Altberg makes leather footwear in its factory in Richmond, North Yorkshire. The Altberg Ladies Fremington is one of its lighter models and is available in five width fittings. The uppers are constructed from a single piece of full-grain leather, with a Sympatex membrane, making them extremely waterproof. The rugged Vibram outsole has deep lugs and copes well with bog, grass, gravel and scree. A protective rubber rand skirts the rim of the boot to add to protection – but it does not cover the toe cap.
Price: £210 | Weight: 1226g | Materials: leather upper, Sympatex waterproof membrane, Vibram Masai sole | Features: padded ankle cuff, one-piece leather upper, full rubber rand | Sizes: UK3-8.5/ EU 35-41, width fittings XN-XW | Men’s version: yes
Putting my feet in to a narrow fitting was glorious. Most boots are too wide for me, and I must pad up with thick socks. These were comfortable straight from the box, which is unusual for a leather boot. The midsole is supportive but comes at the lighter end of the range with flexibility and good shock absorbency.
The boot has a durable and high-quality feel. Leather that is well cared for provides a waterproof barrier for years. Altberg stresses the importance of maintaining the leather of its boots and offers a range of care products for sale.
Aesthetically, these will not be everyone’s taste, but the retro style conceals a boot that out-competes modern styles on weight, comfort and fit, making this a classic boot for summer use in the British countryside. My only gripe is that thanks to the versatility of the width fitting, there is no need for lacing down to the toe, so there is nowhere to attach my gaiters to – which does limit where they can go.
