Boots

Bl**dy hell, you blokes have more money than sense.
What's wrong with a really good pair of safety wellies, £30 no VAT to be added. Can rest your Air rifle barrel down on your lovely toe tectors with no worries of a accidental discharge getting through to your toes. Adjustable lining for different temperatures, ie. Use different thickness socks. Can walk in far deeper streams, puddles and mud than any expensive boots while still keeping your feet dry. After use, no expensive wax, oils or water proofing, just a quick wash down with a hose pipe, store upside-down over two long brush handles in a warm dry room.
What else do you need.
Dancing banana :ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO:
 
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Gareth Tee said:
Bl**dy hell, you blokes have more money than sense.
What's wrong with a really good pair of safety wellies, £30 no VAT to be added. Can rest your Air rifle barrel down on your lovely toe tectors with no worries of a accidental discharge getting through to your toes. Adjustable lining for different temperatures, ie. Use different thickness sockets. Can walk in far deeper streams, puddles and mud than any expensive boots while still keeping your feet dry. After use, no expensive wax, oils or water proofing, just a quick wash down with a hose pipe, store upside-down over two long brush handles in a warm dry room.
What else do you need.
Dancing banana :ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO:
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do your pals call you compo !
 
Deleted member said:
do your pals call you compo !
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Don't know, I can't hear them when I have crossed a wide stream, and they are shouting for a piggy back over while wearing expensive boots
Just think how many pellets you could buy with the left over money?

Ps. If you are having the same weather in Ystradgynlais as we are in the St.Athan area wellies are a godsent.
:ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO:
 
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Bighit said:
Military issue Altbergs are made in Romania or Italy.
quote
With the high volume production in Italy and Romania Alt-Berg's Richmond factory, which received further investment in 2015, can concentrate on specialist and short-run lines although styles can be moved back and forth to Italy depending on demand.

when looking for boots take into consideration the construction .

Hydrolysis is a killer of boots and not just cheap boots.

Look at the brands who mention it below

https://www.google.com/search?q=hydrolysis+footwear&sxsrf=AB5stBgFkdVXUjRPj8i809s_pUur7kI53g:1691079813078&ei=hdTLZJKxBO2FhbIP37K1uAI&ved=0ahUKEwjSh66c88CAAxXtQkEAHV9ZDScQ4dUDCA8&uact=5&oq=hydrolysis+footwear&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiE2h5ZHJvbHlzaXMgZm9vdHdlYXIyBhAAGBYYHjIIEAAYigUYhgMyCBAAGIoFGIYDMggQABiKBRiGAzIIEAAYigUYhgNI1GFQ9CFY-F1wB3gBkAEAmAGHAqABrRKqAQYwLjEwLjS4AQPIAQD4AQHCAgoQABhHGNYEGLADwgIKEAAYigUYsAMYQ8ICBxAAGIoFGEPCAgUQABiABMICCBAAGIoFGJECwgIIEAAYFhgeGA_CAgcQABiABBgK4gMEGAAgQYgGAZAGCg&sclient=gws-wiz-serp


Sole hydrolysis: the facts​

Meindl uses a number of different soles on their boots, including Vibram. The material used in the midsoles sometimes undergoes a chemical process called hydrolysis, which can make the midsole material fail. This can occur on all makes of boots. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about hydrolysis – and how to avoid it:

What happens to the boot?

Hydrolysis causes two main issues – the sole material crumbling away, or the sole separating from the boot.

Why does this happen?

The number one cause is lack of use.

The midsole materials must be regularly compressed and released to shift fresh air through them. When left in storage for extended periods, the sole material goes brittle, and it can fail. Rather in the way rubber will perish after a time.

This is intensified by storing the boots before they are fully dry, and storing them in damp or humid conditions.

Top tips to avoid hydrolysis through lack of use:

  • Wear them regularly
  • Avoid long periods of storage
  • Always fully dry your boots before storing them for any length of time
  • Store your boots in dry conditions

My Karrimor SF made by Iturri did it . they were brand new and still look new but the sole is. falling off .I only stopped wearing them for a short while .

They were stored as the bit above advised and still started to degrade .

View attachment 280349View attachment 280350

I now only buy boots that don't have the same construction.

I only buy boots with the same midsole construction as thse e

View attachment 280351
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Bighit; The article below was found on the Altberg website so made as you say in Italy at least they have a long record of shoe/boot making.

"In Italy and Germany, craft based manufacturing and remained strong, but by 2004, even they, were beginning to move production to lower cost countries in Eastern Europe. There was a factory I knew of in Italy, and in 2004, I began to make the ‘peacekeeper boot’ for the larger contracts there.

Eventually we started to win other contracts and we increased sales of our outdoor boots to retailers - so I began to build up capacity at the Italy factory. This has enabled me to keep the Richmond factory as a specialist boot-making workshop. I still make most of our motorcycle boots in the Richmond factory, as well as making smaller quantities of our technical boots and being able to offer a specialist boot, making service to people who need it."

As for the Hydrolysis I used to alternate daily two pairs of winter army boots for my last 6 years at work, 2 months after retiring the soles fell off, whilst out shooting a month apart. I bought my then 9 year old daughter plastic ice climbing boots with inner leather boot 25 years later I went to pick them up from a dark cupboard the outers disintegrated.

Conversely I still have pair's of army boots (?), walking boots (Scarper Bronzo) , climbing/snow & ice walking boots (Galibier Super Pro's) that are 50 years old all welted with Vibram soles.
 
