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I need to break in the boots, so just short walks and wearing around the house. They are remarkably comfortable. I think this is because "Dave the shoe" is an old school boot fitter, I had been there for over an hour having measurements and detailed questions before we even looked at new shoes and boots. The whole process was the best part of 3 hours. He also assesses what you intend to do so will ensure they are fit for purpose as well as fit you.
Altberg come in various widths as well so he was able to ensure they were not going to affect my toes. The Altbergs boots are very stiff, the Aku shoes less so. The socks are separate liners and outers, some for summer, some for winter.
Having had a "boot fit" it is like a bike fit, one of those things that seems mad until you have had it done. The fit costs about £40 but is well worth it. His brother has had the equivalent Altberg boots for over 10 years and he also instructs about how to clean them properly inside (to clean out the pores of the breathable membrane) and outside too.
The shoes are super comfortable. He was honest and says the shoes will last about 2 years due to more synthetic materials and less durable construction.
dancing james-
Well good to hear about the shoes, that's twice the lifespan I'm getting. If I see them in a shop I'll give them the twist-test.
Regarding cleaning I give them a scrub every time I wear them, and wash the insides out until the water runs clear (which can take a disgustingly long time). I used to apply Grangers G-wax when water stopped beading on them, a thin coat helped to soak in with a hairdryer - but they are now so abraded that water never really beads, so I just do it occasionally.
They definitely won't last ten years though - boots really suffer if they're saturated with water then freeze overnight (especially so if you defrost them over the stove).
The boot fitting sounds like great value. I only wear the boots in winter now which is very varied and stop-start (kick steps, rest, scramble a bit, crampons on, crampons off, rest again, kick more steps and so on). In my experience it's the long-distance hikes that really beat up your feet, and moreso on flatter terrain, I suppose it is the repetitive movements. I wear the trail runners for this sort of thing anyway.
Check out the Hiking, Scrambling, Climbing and Mountaineering thread.
lae
Nice. The full rubber rand is great for protecting against scrapes on scree or moraine fields - I wish my Asolos had them as they are pretty scuffed after 3 years, and have developed some suede-like patches from crampon-strap-rub too.
How do the shoes feel? I started hiking in trail runners couple of years ago and except for big off-track mountain routes, or winter, I wear them all the time. However one issue is durability - been through two pairs already (Montrail and Salomon... can't remember the models). The second issue is that neither pair were very stiff, so they twist/curl around my foot on sidles or thin edges (grasping the heel in one hand and the toe in thge other, with a little effort i can twist the shoe so the sole is facing skyward). So I am looking for something sturdier and stiffer.
I had a bit of a chuckle at 'proper hiking socks'; very middle class annual weekend in the peak district! I have always used cheap plain wool socks from any old shop, but then again I seem to be resistant to blisters.