Altberg "MOD Regulation" Brown boots

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widu13

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Feb 9, 2008
2,334
19
Ubique Quo Fas Et Gloria Ducunt
Where did you hear this? I'm pretty sure that Altberg failed to get any of the contracts as they were unable (and unwilling) to mass produce in the manner required. Unless I stand corrected, I imagine that they are just knocking out brown boots now because they know that most of their customer base won't be buying brown boots any longer.

From Altberg direct mate. I've also seen the contract boot which is NOT available for purchase. They have the contract for x number of 10,000 boots. I can't divulge how many exactly but it's a hell of a lot.
 

Ashmarsh860

Member
Mar 30, 2013
15
0
North Dorset
There are a number of different boots being introduced into service from May 2013 onwards. Lowa, Altberg, Karrimor, Haix among others, they are being issued with specific locations in mind, patrolling, base areas etc. Have a look at Soldier Systems they have a pretty good article on it. Soldier of Fortune sell both brown and olive green Altbergs. As for the Gore-Tex debate, I too fall in favour of the non waterproof variants, I currently have a pair of Lowa Patrols unlined and they are perfect in all but the coldest climates, as long as you treat them to a good helping of polish they will be just as water proof. Water proofing a boot also allows the outer to hold a lots more water, if your leather boot becomes sodden and its very cold you run the risk of the boot freezing on your feet. Unlined boots may make your feet wet but at least your aware of it! I have seen the current issue extreme cold weather boot freeze solid while in Norway at -30!
 

widu13

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Feb 9, 2008
2,334
19
Ubique Quo Fas Et Gloria Ducunt
Lowa are NOT supplying a contract boot as they failed to obtain a contract, but...they are waiting for Altberg to fail.

Altbergs are very human time intensive (a lot is done by hand). The east european factory has failed to produce the required quality of boot so the majority of production is now taking place in Spain. The factories are running at 100% capacity and the normal wait for retail stock has just increased as of today from 4 weeks to 8 weeks! Now as Altberg do NOT hold shelf stock of boots (they rely on retailers doing that) once existing retail stocks are depleted then no-one will be getting a retail boot quickly. Anyhow I digress; Lowa expect that Altberg will either a. Fail to supply the quantity required in the time span allowed or b. Fail to produce a quality boot to meet the required spec. Lowa then expect to jump in and present their factory machine made boots as the solution.
 

UKarmr

Member
Feb 22, 2012
28
0
N Yorks
I see a failure coming, in the same way the army ruined a perfectly good boot, the 'Britton' boot.
They were soft, supple, quality boots. The MOD turned it into the 'Combat Assault Boot' which is none of those qualities!
 

darrenleroy

Nomad
Jul 15, 2007
351
0
51
London
Yes, it's a better match for the MTP/Multicam BDUs.

OXyHy.jpg


http://www.strikehold.net/2012/07/23/british-armed-forces-get-new-combat-boot/

I'm confused. The boots in this pic don't look like the Altberg boots in the other pic. Is Altberg the supplier of the new combat and patrol boots to the British army or is it someone else? The combat boots above have a logo on the leather uppers and a word on the sole that looks like Haix. Can anyone illuminate?

And if multiple manufacturers are to be involved who are they exactly and what kind of choice do the service personnel get? I would be miffed if I was really into Altbergs and was issued Haix for instance. This all sounds very confusing.
 
Last edited:

dean4442

Full Member
Nov 11, 2004
599
59
Wokingham UK
I was chatting with my RQMS about this very subject yesterday. There is a choice of about eight types of boots and dependant on where you will be operating and your personal choice we'll be getting two pairs.
Colin
 

Ashmarsh860

Member
Mar 30, 2013
15
0
North Dorset
There are ten models of boots available, from a number of different manufacturers, they are as follow:

Boots Combat High Liability:
1. Altberg Defender
2. Haix Scout

The BCHL is primarily for intensive combat use, although it may also be used for light weight patrolling.

Boots Patrol:
1. Bates Ultra Light
2. YDS Kestrel

The BP is primarily for use where the combat threat is medium to low and the patrol pack weight is light.

Boots Desert Combat High Liability:
1.Meindl Desert Fox Pro
2.Haix Desert Scout

The BCDHL is primarily for intensive combat use, although it may also be used for lightweight patrolling

Boots Desert Patrol:
1.Magnum Scorpion Desert
2.YDS Desert Falcon

The BDP is primarily for use where the combat threat is medium to low and the patrol pack weight is light.

