Boots you can walk in?
 

Altberg Bootmakers - Richmond, North Yorkshire

Found these on the net. Anyone every used them? I want a all purpose boot so I can walk off the bike too, but still have the ankle protection of real bike boots. What do you all rekon?

They're fine for street use but not very good for off road. That's where you need the plastic reinforced boots like MX boots which after some use become just as easy to walk in.

For travel I cable them to the bike if I'm planning hours away from the bike (very rare) and put on some light boat shoes or flip flops. Most travel is in hot climates, so no shoes there.

It all becomes a ritual like taking off your jacket.

Daytona. You'll never look elsewhere ...

For overlanding the Travel Star (GTX) or Touring Star (GTX) work well. Best protection across the board of all classical bike boots, and so comfortable that you won't believe it until you try. I've hiked up montains in Nepal in them, and rocked the village disco in Kyrgyzstan. And the Gore-Tex actually works as advertised. And no, they don't pay me, I really think they are that great.

Otherwise, I think MX boots + cabling them (and anything else) to the bike is a very good idea. I've had some rings fitted to my Daytonas, so I can take a thin steel cable (like they use on boats). The cable goes through my helmet, jacket sleeves, boots, + whatever else needs fixing, and off I go (swim for example, even Daytonas don't fair well then).

Depends on how paranoid you are about ankle protection. I'm no longer satisfied with that type of boot and so now use MX boots (Sidi Crossfire TA). They are good for walking an hour or two, but very heavy so I use sandals a lot. To me, the nuisance is outweighed by the increased protection.

Sidi Adventure is a lighter version of the Crossfire MX designed specifically for dual-sport riding. It has strong ankle protection but is still walkable. Worth trying out.

The European version of the Adventure has a Goretex liner and is completely water-proof. The US version uses a rain liner which is "water-resistant" but not 100% water-proof.

Be certain to try those before buying. I found the ankle protection inadequate, the construction "cheap", and they dug painfully into my foot where the leather creased at the end of the ankle protection plastic. The Crossfire was far easier to walk in, in spite of being heaver. Worth the expense to me.

Those Adventures look interesting. Still have that plastic hinge around the ankle which is what you want for offroad. No side ways flex. Although the crossfire has 2 which does make walking in them easy.

I love my crossfires. Had a low side with standard boots before and ended up in crutches for 6 weeks. The old boots wore pretty poorly as well on the trip, whereas the Sidi's still look like newish after a trip.

Banditderek

You've opend a can of worms here! I've bought a pair of Altbergs but as I don't actually start my trip until Saturday I can't swear by then yet. They are certainly comfy, good for walking/hiking and give some protection. I suppose they are a compromise - they aren't the BEST hiking boots or the BEST bike protection boots, but they are probably the best at both if you see what I mean. Lots of people have them and I'm yet to hear from someone who has Altbergs and says they are no good.

If you go up to Yorkshire they will fit some for you. Iw as lucky and they ahd my size in the show room but you'd better get them a few months before you leave as they make them to order and it can take a while. (The shop was full of hikers and walkers buying boots - a good sign.)

I like my Altberg boots but they're only ankle high, great for lightweight summer use.
My main boots are Daytona's (don't do off-roading) which are in fact, more comfortable than the (off the shelf) Altbergs.
If you want to have them made to fit, expect a very long waiting list as Lonesome indicated.

I would say my Altberg Hoggs are very comfy UK walking boots with a little more padding and leather for some bike specific protection. ie more biased to walking than riding. I've yet to find a pair of riding boots I can walk any distance in, or like (all?) MX boots to have a decent grippy sole for walking. But they are thick leather, so if you went somewhere hot they'd be too heavy and hot for walking anyway.
I also have a pair of their desert boots, the Desert Mountain I think, which are much lighter but zero riding related padding. V comfy tho.

I did actually go there and get measured since I have quite wide feet, they then posted them 2 months later. The fitter said I was between sizes, so would give me the smaller ones which would stretch to fit perfectly. They didn't. Drove back again, different fitter, 2 months later 2nd pair posted which are lovely.


So INHO MX boots with venting for hot riding, goretex socks for cold riding (+MX boots of course!), fabric walking boots for hot walking and those with goretex socks for cold walking! Crocs flip flops for being lazy!

Any hiking boot is as good as each other for bikes so long as they cover the ankle. But laces aren't great for bikes. And they won't give the protection as good quality boots like Daytona for the ankle.

Personally I've had good walking experiences with German boots like Meindl and Hanwag. Italian hiking boots are also top.

Still a compromise more towards walking than riding. You'll have to workout for yourself where your compromise leans. For me it depends on how much more time I spend doing either activity.

I can recommend Daytona - Trans Open GTX.
Not too heavy, waterproof and good protection and you can walk arround with them. I have it now for many years and 2 accidents.
Only the price ... is a little bit :rolleyes: ... may be the reason is, they are not made in china.

love em
 

13 months on the "road" in africa, 38,000 km dirt and bittumen riding, and wearing them every day, wwe have done 5 day hikes, and many day hikes, lots of city walking, . I have to say i love em. They are starting to show that resuts of thier hard life. I would recomend Altberg Hoglite boots with out hesitation.
No they are not sutible for motocross but for travel they are perfect.

Cheers mate
Xander and MrsX

For adventure riding Revit has the Apache
Rev'it Apache Boots - webBikeWorld

Their no MX boots, but adventure touring.
I fitted them, but they didnt fit my feet unfortunatly.
They walked and feeled very comfortable for walking. Nothing like the Alpinestars boots I have. But then again, my alpinestars have Goretex and fit like a glove. But they are too hot and uncomfortable for walking in.

Havent found a good boot yet. Will look at Daytona's as people here seem to be enthusiastic about them

Totally second that. Bought mine in 2005 and they're the best boots I've ever had. 100% waterproof, drove through days of nonstop rain (Hello Scotland! Dzien dobry Polska!) and my feet stayed completely dry and comfortably warm. Great for walking, very comfortable. Quite expensive but worth every cent.