A great little tale.
Yorkshire bloke, a boot maker, loses his job......gets finger out.......
Yorkshire bloke, a boot maker, loses his job......gets finger out.......
The story of Altberg boots.....
- Thread starter jonnie comet
- Start date
I only live a short distance from the Richmond factory, and over the years I’ve used I think five different models of Altberg boots and one of their shoes but some of what he had to say was news to me. It’s a good story. When you go to their Richmond factory it’s like stepping back in time, in that someone will sit you down, properly measure your feet and chat with you about what it is you need from your boots.
Getting a bit expensive now in my view, but well made and last for ages.
Getting a bit expensive now in my view, but well made and last for ages.
the major thing for me is that they make wide and extra wide fit boots. the likes of Lowa and meindl etc only do one or two models that I can get my flippers into. Most bike boots I cannot get into at all, therefore as I knew of the firm from my Police days and had seen the army boots (although they started to supply after I got out) I looked at their bike boots. I took a ride up to the factory as I was heading not a million miles away format for a rally and they were helpful as anything.
are the boots pricy... yes initially but seeing as the bike boots bought 10 years ago are still going strong, the walking boots are one the second soles and just about coming to an end - again after 10 years..... not really that dear at all. both pairs worn a hell of a lot of the time.
are the boots pricy... yes initially but seeing as the bike boots bought 10 years ago are still going strong, the walking boots are one the second soles and just about coming to an end - again after 10 years..... not really that dear at all. both pairs worn a hell of a lot of the time.
This is it for me...yes, they're pricey, but on a par with similar quality boots by bigger euro or global firms. They also last for years, and then they'll re-sole them and you get many more years use out of them. I've had £50 boots that lasted a couple of years, I have some 10 yr old Hoggs I use on the bike and some 10+ yr old hiking boots now on their 2nd sold. Long term...cheaper than lots of pairs of cheapo boots...IMHO
I intend to stock up! I'll get another pair (or two!) soon.
A good friend (on here...he may add to this thread!) suggested Altberg may be changing direction soon, as the "elders" of the company come to (or past!) retirement age.
To quote KMD:
It sounds like when the "elders" retire, the company could be gobbled up, maybe become a (ruined) subsidiary of mountain warehouse or similar - whilst I deeply hope not, it's a possibility!
My last pair of 3-season hillwalking boots lasted my last ~80 "!Corbetts" and then ALL the Wainwrights! That was several years. Never a blister. Amazing.
I'll probably buy another pair of mountain boots, and another pair of Hoggs too
A good friend (on here...he may add to this thread!) suggested Altberg may be changing direction soon, as the "elders" of the company come to (or past!) retirement age.
To quote KMD:
It sounds like when the "elders" retire, the company could be gobbled up, maybe become a (ruined) subsidiary of mountain warehouse or similar - whilst I deeply hope not, it's a possibility!
My last pair of 3-season hillwalking boots lasted my last ~80 "!Corbetts" and then ALL the Wainwrights! That was several years. Never a blister. Amazing.
I'll probably buy another pair of mountain boots, and another pair of Hoggs too
I recently spoke to a bod at Altberg to place an order. I was told all their motorcycle range need the customer
to be measured at Altberg near Darlington. Furthermore, there would be a £35 surcharge for the service.
That's £299 plus surcharge for the Roadrunner Boot.
I appreciate quality doesn't come cheap but it's over 100 miles to get measured, then a six weeks or more wait
for the boots to arrive. I can well imagine it's worth it and may get round to it one day. I just wish they'd take
my measurements over the phone to save a lot of faff.
to be measured at Altberg near Darlington. Furthermore, there would be a £35 surcharge for the service.
That's £299 plus surcharge for the Roadrunner Boot.
I appreciate quality doesn't come cheap but it's over 100 miles to get measured, then a six weeks or more wait
for the boots to arrive. I can well imagine it's worth it and may get round to it one day. I just wish they'd take
my measurements over the phone to save a lot of faff.
Must have changed their practices, I bought both pairs of my Altberg bike boots from the factory ordering over the phone. Only time I visited the factory/shop was to drop a pair off to be refurbished. That was about 15 years ago.
