for winter stalking and Altberg for summer. Although personally I wear the Altberg all year round and I'm lucky enough I can swap them at stores when they wear out.
 
P3T3R said:
Being in the military I have the choice of either boot, the Altbergs are much comfier and lighter in my opinion although not waterproof like the Haix if you have the option of both, I'd choose the Haix for winter stalking and Altberg for summer. Although personally I wear the Altberg all year round and I'm lucky enough I can swap them at stores when they wear out.
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I use my Defenders all year round, wet or dry, and providing that I keep them well treated (and clean) with Ledergris, they never let in the wet. Worn with decent merino wool socks, they've proved to be the best all round boots that I've ever owned regardless of price (I've owned Meindl and Lowa). The only ones to better them are the Altberg Tethras which I use for hill walking and longer trecks over mixed terrain. They are waterproof but still breathable enough to wear in summer. Climbed Coniston Old Man in them last summer, taking an unorthodox (and tough!) route and they were great.
 
Update:
I was a bit hesitant to give the Haix boots an outright recommendation when I first wrote this review, but since then I've used them in anger properly. They have done several stalking trips in rough ground, one in snow, heather and forestry, and yesterday I did a few hours in the hills above Loch Lee (at the head of the River North Esk - see the photos). The snow on the top was ankle to mid-calf depth, I was wading through thigh deep snow covered heather and over peat hags, and the boots were up to it at all times. Despite falling through an ice-bridge over a stream and going in to the top of my gaiters, the boots didn't leak and my feet were toasty warm throughout. So, I will have no concerns about taking the boots out for full days in the hills in the future.20170129_123624.webp20170129_104945.webp
 
ChesterP said:
The only annoyance with my pair is that the rand could be higher at the front to prevent scuffing, plus they have developed a squeak in one boot when walking! .
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CP, Many moons ago I was given some advice about stopping boots squeaking by an old bootneck chum of mine that has worked every time for me, it is to apply Vaseline on the tongue of the offending boot thickly and to keep doing so.

It is a problem I have never had on Lundhags, Lowa, Hanwag or Meindl boots, and while I think the world of Lundhags I cannot justify the price so these days I buy Lowa boots, they are great value.

One piece of advice I have found invaluable is to use Superfeet Inserts in my boots. Because of spinal problems I get plantar fasciitis which means it feels as though you are walking on sharp pebbles all the time. Superfeet Inserts were designed by Drs to help combat this problem. If you buy second hand boots they will have adapted to someone else's feet, by putting in new inserts they will adapt to your feet.

Altberg used to fit Superfeet inserts to all their boots made for pongos with bad feet, these days Altberg market their own inserts which I assume will work just as well as the Superfeet ones.

Worth a thought, to those investing in second hand boots.

Simon
 
Wow ..
I have been complaining to the wife for years that most
Footwear I have must be made cheap as everything feels like I'm walking in slippers you can feel every little thing ....
Will have a look for those inserts
Cheers
Paul
 
exmarksman9870 said:
Just about to pick up the new mk6 german para boot made by Haix.. I was told they are a better boot over all ..
Click to expand...

They look really good but can't be doing with a black boot myself .

Can anyone help with width (and depth)comparison with the Haix and Dovres please? I have V wide feet and bunions! I can just manage Dovres for width (with thin socks) , forget Altbergs. The Haix look good and wide but wouldn't mind a heads up.
 
liongeorge said:
They look really good but can't be doing with a black boot myself .

Can anyone help with width (and depth)comparison with the Haix and Dovres please? I have V wide feet and bunions! I can just manage Dovres for width (with thin socks) , forget Altbergs. The Haix look good and wide but wouldn't mind a heads up.
Click to expand...

Maybe you should not forget Altbergs.

I remember reading on their web site that they can do bespoke sizes for people with different sized feet, and alter things on individual boots like putting a bulge in a specific place for people with bunions.

Alan
 
Got the mk6 german boots today..they are a good boot and the price was very good..free haha..if you dont like black stand in some mud...haha only kidding..
 
I bought both types of boot new and boxed on ebay for around £50 each, unfortunately my Haix leak where the tongue joins to the front of the boot although I didn't find this out for a few months. The Haix are now for dry weather and lamping etc. only.
I would say that the Altberg boots are more supportive of my fairly slim ankles but I like both boot types design, I often wear the Altbergs day to day they are so comfy.
 
HAIX REVIEW:

After following this thread I took the plunge and went for the Haix due to my super wide feet and I fancied Goretex. The boots were wide enough which is pretty amazing with my feet so good start. I have had the boots a couple of months now with regular use so am able to do an early review.

Well the boots were fairly stiff to start with , not the most comfortable but have settled down over time. I like the lacing system quick and works v well. BUT....they leak, what is the point of having gore-tex if they leak round the tongue stitching (I think) Wet grass is enough. So a bit dissapointed as they were going to be my next winter boots as my Meindls are getting long on the tooth (4 years no leaks).

Any suggestions for x wide goretex boots?
 
I'm currently using the Karimor sf goretex boots. Bought mine 3 years ago , grade one. When they come they was like new and never had a problem since . I wax them once in a blue moon and use them for stalking, beating and walking the dog. And have been 100% water proof . When I do finally need a new pair I will be getting the same ones. They also come in 2 width sizes I believe.
 
Great review, thanks for ththe "relevant" compare and contrast. I've often wondered which would come out in a head to head.
 
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