If you don’t know, Altberg is a much-loved brand in the UK, with deep roots in North Yorkshire. We recently visited their factory and learned how their shoes are made – you can read all about their fascinating background here Here.
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While their hiking, military and country boots are renowned worldwide for their quality, it is their less famous hiking boots that we are looking at today. Namely, Altberg Skipton boots. Marketed as an ‘approach-style’ running shoe that also works well for urban leisure, the Skipton features the tough leather upper that Altberg is known for, along with more lightweight technologies in the lining and sole for a more streamlined feel on the trail.
Altburg Skipton main details
The Skipton features a ‘lace-to-toe’ approach-style design, featuring an oiled nubuck upper, a Sympatex Lite water-resistant lining, a lightweight, structurally designed midsole, an insole with memory cushioning and a Vibram ‘Skyrunning’ outsole.
Altburg Skipton
★★★★one and a half
price: £170
weight: About. 379 grams per shoe (UK size 8)
professional: Durable and strong leather, very comfortable over big miles, contoured fit, secure laces, reliable grip, out-of-the-box comfort
Shortcoming: Potentially too narrow for some people, may not be suitable for those who like a lot of padding
Rest: 4.5/5
Stability: 4/5
Durability: 4.5/5
Traction: 4/5
overall rating: 4.5/5
How I’m testing shoes
Luckily, I recently had the opportunity to test the Skipton shoes in the Yorkshire Dales, Altberg’s homeland. As well as walking at a more low level in search of moorland, I also went from Chapel-l’Dell to Ingleborough, and then back via Classic three peaks Horton-in-Ribblesdale route.
Elsewhere, I’ve used Skipton boots northwards on the Teesdale Way in the Pennines and parts of the Pennine Bridleway. The terrain here was a mixture of bridleways, marshy lands, cultivated agricultural tracks and river courses; While the terrain up to Ingleborough was fairly rocky, especially on the climb to Chapelle-l’Dale, the route down had sections of muddy and boggy ground.
I’ll be taking them with me to Presley Hills next week as well, so I’ll update this review if I continue to test the shoes.
Who will like Altberg Skipton shoes
Altburg Skipton is ideal for:
- Multi-day hikes and day hikes are the same
- rugged terrain as well as more casual use
- People are looking for something between an approach shoe and a hiking shoe
- People who like locked in fit
- People are looking for running shoes with real durability
Who shouldn’t buy it?
Less ideal for:
- ultralight hikers
- People are looking for more comfortable shoes, like you’ll find in Ultra shoes or Keen shoes.
- Waterlogged trails/extremely wet hikes – They are not completely waterproof, although I have found them to be very waterproof so far
- People with wide feet – the Skipton only comes in one fit, although the rest of Altberg’s shoes have a huge range of different fits and volumes. If you have wide feet it is recommended that you go half a size larger.
comfort and fit
I found the Skiptons comfortable right out of the box. Unlike tougher and thicker full grain leather boots, these boots have a thinner and more flexible leather upper which makes them hiking-ready right from the start. During my tests, I wasted no time breaking them in and had no problems of any kind.
Instead, what you get are slight wrinkles in the leather as it molds to your natural foot shape and movement. This has always been one of my favorite features of leather – you finally get shoes that are molded specifically to your feet. Bet in advance if you want.
Elsewhere in the shoe, you’ll find a removable insole with memory cushioning and a PU-cushioned, shock absorbing midlayer. Overall, it makes for a very comfortable journey. Even covering long distances – including an 8-hour hike in the Dales – my legs didn’t feel tired or sore at all. I also particularly like how the insole is removable so you can easily replace it if it gets worn out.
That being said, it doesn’t have the ultra-cushioned feel that you might get in Hoka shoes, for example. If that’s your bag, I’d look elsewhere. I would say Skipton is better suited to long distance in this sense. This is the kind of shoe I would happily take with me on both multi-day treks and big day trips alike.
Lace-wise, it’s an approach-style ‘lace-to-toe’ fit that really locks your foot in place. I personally prefer this kind of fit as it feels really stable and secure, especially on uneven and rocky terrain, although it’s probably not suitable for hikers who prefer a more comfortable fit with a wide toe box.
grip and mark performance
I’ve hiked a wide variety of trails in the UK in these shoes, including mountain paths, rocky almost-descending climbs, boggy moorland, wet slabs of rock, farm fields, muddy river tracks, dry patches of earth, narrow bridleway paths and stretches of tarmac on the way back to the car. So far, I have found the grip to be reliable even in changing weather.
For example, after a day of hiking in the Yorkshire Dales, after two days of heat and humidity, the weather turned, turning dry paths into decidedly muddy terrain. In the mud, I found the lugs penetrated well and shed mud quite well. They don’t have very deep lugs, so you won’t get some of the same performance as a Trail Runner, for example, but for a little mud here and there, I was pleased with their performance.
