Altberg’s traditional-style, handmade leather boots are highly acclaimed. But after a year of regular wear, how does the popular Tethera model actually stack up? In this Altberg Tethera review, Tamara dissects the features, comfort and durability of her women’s hiking boots.
Altberg Tethera Review (Women’s Boots)
Material quality: 9/10
Durability: 9.5/10
Aesthetics: 9/10
Comfort: 9/10
Performance: 8/10
Price: 7.5/10
Reviewers overall score: 9/10
Pros:
- Half width and length sizing
- Military grade waterproofing
- Insane ankle support and comfort
- Great lace-locking system
- Relatively lightweight for leather boots
- Durable Vibram rubber sole
- Handmade, UK, independent bootmaker
Cons:
- Sole may be a bit firm for some
- Lugs on the sole could possibly be sharper, as can be slippery on wet and mossy rock
As a 31-year-old who counts multi-day walks among her top hobbies, I have a surprising confession: I’ve never owned a proper pair of hiking boots.
After years and years of quickly wearing out cheaper pairs, I got fed up with my wastefulness and discomfort. I realised it’s time to invest in a durable, 3-season boot that would last me ten years – not one.
Enter Altberg. This independent Yorkshire-made bootmaker actually caught my attention when both my mum and sister purchased (and raved about) their Fremington model. Being a proud Yorkshire adoptee, the idea of a handmade, traditional-style British boot from Yorkshire deeply resonated with me.
On a visit to the independent store Foothills in Sheffield (which has been in business for 30+ years, or so the cashier told me) I was chuffed to find exactly what I was after: The Altberg Tethera, a slightly more advanced model than the Fremington for mountain hiking. However for those who want one boot for a wide range of uses, the Tethera is apparently the ‘boot of choice’.
Not only is this boot available in half width sizes so you get the perfect fit (which I believe is rather unique), it also offers robust ankle support and a sturdy rubber sole, making it perfect for all-year round hill and mountain hiking.
I looked up reviews of the Altberg Tethera before purchasing, and they were all raving, so I thought I’d give them a whirl, and see if I’d too turn into an wax-lyrical Alberg ambassador.
Turns out, that is indeed what I’ve become. I’m that boring person who will literally find any excuse to talk about my specialist Yorkshire boots!
It’s now been a year of walking in these boots most weekends and on many different terrains across the UK and Australia, and I’m as impressed as I was on day one.
So it’s about time I share my honest Altberg Tethera review of their women’s mountain hiking boots!
Materials
Ok, so the Altberg boots are not exactly cheap (they currently retail at £254.99), but one thing is for sure, the materials are premium, and coupled with the great craftsmanship, I guess that’s what you’re paying for.
The upper is 2.4-2.5mm Anfibio leather, which is leather treated to ensure 100% waterproofing. It’s one of the best, if not the best waterproof leather available. And look after leather and it’ll look after you!
Inside, they use a specialist Trek Airgrid Black footbed, custom moulded into the Altberg boot, to ensure great cushioning, breathability, and fast-drying action.
Another notable thing about the Altberg Tethera is the shock absorbing micro midlayer and Vibram rubber sole, offering excellent tread and grip, especially on rocky dry terrain.
A minor complaint I have about the Altberg Tethera is the sole sometimes can feel a little too hard and stiff to the point where sometimes on rocky terrain they feel a little clumpy and rigid. That being said, the midsole is Tri-Flex 2L for graded flex control. Personally I think I just prefer something with a little more flexibility and softness/grip in the tread, but they certainly are not as stiff as many traditional leather mountain hiking boots.
Water Repellency
Altberg Tethera boots are made with water resistance in mind. I’ve crossed rivers, stepped in puddles and boggy mud with no moisture entering the inside of my boots.
How have they achieved that exactly? Firstly, the upper is made from a Nordic single piece of leather so there is no stitching around the flex area of the boot for water to seep into.
These boots are also what you call ‘Alpine style’, with eyelets bolted directly through the leather. That means the laces sit on top of the boot and do not permeate through the leather. This design eliminates the potential for dampness or leakages, which could occur through syphoning up the lace or seeping through eyelets.
Inside, they’ve used a breathable 4-layer military grade waterproof membrane.
Basically, good luck getting water in them unless you submerge the whole boot underwater beyond the ankle!
Fit & Comfort
One thing that I notice instantly whenever I put these boots on is the super comfy, ultra padded ankle support. It’s blissfully soft and when laced right up, it provides great ankle security and strength. For me, this ankle cloud is a highlight of the Tethra boot.
The auto-locking lace system is also a game-changer. I cannot stand having to stop every few hours to retie loose laces. I’ve found the locking system prevents laces slipping or coming undone on the upper side of my foot. It helps you get the boot nice and tight when initially lacing up, to prevent any inner slipping movements that could cause blistering.
I’m a UK size 5.5 with a slim width and because Altberg do half sizes in both length and width, I finally found the perfect size for me. I’ve always struggled with this before, (usually opting for slightly big over slightly too tight, which is never ideal).
But after being measured with my favourite walking socks on (we all have a fave pair… right??) and matched with my ideal size, I had my Cinderella glass slipper moment!
Over time, these boots have ever so slightly moulded to the shape of my feet, which is fantastic and only serves to improve the comfort.
Although it’s always nice to whip off a pair of walking boots after a long day of walking, they’re certainly the most comfortable shoes I’ve ever owned – full stop!
Performance & Durability
It’s been over a year of pretty heavy wear now, with only one clean and wax (with Altberg’s Leder Gris water repellent wax) during that time (which by the way, is essential to maintain the condition and waterproofness of leather boots). They’re still in pretty good nick, bar the odd scuff and mark which you’d expect.
For full leather traditional boots, they’re much lighter than many other brands and models (their size 6 is 626gms). I’ve even worn them on a flight to save space in my luggage and they were perfectly comfortable and not too heavy/cumbersome.
I enjoy walking in them, confident that I won’t twist my ankle or feel discomfort through the sole.
That being said, the one con of the Altberg Tethera boot is perhaps the lugs underneath on the sole are a bit on the smooth side and so on wet, slippery rocks, they don’t provide as superior grip as I’d hoped. I have had a heart-stopping half-slip moment, maybe even two. If you often do mountaineering in precarious situations, you should probably look at boots more suited to mountaineering. I just take extra care in wet conditions wearing these boots.
Altberg literally makes military boots and so there’s an element of sturdy, military-grade durability in all of their models, and that’s certainly present in the Tethra boot.
I have a feeling these boots are going to be with me for the long haul.
Aesthetics
I admit I think I prefer the look of the Fremington model boot that my mum and sister own, or the Malham, but that’s simply because I personally prefer darker or richer brown leather colours. The Tethra is slightly more of an orange-brown colour than a chestnut. But in reality, this is an extremely minor and very subjective thing – it’s still a very good looking leather boot!
If I am being really picky, I’m also not sure I’m the biggest fan of the beige inner material on the ankle piece which has got a little grubby over time. Again, I prefer the darker material of the Fremington model here. But for the superior comfort and support provided to the ankle, the inner material colour really is redundant!
Summed Up:
The Altberg Tethera women’s hiking boot is a classic, well-made leather boot offering superior ankle support and comfort for all types of hill and mountain hiking. Although they’re not cheap, these boots are a great investment for regular walkers who are after a more premium traditional-style boot, particularly if you can benefit from the additional width fittings. I love my Altbergs – they certainly have a customer for life in me.
Note: this is a totally independent review and not endorsed by or affiliated with the brand or supplier. The opinions in this article are solely that of the reviewer. See our editorial standards for more.