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😎 Karrimor SF 👍
20230803_201359.webp
 
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It looks like you are in Manchester so not to far from Whalley warm and dry, the sell altberg walking boots but they are boot fitters, and make sure you get a perfect fit, the altberg walking boots are as good as anything else you can buy and are made in Yorkshire.
 
Mr Rooney said:
If wellies are good enough for Compo they’re good enough for me 😀
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Too true.
After a afternoon shooting in the woods in the rain and mud it's time for a pint in the local pub. I could take my wellies off in the pub porch, and be two pints up by the time these posh boot wearer's have undone their laces.
 
Everyone has their own opinion of a good boot. Years and years ago I was recommended to go to Richmond and see Altberg. At the time I'd never heard of them and wore stuff like Millets TM6's, Scapa, thin soled stuff. I have three pairs of made-to-measure Altbergs now and my go-to pair are these Gamekeepers with the rubberised leather finish. I wouldn't consider any thing else as I'm completely satisfied with what I have now and the service from Altberg.
 

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franksy said:
I've a pair of Haix High Liability Goretex... took.a while to break in, the sole is hard wearing but very comfortable as I have wide feet.

I think they come I'm two widths and I went a size lower than my usual shoe size, so maybe worth trying a pair on of whatever you choose. 👍🏻
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Got given a brand new pair of these.
Gave them away as I think they'd take longer to break in, than I'll be needing boots.
 
...find out what your Marines are using...if it`s good enough for them, it`ll be good enough for you...Qua Patet Orbis...oh, I wasn`t one, unfortunately...
 
Tan21 said:
OK, so not directly rifle/gun related but I'm fed up of soggy feet in my current lightweight boots. (They're OK for light walking but nothing else)
So, I'm in the market for a decent boot. Alberg and Hiax have piqued an interest so far...anyone have any experience?
(Mods - please move if better in another forum)
TIA...
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Wellies
 
john harrigan said:
Bighit; The article below was found on the Altberg website so made as you say in Italy at least they have a long record of shoe/boot making.

"In Italy and Germany, craft based manufacturing and remained strong, but by 2004, even they, were beginning to move production to lower cost countries in Eastern Europe. There was a factory I knew of in Italy, and in 2004, I began to make the ‘peacekeeper boot’ for the larger contracts there.

Eventually we started to win other contracts and we increased sales of our outdoor boots to retailers - so I began to build up capacity at the Italy factory. This has enabled me to keep the Richmond factory as a specialist boot-making workshop. I still make most of our motorcycle boots in the Richmond factory, as well as making smaller quantities of our technical boots and being able to offer a specialist boot, making service to people who need it."

As for the Hydrolysis I used to alternate daily two pairs of winter army boots for my last 6 years at work, 2 months after retiring the soles fell off, whilst out shooting a month apart. I bought my then 9 year old daughter plastic ice climbing boots with inner leather boot 25 years later I went to pick them up from a dark cupboard the outers disintegrated.

Conversely I still have pair's of army boots (?), walking boots (Scarper Bronzo) , climbing/snow & ice walking boots (Galibier Super Pro's) that are 50 years old all welted with Vibram soles.
Click to expand...
Even brand new boots that have never been out of the box have started to disintegrate after years of storage .

I had a pair of the UK army issue black Gore Tex lined boots do it also. Just melted it was like the manufacturing process was reversed . from liquid to cured to liquid again .

I first heard of hydrolysis on another forum. a member bought two pairs of expensive boots in the US. he had a family home there and brought one pair back to the UK .

He went back to the US a year later and was out shooting an the sole fell off miles from his truck . he managed to tie it back on to get back to the truck and had a spare pair in the truck. after his day of shooting he contacted the shop and they told him about the hydrolysis and he looked it up.

He managed to get a new pair as a goodwill gesture but went for a pair with a different midsole construction.

I have a old pair of Uvex safety boots in my "coal " shed ( cupboard at my front door that the coal was stored in for the coal fire ( removed years ago ) and they are melting . Best safety boots I had ever used .

I have asthma hence the breathing and the phone mic pics up quite clearly


 
Gareth Tee said:
Bl**dy hell, you blokes have more money than sense.
What's wrong with a really good pair of safety wellies, £30 no VAT to be added. Can rest your Air rifle barrel down on your lovely toe tectors with no worries of a accidental discharge getting through to your toes. Adjustable lining for different temperatures, ie. Use different thickness socks. Can walk in far deeper streams, puddles and mud than any expensive boots while still keeping your feet dry. After use, no expensive wax, oils or water proofing, just a quick wash down with a hose pipe, store upside-down over two long brush handles in a warm dry room.
What else do you need.
Dancing banana :ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO:
Click to expand...
And when your wellies get old then cut the tops off and they make perfect boots :cool:
IMG_3562.webp
 
I like my altberg but have Scarpa rangers as well that are a good boot but don't think they are made in Italy anymore like my old pair where , wellies are great but not ideal for the places I mainly shoot as it's very hilly and tends to make short work of wellies plus they aren't great for walking 5 or 6 miles in . The main thing is to get boots what fit you well as there's nothing worse than blisters and damaged toe nails . Pay the bit extra and buy from a shop in person were you can try them on to find what suits your feet ect . Even the best quality boots that don't fit proper are just a waste of money .
 
I have a pair of dedito boots..lightweight..fully waterproof and very comfortable..quite pricey but worth every penny
 
I think that that is a very good point about fitment as everyone's feet are different.
I know myself some boots fit well straight away while others take longer to feel comfortable.
 
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