The Vibram ‘Skyrunning’ sole is targeted for rugged, off-road terrain and mountain hiking. and so far? I would say that is true. The lug pattern is multi-directional so you get good grip on a variety of terrains. In my experience, it lives best on rocky lands, marshy lands filled with bushes, both loose and compacted lands and medium soils. A UK exclusive indeed.
Toughness and Safety
I’ve found that the sole strikes a good balance between feeling secure underfoot and being able to feel the ground beneath you. There is less protection towards the midfoot, although I would say in that sense it is a good balance between agility and protection.
The sole is stiff enough to limit foot fatigue on mild, rocky terrain, while still allowing a natural roll with each step. I also found that this stiffness was helpful in improving stability when carrying heavy loads and crossing rough and inaccessible ground. That being said, for more technical rocky terrain, or high-level combat over longer periods of time, I would choose something stiffer.
The leather upper and sturdy construction also provide a good level of protection against sharp rocks, roots and other trail hazards. I especially like the reinforced toe bumper – it gives you that extra confidence to really throw yourself into your journey. I also think it adds a modern touch to the look of the shoe.
Water resistance and breathability
The membrane used here is Sympatex Light, a more breathable and eco-friendly alternative to Sympatex’s more commonly used, fully waterproof lining. While the Sympatex Lite is only water resistant, when combined with the oiled and water-resistant nubuck leather in the upper, I have found it to be very effective at repelling water.
To maintain leather’s water-repellent properties, Altberg recommends treating it periodically with Leather Gris wax/paste or Leather Bok spray.
Although if I were going into a properly swampy and/or waterlogged area I wouldn’t necessarily be able to reach them – I would probably choose an alternative boot In this scenario anyway – for hiking where you’ll mostly encounter puddles, muddy sections and a little rain here and there, I think these will be more than up to the task.
Another feature of Sympatex Lite is that it is much more breathable than a completely waterproof lining. Upon testing I have found this to be true. I didn’t expect it to be honest, especially not from an all-leather traveller, but so far, my feet haven’t overheated once, even on an unusually hot and humid weekend with temperatures of 26°C in the Northern Pennines. Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t wear them in seriously hot conditions, but for most of the three-season temperatures in the UK, I think they have a lot to offer.
The membrane is also completely biodegradable, with recycled materials in the inner fabric. Not bad, not bad at all.
Tolerance
While the real test of durability is time – something that will reveal itself as the years go on – based on what I’ve seen so far, and my experience testing many running shoes over the years, there’s a lot to like here.
The upper is made of 1.6/1.8mm oiled nubuck leather with a scratch-resistant toe bumper. There is no wrap-around rand, although I imagine it would take a lot of work to pierce that leather. It feels reassuringly thick and hard to the touch.
This has proven difficult even out in the hills. On thorny and rooty sections of trail in the Northern Pennines, I had no problems. Similarly, on some of the all-rock sections of Ingleboro’s Chapel-el-Dale climb, I felt very safe in the full shoe. There are no signs of wear and tear other than a nice wrinkle in the leather as it molds to the shape of my foot.
How does it compare
If you like boots, but still want something durable, I recommend these Altburg Fremington Or Altburg Dalesway If you prefer vegetarian options. Instead of leather, Delsway uses a synthetic material called Lorica.
For something warmer, I would recommend the Lowa Innova Low GTX or aku rocket dfs gtx Shoes. and better suited to some more technical and reasonably rocky routes, for Scarpa Rapid XT Are worth considering.
Are you looking for something light and cool that is better suited for very hot weather? Scarpa Cyrus 2 GTX boots or something path runner like ultra low peak 9+ or Kiprun MT3 Trail Shoes are a good option.
Should you buy Altburg Skipton?
In short, I would say yes. If you’re looking for a hiking shoe that is comfortable, protective, feels light, but also durable, I think you’ll find a really good fit with the Altberg Skiptons.
Although the style of the shoe is not ultralight, the Sympatex Light lining combined with the lightweight Vibram ‘Skyrunning’ sole makes the shoe feel unexpectedly light when running. Add a rugged nubuck upper to the mix and you get an agile-feeling shoe that doesn’t compromise on durability. Yes, leather will add to the overall weight of the shoe, but to me, that’s a pretty fair deal for shoes that will last more than just a few hiking seasons.
At £170, it’s not the cheapest hiking shoe, but it’s not the most expensive either. In this sense it is a kind of investment. When you consider how easily synthetic hiking boots get ruined these days, you’ll get more than that.
Altburg Skipton
★★★★one and a half
