Meindl SF vs Lowa Elite Patrol Army Surplus Boots

[Dan00001]

I need a new pair of boots and I'll probably go army surplus. I usually wear Alt-Berg but fancy a change. I'm looking at the Meindl SF German Army boot and the Lowa Elite German Army KSK Mountain SF Boots.

Anybody have these and have anything to say on them? Or are there other good choices I'm missing?

Thanks.

 

[Chris]

Both make great boots, you can’t really go wrong with either.

They do fit feet slightly differently, but it is usually best to go and try them out and just see which fits your feet best.

Also depends on what you’ll be using them for. I have Lowa Renegades which I absolutely love, but they’re not lightweight mountain boots.

 

[Dan00001]

Both make great boots, you can’t really go wrong with either.

They do fit feet slightly differently, but it is usually best to go and try them out and just see which fits your feet best.

Also depends on what you’ll be using them for. I have Lowa Renegades which I absolutely love, but they’re not lightweight mountain boots.

Thanks, I can only actually find the Meindl in my size.

I'll be using them for hill walking and walking in the Brecon Beacons so nothing crazy.

 

[demographic]

I have the Altberg Defenders and the Meindl SF boots.

I don't know anyone I dislike enough to give them the Altberg Defenders, good uppers but absolutely horrible slippy soles.
The Meindl SF boots are my second pair the same and I love them. Not lightweight but decently waterproof and that stuff about boots with waterproof membranes being sweatboxes is just a load of tosh in my not so humble experience. No worse for that than the Defenders without the membrane and the SF boots are just nicer all round, plus they don't look like one of them should have a built up sole like the defenders do.

Well worth the money which I think I paid about 80 quid (surplus grade 1 and almost brand new) for the last pair.

I have the Meindl (Desert Fox?) sort of suede non waterproof boots which are super comfortable summer heat boots.

 

[Dan00001]

I have the Altberg Defenders and the Meindl SF boots.

I don't know anyone I dislike enough to give them the Altberg Defenders, good uppers but absolutely horrible slippy soles.
The Meindl SF boots are my second pair the same and I love them. Not lightweight but decently waterproof and that stuff about boots with waterproof membranes being sweatboxes is just a load of tosh in my not so humble experience. No worse for that than the Defenders without the membrane and the SF boots are just nicer all round, plus they don't look like one of them should have a built up sole like the defenders do.

Well worth the money which I think I paid about 80 quid (surplus grade 1 and almost brand new) for the last pair.

I have the Meindl (Desert Fox?) sort of suede non waterproof boots which are super comfortable summer heat boots.

I've had a few pairs of Alt-Bergs including the sneeker and Defender and I have found them all slippery underfoot on most surfaces barring mud.

I think I'm going to get a pair of the Meindl.

 

[demographic]

I was going to .e tion the lacing system but the bloke on Youtube from Red Branch Bushcraft with the nice (Pointer?) dog has done it far better tha I can explain it.
Clicky Here.

I think I went half a size up as I have pretty wide feet cos as a kid I went all over the shop barefooted.

Just a bit of a guess but based on the a.ount of time I had the last pair and the aproximate length of my dogwalks I reckon they did knocking on two thousand miles on them.
Yeah, they wore out but if I rmember right the first pair I bought was about 65 quid, they've gone up a bit since then and my last pair was about 80 quid.
I'm guessing the amount of gear going to Ukraine has put the prices up.

Ha, mebbe I should send my Altberg Defenders to the Russian troops, that'd fettle em.

 

[August Landmesser]

are there other good choices I'm missing?

For £39 you could do a lot worse than old school Austrian Heeresiegentum

https://forcesuniformandkit.co.uk/p...62079776&pr_seq=uniform&variant=6059110367264

They were made by Holzer, Volkl but are still made by Steinkogler and cost 240 Euros new

Steinkogler Feldschuh | Festovní věci

festovniveci.cz

Speed lacing system, thick, chrome tanned leather, triple Norwegian stitching welted soles so they're water resistant to the brim and they can be resoled many times. i would not recommend them for driving a French car with tiny pedals that are tightly spaced but for walking in they're hard to beat and last forever, especialy if you can bag a pair made by Steinkogler

 

[lostplanet]

If you do go for the black Meindl SF boots go half a size up if you are medium width. I got 9M and needed 9.5 M.

 

[CLEM]

I have to say that I really rate my Altberg Defenders, comfortable from the moment I put them on my feet. Took no breaking in, still going strong now after umpteen years and cost me £45 boxed new.