Boots Cold Wet Weather:
1.Haix Alaska
2.Karrimor SF

The BCWW is primarily for use in cold/wet weather environments.Worn by military personnel deployed in the field or on training exercises and operations in the winter months. The boot is worn in cold/wet conditions which may fall to -19 C .

Sizes will be: Female size 3-9 medium and wide fitting and Male 5-15 medium and wide, whole sizes only.
and I apologise foe mistakenly adding Lowa to my previous post, the MOD are not issuing Lowa boots.....yet!
 

darrenleroy

Nomad
Jul 15, 2007
351
0
51
London
There are ten models of boots available, from a number of different manufacturers, they are as follow:

Boots Combat High Liability:
1. Altberg Defender
2. Haix Scout

The BCHL is primarily for intensive combat use, although it may also be used for light weight patrolling.

Boots Patrol:
1. Bates Ultra Light
2. YDS Kestrel

The BP is primarily for use where the combat threat is medium to low and the patrol pack weight is light.

Boots Desert Combat High Liability:
1.Meindl Desert Fox Pro
2.Haix Desert Scout

The BCDHL is primarily for intensive combat use, although it may also be used for lightweight patrolling

Boots Desert Patrol:
1.Magnum Scorpion Desert
2.YDS Desert Falcon

The BDP is primarily for use where the combat threat is medium to low and the patrol pack weight is light.

Boots Cold Wet Weather:
1.Haix Alaska
2.Karrimor SF

The BCWW is primarily for use in cold/wet weather environments.Worn by military personnel deployed in the field or on training exercises and operations in the winter months. The boot is worn in cold/wet conditions which may fall to -19 C .

Sizes will be: Female size 3-9 medium and wide fitting and Male 5-15 medium and wide, whole sizes only.
and I apologise foe mistakenly adding Lowa to my previous post, the MOD are not issuing Lowa boots.....yet!

This is the breakdown I wanted. Thank you. A better job than any of the news sources.
 

widu13

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Feb 9, 2008
2,334
19
Ubique Quo Fas Et Gloria Ducunt
I've got the specs for the Haix at work, but after speaking to the Haix rep they are totally "up" themselves and I can't see how the actual boot is any better than the Altberg and when the rep was asked why they are £20 more and why they are better said "because they are. They are Haix boots"!
 

woof

Full Member
Apr 12, 2008
3,647
5
lincolnshire
I've got the specs for the Haix at work, but after speaking to the Haix rep they are totally "up" themselves and I can't see how the actual boot is any better than the Altberg and when the rep was asked why they are £20 more and why they are better said "because they are. They are Haix boots"!

I heard of a barbour rep saying something similar, "we could put a barbour badge on a dog turd & still sell it at a stupid price". Arrogant to say the least.

Rob
 

UKarmr

Member
Feb 22, 2012
28
0
N Yorks
Well, i'm now into my thrid week of forced altberg wearing.
Aboslutely hate them. not as comfortable as Lowas, feel clumpy, soles dont seem to have any 'give'
tipping point was a lowly 3 mile tab. for the first time since being a crow I have shin splints again. thanks muchly

Looks like Ill have to bite the bullet and buy a pair of Lowas, wish they did the Patrol in MOD Brown
 

BlueTrain

Nomad
Jul 13, 2005
482
0
77
Near Washington, D.C.
Is it just me or do the soles on all those boots look narrow? Is that the way boot soles are supposed to be? Mind you, I'll never see a pair of those boots in person, very likely, unless I just happen to be in Silverman's again. But having said that, one pair of ordinary hiking boots I have do in fact have narrow soles. But my most recently purchased hiking boots (not work boots, not army boots), which are Danners, have fairly wide soles in comparison. They are almost the heaviest, too (the heaviest are my White's), but also the most comfortable and required absolutely no break-in. I wore them on a ten-mile hike on a mostly very rocky trail with no discomfort, though I will admit to noticing the weight.

I often wade creeks in places I go but I'm not so sure of the value of waterproofing. After all, it's only good up to the top of the boot. Beyond that, water gets in , even though it's mostly already full of foot. Of all the treatments I've used, Sno-Seal seems to work the best but I don't seem to make any great effort to achieve 100% waterproof shoe leather and have lived to tell about it. But the wet boot syndrome is still an issue and I think the problem is all the padding that makes the boot so comfortable to begin with. Old boots were lined with nothing at all usually and had to be well broken in before they were at all comfortable. And I'm not sure a Vibram sole is ever really broken in.
 

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