It's a fabric/suede combination which are hard to clean and requires constant treatment with a waterproofing spray to keep them waterproof. If the waterproof liner gets punctured or wears through at some point the boots will be totally useless in wet weather. I believe it's a false economy to buy any fabric/leather/suede combination boot unless you understand and accept the fact that it's very likely that you will need to replace them in less than 2 years time and that's always assuming they don't fall to bits before then.
Hi,
Can I pull you up on this comment and ask you to explain a bit further please?
you're obviously a leather fan, and yes, my experience has been less than perfect, and i now usually go fabric after failing miserably with the weight and comfort of leather - but I did try!
however I believe what you say here is totally incorrect.
1. You say fabric type is hard to clean.
I use a soft brush and a hosepipe to clean boots - a few mins - like leather. no more, no less.
2. you say - requires constant treatment with a waterproofing spray to keep them waterproof.
Totally wrong I believe, it's the membrane that keeps them waterproof, a spray is unnecessary and I doubt there is truly a waterproof spray anyhow.
After washing, Sometimes before I use them next, about every 5-10 uses, I spray them as it helps keep them a bit cleaner. a spray- about 10-20 seconds a boot.Now Altberg, from their website (
http://www.altberg.co.uk/leder-gris/bootcare/ I'll paraphrase though.)
3. They say if it's warm, cover with a damp cloth and dry slower as drying can shrink the leather - what a pfaff[/font]
They say wet/dry cycles will inevitably crack along joint but you can slow it down - built in breaking is another way to look at it if you're being harsh;-)
4. They say, wax EVERY TIME. They are saying timing is important to do it when nearly dry, or just dry. What a pfaff again. I may be at work at the critical point !!!
So
Fabric - wash, spray for 20 seconds sometimes.
Altberg - wash, possibly dry with a damp cloth if warm, it inevitably cracks, and wax every time - more than 20 seconds!
So leather v's non leather aside. to me, fabric wins hands down on the time/effort compared to leather. totally opposite to what you say and I believe I've explained why quite clearly.
You say, "it's very likely that you will need to replace them in less than 2 years time", yet provide no evidence what so ever for this statement. I have no evidence either, but I'm not making a statement. What I can say is that between my Wife and I, ALL our fabric boots have lasted longer than 2 years, the last two that got binned lasted 7 and 10 years, and the 7 was not for leaking.
Your comment seems biased.
And lastly you say "that's always assuming they don't fall to bits before then", well that's just totally biased - why do that?
I'm all for educating a person asking questions, both types have pro's and cons. but you sound like an altberg salesperson. Are you? ;-)
To the OP.
As before, keep your eyes and mind open, go try some. buy what you're happy with.
J