CONSTRUCTION

The upper is made out of suede and a stretch fabric with a feel similar to neoprene. The tongue and collar are built in a single piece from this material which makes for a comfortable fit.

The AKU Alterra is lined with Gore-Tex for waterproofing as is most of the competition in this price range – leather lined boots being the exception. It has a Vibram outsole named Octopus and the lacing system is without complaints. The laces are red but also come with extra laces in light grey (similar to the light grey on the side of the sole).

On the tongue, you also get a leather patch with the inscription “Handcrafted by Expert Bookmakers” with a unique number – nice!

The boot weighs 1.75 lbs (size 11) which is the heaviest boot along with the Lowa Vantage in this comparative review. But remember that heavier also means more support & protection.

SIZING & COMFORT

I have medium to narrow feet but really like footwear with a large toe box. In that regard, the AKU Alterra wasn’t the absolute best fit for me. It’s a relatively wide boot, wider than the Arc’teryx Bora², the Salomon Quest 4D and Lowa Renegade but with a medium toe box similar in size to these 3 narrower boots mentioned.

Really important: you need to size down half a size, these boots are huge! I usually wear 11.5 for everything excepts running shoes for which I go for 12, but for the AKU Alterra, I had to go for 11.

As already mentioned, the stretch fabric for the tongue really helps to make this boot comfy around the ankle. But right out of the box, the arch support doesn’t feel as supportive as the Salomon Quest 4D, as if it’s not quite in the right place, a little bit too far towards the front of the foot. It’s not uncomfortable, far from that, just feels different. I’m sure I won’t notice it after a dozen KM.

With hiking boots, it’s always best to try them first, so I always recommend people to order 2-3 pairs online and keep the best fitting (that’s why we offer the best returns experience at Altitude-Sports.com).