Altberg boots don't leave it to the last minute
 

Ordered a pair of Altberg Original Hoggs to replace my worn out Roadrunners.
Had a confirmation email advising that the anticipated despatch date for my order is the week ending 15/05/20.:eek3:
I did phone them up and emphasised that I'm needing them for a trip departing on the 26th of May. Shouldn't be a problem they said but phone back in April to confirm.
All but the Clubman Roadster are the same.
I manged to find the dispatch email for the Roadrunners and they had a 2 month lead time back in 2012.

So as in the title, don't leave it to the last minute

How are the Altberg boots in general? I met a trekking guide in the Cairngorms last year who really rated the hiking boots and I've been eyeing up their riding boots ever since but they are expensive. Are they worth the investment?

I have just ordered a pair of Hogg motorcycle boots and North Fell hiking boots and these are my third pair of each, they last around 10 years of almost daily use and are just about the only footware I have.
I was given a 16-20 week lead time although I am hoping to get them sooner.

I've used them for many years, and can vouch for their proofing and overall excellent quality.
Waterproof, warm and a very hardwearing sole. They really are top end kit.
I wore them all day and everyday riding in central London and never had any problems, and are still my everyday choice. Also have TCX Gore, and they outlast them.

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I have a pair of their Clubman Roadsters and they're excellent boots. I've been using them for 5 years already and they still look like new (bar few scuffs). Totally waterproof despite having non-goretex membrane. Excellent while walking off the bike.
My only gripe about them would be lack of protection (especially shin). So to me they are excellent commuter boots but not necessarily suited for adventure riding.

Altberg Clubmans have been my wife’s only m/c boots for 20 years. She spent the first 5 years commuting into London and wearing them all day at work.
They’ve been through all weathers from minus temperatures in the high atlas to riding through Death Valley and all terrain including quagmire mud in the Himalayas.
I do look after them (I feed all our boots and shoes with Leder Gris every 6 weeks) and they’ve been resoled. they are in perfect condition and still 100% waterproof.
I have had a pair of Hoggs for about 15 years I use them as walking boots and my holiday boots (motorcycle camping in Europe) they’ve been resoled once are still 100% waterproof and look like new.
Buy a pair, clean and feed them regularly and you’ll be passing them down to the next generation.
:thumbup1:

Amazing news. Similar stories to what this trekking guide was telling me about his hiking boots. The Wayfarer have been begging me to buy them for a while now. I think I know what I'll treat myself to this Christmas.

If you’re in the UK it’s worth going to the shop/factory to be fitted - it’s in Richmond, Yorkshire.
Personally I would recommend the Hoggs because they are, not only a quality pair of m/c boots but also an excellent pair of walking boots - if I was going trekking for 2 weeks in the Himalayas I’d take my 15 year old Hoggs :D

I wear Albergs all day. Every day.

I wear the Steel toecapped Peacekeeper boots. A pair will last me about three years of every day use. I'm a mechanic, fabricator and I also wear them for hiking and motorcycling when I test ride or go out for a quick spin.

They actually have better ankle support and protection than a lot of proper bike boots such as W2 Adventure etc. And they're waterproof !!!

I don't think I'd wear them for a proper bike trip though. Especially if there is any trail riding involved. Because I value my ankles.

It makes me cringe when you see people on big trips with hiking boots on doh

I've seen too many horror stories.

What are the HOGGS like ?? Do they have a bendy ankle ?

Hi Ted
I have a pair of Forma Adventure boots which I use everyday just because they’re quick to get on and off.
The Hoggs have a nice stiff sole and better protection around the lower foot than the Formas - I can bend those soles in half. There is a little malleolus padding similar to the Formas but not that good. There is no shin protection.
Personally I think the Hoggs offer better overall protection for road riding than the Formas due to the lower foot stiffness.
I use Sidis for off road stuff.
bier

I've just taken delivery of a pair of Hoggs, they told me 9-10 weeks but they came through in about 6. Their hiking boots are normally available off the shelf but the bike ones are by individual order so they do take longer.

100% agree, I bought some by mail order and the fitting wasn't right. So I went along to the shop where they measured my feet and I tried on different sizes, and I now have something that's spot on and super comfortable.

MX boots and the like are rather over-rated in this respect. Boots that hold your ankle really securely don't reduce impacts and twisting that can be transferred to the shin bones in nasty spiral fractures. I've seen this happen.

Slightly bendy, mine are certainly more comfortable to walk in than my Sidi Adventures (and a lot less squeaky!). They come up to just above the ankle, which is OK for wet weather riding and does support the ankle. About the only way they are less good than traditional full length boots is in case of calf crush injuries. It's a trade-off between convenience and an arguably small reduction in safety.

As I have the choice of both I'll be using the next year or two to evaluate which I'll be wearing for my Siberian trip.

I bought a pair of Hogg boots in 2002 and still wear them now, I don't ride as far now as i did back then but have used these boots on trips all year round they were and still are my daily boot, I used them for trips across Europe Scandinavia Russia etc and had them refurbished some years back (the last pair to ever get refurbished i believe ) they are still good to go anywhere, i used them right through this last winter they have never ever leaked in the many many thousands of miles they have been used for riding, super comfy very reasonable support and a decent degree of safety - (safety being a rather fluid meaning when you ride a bike i always think) but not up there with some of the hefty off road gear available but a damn bit more usable when you stop the bike and get off - for me for travelling and everyday riding all weather on and off the bike simply perfect.

Tschüs Jake.

I'm rather wary of anything 'Ankle-flexible' for long trips.

I have too many bike boots. Something for every occasion. For the U.K and Europe, I like my W2 Adventure. They are flexible, grippy, comfortable and waterproof. Much like the Hoggs I guess.

I know that if I have a tumble in 'The West' and break or crush my ankle, I'm probably hours away from a good hospital that can put it back together. And that makes the trade off for comfort and practicality much easier to swallow.

On my more adventurous trips in South America/Africa where you're remote and riding rough trails, I feel very unsafe in anything but MX boots.

I've had my ankles saved many times by MX boots. Crushed by the bike, twisted under rocks etc. And I've also met people who's trips were cut short with twisted or broken ankles. Always needing re-repatriation for specialist ankle surgery.

The ankle is one of the most complex, important and difficult joint to work on. Even a twist can leave you unable to ride for weeks.

Our puppy is going through another chewing phase. Today’s victims are the laces and eyes from my motorbike boots. They join a chest of drawers, too many toys to mention and a tree in a pot. The tree in the pot has survived 15 years of my wife but is unlikely to see this year out at the present rate. On the plus side she is as soft as they come but she wants to be a lap dog - this is entertaining as she is a cross between a retriever and a standard poodle so is large now and still growing.

Time to get new boots as the current ones are 20 years old.