Of all the boots that I’ve tried, Altberg works best for me. The best boot advice I ever got was to go to a shop with plenty of choice, try lots of different brands and come away with the ones that feel the best. What works best for one person might not for the next due to a lack of standardisation in foot design.
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I find it quite amazing how boots from the same manufacturer can have such varying life with different users. Whilst it could be variation in the boots from pair to pair it’s probably much more to do with where they are used and just how someone’s feet bend and move.
You can take ten pairs of boots from ten people that have covered similar distances and the tread wear will be different on them as our gait when we walk is always different. Similarly our feet bend and flex differently, we roll our feet or don’t meaning the leather wears differently. And I very much doubt Fraser does not look after his gear. You cannot get out and do some of the bigger walks he’s done if you are not preparing for before the walk and caring for after the walk.
So it has to be essentially how we all walk that makes the difference in how boots last.
I now use Miendl Bhutan Pro MFS Goretex lined boots. Original I had the forerunners to the Bhutan in 2008 but they were uncomfortable for a long time till I changed the footbeds. I’m on my 3rd pair of Bhutans since 2014. But currently I have one almost new pair and one older pair in use. There must have been a change in style because the Bhutans are fine and comfortable with the standard footbeds. They don’t seem to need much breaking in either.
The original forerunner to the Bhutans started delaminating after about 9 years. But as a diabetic and worried about my feet, I had picked up a pair of Bhutans in 2014 when I got a good deal. They were worn 3 walks in the older boots, 1 walk in the new ones. As the originals failed I picked up another pair in 2017 and continued the 3:1 ration of old to new use. These 2014 boots were retired last year as the tread is well worn. The leather is in average condition. New Bhutans were £275 (now £290 list) and resoling would be about £140+/- as I would have a new midsole and rand fitted. I looked and found an online store offering them new with next day delivery for £209 so I bought them instead of resoling.
Currently cycling between a 2017 and 2024 pair. I do try to clean them when I get home and I regularly use Grainger’s G-Wax on them applied with an old toothbrush into the lacing and a cloth for the leather. The 2014 pair are now Winter dogging boots 
I’ve heard very good things about Altberg especially as Paul says if you can visit the shop/factory personally.
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ive heard very good things from Altberg boots. i’d want to get them from the factory shop using their fitting process if i got new boots. Fortunately i dont use my boots very much but still using some 2002 scarpa SL’s. unfortuantely Scarpa have changed their last since those days and they are a lot skinnier profile so i wouldnt even look at Scarpa these days. I saw the replacement SLs in go outdoors the other day and they are far inferior quality to my 2002 built boots. And cost way more! Think i got my SL’s from gaynor sports on a boxing day sale for around £125.
So do I. I previously used the slightly lighter weight Miendl but decided to try something more robust. I like the Miendl’s because I have short wide feet and many other manufacturers’ boots are too narrow for me. Suspecting a slight leak in the right boot of the pair I bought around 2018, I bought a new pair earlier this year, and like the 2018 pair they have been comfortable from the start, although I’ve not been as systematic as Andy in use of the old and new pairs, mostly using the new pair when the old pair have had a soaking and not fully dried out. I still think the right boot has a slight leak, but on the final day of our last SOTA trip noticed a more serious problem in that the front of the sole is starting to come loose. Although bought several years ago they’ve only had a 3 or 4 years of use as external factors meant we weren’t able to get to the hills for 3 years.
Martyn also bought Miendl Bhutan Pro MFS Goretex around the same time as my originals, but didn’t get on well with them, and has now gone for Grisport, which he finds more comfortable. He chose the Grisport after using the boot fitting service in Cotswold Outdoor.
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My recent boot experiences since this thread was last active!
Meindl:
Meindl had real issues with delamination / glues about 5 years back. I had two pairs (Bernina and Borneo) fail within a coupe of weeks of purchase, and the organisation I worked for at the time (600-odd field staff) banned Meindl from being purchased on the company cards after many others having similar issues. At the time, Meindl were the only boot supplier on the black-list - not exactly an honour, but probably largely due to their previous popularity and the NZ importer’s (Stager Sport) insistence on disputing every warranty claim. The online retailer I use in Germany (unterwegs) also put many Meindl models ‘currently unavailable’ around the same time for an extended period due to ‘production line issues’.
I gather things have since been remedied. But once bitten, forever shy.
