I bought a pair of Altama Maritime Assault Mid Boots a few years ago, right before a trip to Iceland.
Altama calls them boots. I suppose technically they are.
To me, they're more like a rugged, upgraded sneaker — almost a modern version of the old Converse Chucks we used to wear back in the day. I loved those shoes, and I ended up loving these for a lot of the same reasons.
The big difference is that these are built for a very different kind of abuse.
These Boots Have Been Around
These aren't boots that have spent their entire life sitting in a closet waiting for the right adventure.
I've had them with me in Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and all over the United States.
They've been on airplanes, boats, streets, trails, through jungles and across plenty of places where I had no idea what kind of footwear I was going to need when I left the hotel that morning.
They're finally getting pretty damn tired.
After my upcoming Caribbean trip in February, this pair will probably be ready for retirement.
And here's the part that tells you most of what you need to know about them:
I'm buying another pair of the exact same boots.
That's not something I do very often.
They're Not Waterproof — And That's the Point
One of the first things you need to understand about the Maritime Assault boots is that they aren't waterproof.
That's intentional.
They're designed to drain water and dry quickly. If you're walking through wet conditions, crossing streams, getting your feet soaked, or otherwise dealing with water, you don't want a waterproof boot that holds everything inside.
I've used these as actual water shoes in the Costa Rican jungle.
That worked surprisingly well.
The boots drain, and once you're out of the water they dry much faster than a traditional waterproof boot would.
They're also comfortable enough to wear as everyday travel shoes, which is a big deal when you're trying to pack for a trip without bringing half your closet.
Getting the Fit Right
The Maritime Assaults run a little loose on my feet.
That wasn't a deal breaker.
I added a more comfortable aftermarket insole on top of the factory rubber insole, and that changed the fit completely. For me, they went from a little loose to damn near perfect.
The nice thing is that I could pull the extra insole out when I wanted to use them as actual water shoes.
So I effectively had one pair of footwear that could handle normal travel, walking, trails and wet environments without needing to pack another pair specifically for water.
That's a pretty useful combination when you're traveling.
My Footwear Rule Is Pretty Simple
I've developed a pretty simple philosophy about footwear over the years.
The environment determines the boot.
Here in Washington State, I generally want waterproof footwear.
We have wet foliage, mud and rain for a good chunk of the year. If I'm walking through the woods here, getting wet feet isn't something I particularly enjoy.
But take that same waterproof boot and drop me into a warm, humid jungle where I'm crossing streams all day?
Different story.
In that environment, I'd rather have something that gets wet, drains and dries.
Waterproof boots in a jungle can become miserable. Your feet sweat, water gets in over the top, and now you've basically created a little bathtub inside your boot.
No thanks.
I'd rather let the water through and get rid of it.
Why I'll Buy Them Again
I've put years of travel on this pair.
I've taken them through multiple countries and climates, used them around water, walked plenty of miles in them, and generally treated them like travel footwear instead of something I only wear when conditions are perfect.
They're comfortable.
They're versatile.
They don't pretend to be something they're not.
And most importantly, I know exactly what I'm getting because I've already put them through years of real-world use.
That's why, when this pair finally gives up the ghost, I'm not going shopping for something new and exciting.
I'm buying another pair of Maritime Assaults.
That's about as strong an endorsement as I can give a piece of gear.
The Bigger Lesson
I don't think there's one perfect boot for every adventure.
I've got heavier-duty boots I prefer when I'm working around the property or dealing with cold, wet Washington weather. These serve a completely different purpose.
That's the point.
Don't choose your footwear based on what the marketing department says you should buy. Choose it based on where you're actually going and what you're actually going to be doing.
For warm-weather travel, water crossings, jungle environments and general adventure travel, these have earned a permanent spot in my gear bag.
And after years of use, I already know what's replacing them.
The same damn boots.
That's a pretty good field test.
