Let’s Talk About Altamas
If you’ve glanced around the modern shooting world chances are you’ve spotted people wearing shoes that look suspiciously similar to the classic Chuck Taylors by Converse but in earthy toned colors and camouflage. These are Altama’s Maritime Assault line of footwear. Often you will find them referred to as OTB’s which stand for Over The Beach. This is a nod to what the Maritime Assault’s were designed for use with swim fins while conducting maritime operations including assaulting from one domain to another over the beach.
I was first introduced to Altamas in 2016 during my time in the Navy. As it turns out they make excellent boat shoes. To tell you why the Altamas is good for boats, let me tell you why the steel-toed leather boots mandated for use in the Navy are, ironically enough, absolutely miserable in wet environments like the ocean.
Photo circa 2018 in the Bahamas - author is in the front with the M4.
In the Navy, there is a very real possibility that you will spend some quality time on rigid-hull inflatable boats (RHIBs) that will all but guarantee you get wet. If you get water inside your issued boots it does not drain and can take days to dry out. Having more than one pair to cycle through while the other is drying is a luxury with the limited personal storage you have on a ship and putting up with wet feet sucks. Furthermore, if you fall off that RHIB the last thing you need to worry about is trying to ditch heavy boots that are weighing you down and impeding your ability to swim, especially if wearing armor and a weapon.
So why do the Altama OTB’s shine? Because they do everything that the boots don’t.
If you look at the construction you will notice an odd-looking circle located at the joint between the upper and the sole on either side of the shoe. These are drain holes. Any water that enters the shoe will quickly leave again through them. This is a trade-off though as these drains are a two-way street. Stepping in a puddle while walking down a sidewalk will result in your feet getting wet where they wouldn’t with more classically designed sneakers.
The OTB’s come with rubber insoles to add to their water-resistance. These are hit or miss with people from what I can tell. Some people like them but I've found them to be irritating and replace them with normal insoles almost immediately. The problem is that if you’re going barefoot they tend to make your feet sweat and if you’re wearing socks the rubber insoles are incredibly grippy and tug at them.
Another water-resistant element of the construction is the materials of the shoes themselves. They have a thick cordura outside for abrasion resistance and air mesh linings to keep moisture away from your feet. This combination means that while these shoes will get damp they will not become soaked which also translates to much quicker drying.
Pictured is my personal pair that I’ve owned since 2016. They have survived quite extensive use for 5 years but are blown out. The stitching of the pull loops on the back gave up almost immediately. I had to cut the pull loops off with a knife. Beyond that, the shoes held up well and I have only noted a slow degradation over time to the point you see here. I was able to use these as my casual shoe to go out on liberty with as well as a shoe to wear while conducting small boat operations. Their versatility earned them a place in my rack. Considering I’ve worn them in the context already provided, as water shoes for aquatic activities like paddleboarding from rocky shores, as solid flat-soled gym shoes, and as daily drivers, even in a casual office environment, they’ve exceeded my expectations.
These shoes can seemingly do it all. Well, do it all except go anywhere that isn’t flat with plenty of traction. That’s the achilles heel of Altamas. If you aren’t on flat concrete or the flat deck of a boat they will struggle. Forget hiking or dealing with muddy terrain these will have a hard time on dewey grass. One morning while running drills I was wearing hiking boots and my friend was wearing a pair of OTB’s. We sprinted down range 10 yards to a set point in the grass to engage our targets. I came to a stop as expected while my friend's feet came out from underneath him and he fell flat on his ass. Luckily he had the awareness to keep his rifle pointed down range but this highlights the grip weakness.
I’ve enjoyed my Altamas and I might consider looking at their new line of Urban Assaulters that are made with a fly knit upper. Generally, though I’ve found myself drifting in other directions. If I’m looking for something to hike or train on a range with I’ll wear my Salomon boots. If I need water shoes I’ll throw on a pair of Crocs. If I need something to wear around town or to the office there are plenty of other casual shoes out there.
At the time of writing, you can find OTB’s online for as low as $70. Do I think I’ve got my $70 out of these shoes? Absolutely. But I don’t think they serve my needs anymore.
If you want OTB’s because they look cool then go for it. And if you’re in that .01% of people that will use these in the maritime niche they were designed for then these are certainly worth looking into. But if you’re looking to get these and want to use them seriously on land for any training or hiking I would highly encourage you to consider looking at a pair of Merrells, Salomons, or other reputable brands of outdoor boots and shoes instead. At the end of the day, these aren’t much more than tactical chucks.
Author: Rawley Wagor
