This review is for someone choosing between the Altberg Sneeker (regular) vs Sneeker Aqua (waterproof SympaTex version). I have had both designs for 3 years, and my applications have been tabbing and daily work.
It is important to understand that they are slightly different boot designs - the Aqua is NOT simply the same design as the regular Sneeker, with just the addition of the SympaTex membrane - and the subtle differences give the two designs very different feels.
Let's dig in…
WEIGHT
It was tricky to find reliable figures, so I weighed them myself. Both were size 11, with stock laces and no footbeds (most people replace those). Weight is per boot:
Aqua – 935 g
Regular – 718 g
That’s about 30% heavier for the Aqua, which you feel over a long day.
SOLE
Aqua: Wider and thicker sole, with a protective rand around the join to prevent mud packing in. This spreads weight better on soft ground, stays cleaner, and feels more stable — but sacrifices agility.
Regular: Thinner, narrower sole without a rand. More precise steps, less snagging, closer to the ground, and easier pivoting. Feels much more natural for dynamic use, but collects more dirt. The absence of a rand likely also adds to the boot’s flexibility.
In short, Aqua’s sole suits static or muddy conditions, while Regular’s is better for fast, precise movement.
CONSTRUCTION
Both use similar leather panel patterns, including a solid upper cleat. But the Aqua is noticeably stiffer. It took a week of daily use and oiling to break in, and still feels more rigid — good for climbing support, but tiring over hard terrain or long days.
The Regular required no break-in (this was a truly amazing experience actually) and moulded quickly to the foot, remaining supple and far less fatiguing over time.
BREATHABILITY:
The Aquas have a waterproof SympTex membrane, around the whole boot and tongue - to do the waterproofing (which it does really well). But as much as it’s advertised that it’s still breathable, it’s definitely far less breathable than the Regular. This is true of all membranes, there’s no getting around it. Socks come out sweaty at the end of the day.
The Regulars have textile webbing around the tongue to evacuate the air, and no membrane, so run way cooler. It’s not magic, there will still be sweat if you really push hard, but at the end of a general day you’re not gagging to get your boots off to cool your heels. This is a really big comfort factor.
Side note: I came from a place where GoreTex was the answer to everything - why not just “add waterproofing”? One of my best friends argued for the non-waterproof and I just didn't believe him until trialling both of these boots - but he was dead right. From now on I tend to avoid waterproof membranes like the plague, and realise that any claim to being “breathable” is marketing BS. The reality is, as soon as you put a waterproof layer in, the construction becomes significantly less breathable, and likely far below the breathability required to vent a rapid build up of sweat.
WATERPROOFING:
So this is where the Aqua shines of course. You can stand in a puddle all day long.
For the Regular, water will immediately pour in through the textile weave along the height of the tongue. Walking in tall, wet, British grass can also mean wet socks through the same leak path.
But the flip side is, if aired at night, the Regular will dry out much faster than the Aqua (which will still likely be sodden if overwhelmed).
CONCLUSION:
This is obviously dependent on application. I wouldn’t take the Aqua on a dynamic expedition, and I wouldn’t choose the Regular for a wet, static day.
If you are living in puddle all day, the Aqua is excellent. But for me I’d have to be in it all-day for it to be worth it. The waterproofing feature comes at a cost in some big key areas. So in more general situations (day-to-day factory/office work, UK hikes, UK hills) the Regular wins.
I started with the Aquas because I wanted waterproof boots. No brainer, I thought. But since receiving the Regulars, they are now my go-to boot. Bottom line is they are so much more comfortable, and less fatiguing. The light weight, the flex, the breathability, the precise sole - all come together into a winning combination
For me in my environment, my original thinking “waterproofing to cover all situations” was wrong. The Regular has enough protection to dodge most UK issues, and the occasional dodge is definitely worth the other wins in performance. And as my mate would probably say, if you see a puddle, just walk round it. And if it does get wet, it dries quickly.
CRITICAL NOTE ON SIZE:
For my foot I found the Altbergs to be quite large. I’m wearing half a size smaller than some other boots, despite the general buying advice to get ½ a size bigger. And that’s including the standard “thick sock”. My advice would be - it’s definitely worth ordering a few sizes around your nominal to try before you commit, ...