3 Years ago now when my lad joined the Police I took him up to be measured etc and bought him a pair of boots ( he would have bought some Hi tea things as he knows no better
After 3 years in the job they are still going strong and he is so pleased with them
The service we received was excellent and clearly the boots are top notch we also got a good discount as a copper ( well he did I just paid )
After 3 years in the job they are still going strong and he is so pleased with them
The service we received was excellent and clearly the boots are top notch we also got a good discount as a copper ( well he did I just paid )
I bought my Altberg Clubman boots over the phone, no visit required. That was in 2017 so things might have changed. Just had them resoled, but because the wait was 10 weeks, I had to buy another pair of boots whilst they were sorted. Bought a pair of Dayton Travel Star and have been wearing them since. Really like them, so the Altbergs are now in reserve.
I just played with the website...appears you can order online
£266 (including carriage) for a pair of HOGG ALL WEATHER with my discount applied, all done on the web. That's a £21 savingI just played with the website...appears you can order online
Were you looking for made to measure boots? As Martin says, you can order online.
I just played with the website...appears you can order online
Thanks
.Just been in contact with Altberg who informed me, yes you can order motorcycle boots (Roadrunner Boots) online but they still have to be made and are non-refundable once delivered.
On that note it may be wise to order them half a size bigger.
Because I have wide plates of meat I think it's best for me to have a trip up there to get measured.
A well timed posting Jonnie C. My new Hogg MicroLites arrived yesterday. It took a while for them to be made, but a perfect fit.
I have two pairs of Altbergs, my first, Clubman Roadsters I bought in 2002 and are now my reserve pair (they need resoling really). The second, Roadrunners, I bought in 2013 and recently had them resoled.
Great boots, and I wouldn't have anything else.
When I went to pick up my first pair, it was the middle of Winter, and my heated jacket had packed in on the way there. The guy in the video, the owner Mike Sheehan, let me use his workshop and tools to repair it. A nice, friendly chap, I believe he's retired and his son now runs the company.
If you can muster a party of 6 they will do a factory tour on a Saturday (if they can fit you in), which is very interesting. My IAM group recently had one, and hoping to do another in the Spring.
Great boots, and I wouldn't have anything else.
When I went to pick up my first pair, it was the middle of Winter, and my heated jacket had packed in on the way there. The guy in the video, the owner Mike Sheehan, let me use his workshop and tools to repair it. A nice, friendly chap, I believe he's retired and his son now runs the company.
If you can muster a party of 6 they will do a factory tour on a Saturday (if they can fit you in), which is very interesting. My IAM group recently had one, and hoping to do another in the Spring.
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Pootler
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Brilliant boots tried to order some two years back and was quoted 16 weeks delivery, as my existing boots didn't have 16 days left in them I had to shop elsewhere. Did the factory tour some years back its very good. Would lave a pair but it will probably never happen.
Lovely bloke and I met have met him a few times over the years, got the factory tour when I was in the job but got the full story of how the factory started long before then when I was down getting my first pair of Altberg Clubman boots (they are still in use after nearly 30 years )
Altbergs are the nuts, I use Hogg micro lights for the bike and Nordkap for walking. Top quality boots
I completely agree...
My Altberg walking boots are 'Size 9 - XW' made on the widest last that Altberg use....well over 10 years old, need a re-sole soon, but the uppers are still great. The whole 'Wide fitting' thing is an absolute God send, for me, when it comes to getting boots that fit PROPERLY.
Altberg's 'Made to measure' service is exactly what it says and definitely worth the effort. It's difficult to put into words but there is something so nice about having something made specifically for you.
NOT cheap, but brilliant value.....I haven't got a clue how much my boots cost me but I would buy them again in the blink of an eye.
Edit - To hi-jack my own thread. If anyone here is looking for wide fitting cycling shoes then Sidi do a 'Mega' range and they are brilliant. Again, not cheap, but so well made and worth every penny. No need to size up, just order your usual size. Post covid it took me a year or so (seriously) to find a pair of cycling shoes that were genuinely wide fitting. Thoroughly recommended.
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