Hanwag / Lowa
I’ve moved on to alternating between Hanweg Tartra and Lowa Camino Evo (both the leather-lined models, not fabric #?!*-tex) at the moment. The Hanweg are more comfortable boots (for me) and seem generally of better build - but have the critical design flaw that the side-seam faces forward. Meaning it gets trashed (opened up) every time you work/walk in thyme (think heather), tussock or fern. The Lowa have the side-seam facing the correct direction (backwards) but in other regards seem a little less sturdy. Side-seams apart, both boots seem to be managing 90+ days-of-use before the first minor failures and about 120 days before they’re consigned to gardening duty. The front rand seems to be the next thing to go on both (thin stuck-on rubber, not the solid structural rubber of mountain boots) - again pushing through thyme / tussock / fern is the cause and it gets ripped up/open/off exposing the stitching. Rivetting of lace-hooks seems to be another frequent issue with the Hanwag, but easily fixed. Soles both reduced to slicks around 120 days-of-use, though the Hanwag start life with a more aggressive (mud-suited) tread than the Lowa.
Both Lowa and Hanwag averaging-out at bit over 2 pairs per year of daily off-track use, which puts them dead on par for lighter leather boots, compared to the last 25-years of similar use.
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In Fort William today. They have a Paramo shop. It also sells boots made in Yorkshire.
I managed to mainly avoid the Paramo goodies, apart from a base layer. I did, however, come away with a superb fitting and robust pair of Altberg boots.
We’re en-route to the Mull rally, and then staying on for a week. The boots will have a baptism of fire on Mull’s rough and soggy hills.
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Altberg… yep, wearing them at present for UK and overseas hill walking. Getting a bit worn on the sole, but still waterproof. I bought them in November 2022 from Whalley Warm and Dry who will mould them to accomodate “odd feet”.. in my case a bunion.
Strava says I’ve walked 654.0 km in them. But there will be a few missing bits I’m sure. So probably 700km.
I’ve never thought the phrase “Your Mileage May Vary” was more appropriate…….
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Who did the resole - Altberg themselves or some other company?
The only silly thing about Altberg Boots is the faux German name. They should take pride in their Yorkshire origin and be called some like t’Clarty Boots or Awkrights Boots. But not Altberg 
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A much better measure. I’d estimate ~1,800km horizontal, (84,000m vertical) per pair to complete failure based on recent use.
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Altberg did the resole……
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The richmond factory only does small quantity special orders or the extra narrow or extra wide boots. Boots that are made in smaller quantities. The italian factory for Aldberg do most of the mass produced boots. But they use the same tools, knives and fabrics in both factories and the owner goes to Italy one week a month every month.
When i need to buy new boots I’ll be looking at a Altberg factory fitting.
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I use La Sportiva TX4 Mid GTX for regular hiking and I love them. They are light, precise and comfortable. I actually have two pairs; the first one has done roughly 1,000 km. The lugs are worn, but the rest is still in great shape. They are not very suitable for muddy terrain though, as the tread pattern is really designed for rocky ground.
When I go for more demanding terrain, I use the La Sportiva Aequilibrium GTX. Those are incredible, so light for what they are and incredibly versatile. I do not mind walking a long dirt road after spending the day on a glacier with crampons on, contrary to many other “alpine” boots.
Grip is fantastic on all terrains.
Meindl leather boots are durable and comfortable but they are usually way too heavy for what they are, in my opinion.
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Well, I resoled the boots for 38€ with vibram and in one hour! Very happy with the work.
A second life for this shoes, maybe only for dry days because the goretex membrane no longer works. What do you think about the result of boots and reusing the material within safety and comfort?
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I tried on a pair like these when deciding, and whilst they were so very comfortable, I had to pick the leather ones given the frequency of walking through mud/bog here.
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I bought a pair of these in 2011, it finally gave up the ghost in 2023: SL Active
They were great, if a bit stiff as it is designed to take strap-on crampons.
The only reason I haven’t bought another pair is because I’m currently spending most my disposable income on cave diving and radio-related toys.
They make excellent trail running shoes. I can’t handle their narrow toe boxes though.
Not sure what their hiking boots are like but I’d imagine they are very good. I use a pair of Campri boots I got years ago. No idea which model, they probably aren’t made any more but they do the job.
Probably not of use to anyone, but for trail running shoes I use VJ Ultra 3. They have the slogan “the best grip in the world”. I used them in absolutely atrocious conditions for a trail ultramarathon race 2 weeks ago and can attest their grip is absolutely on the money and unrivaled.
My other shoes are Altra Lone Peak 8 and they cannot hold a candle to the VJ Ultra 3 in terms of grip and the Lone Peak 8 is an excellent shoe.
For Winter trails I am looking at a pair of waterproof VJ shoes. Doubt I’d look at another brand now unless something can topple the VJ patented grip. It’s like a pair of sticky F1 tyres screwed to your feet!
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It’s a very personal thing indeed. I like Italian shoes because they have a long and narrow fit. They’re super precise, and my foot doesn’t roll inward, even on steep traverses. They’re also great for climbing, you can really feel every little edge or bit of rock.
They’re leather boots too, and waterproof. The downside is that the lugs are quite round and short, so on steep, wet grass or muddy clay tracks, they don’t inspire much confidence.
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Meindl Bhutan for me. I like a heavier boot.
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