AltBerg Defender boots

Tested by Dave Manning | £209.00 |www.altberg.co.uk

I bought my AltBerg boots secondhand, getting them for a price that was actually higher than my usual expenditure for a pair of boots after I’d heard a number of glowing reports on the footwear made by the company in Yorkshire. While mine are labelled as the ‘Defender’, they’re no longer listed on the AltBerg website but are incredibly similar to the Warrior boot listed at a smidge over 200 quid. While I had actually wanted to buy new, it was that retail price that had put me off and made me look at the secondhand alternative although, having now experienced the quality and durability of the boots in question, I can entirely understand why the price is actually very reasonable.

I’ve usually preferred a hiking-style boot for bike use, partly as I find that I often end up doing a lot of walking when I reach my destination, and many bike-specific boots have a thin sole that isn’t great for walking any kind of distance. Of course, more recently there have been a lot of biking boots come on to the market that are more appropriate for walking, but my boots have been looking after my feet for at least five years now, and show absolutely no wear, barring that on the sole. With that in mind, it’s interesting to know that AltBerg do a resoling service, so the boots that have become as comfortable as slippers (albeit slippers that offer a lot of ankle support!) can be refreshed with grip. If you think that the initial cost is expensive, bear in mind that they are probably the only boots you’ll ever need for the rest of your life!

AltBerg make the boots with a choice of five different width fittings, and they will measure to suit at the factory in Richmond. While these particular boots are designed for military use (so lots of walking!), they also make boots specifically for motorcycling, police use, and for walking, too. For those times when I’ll be doing some walking as well as riding, these will always be my first choice!