Our National Boot Giveaway is underway so if you haven’t voted yet, hurry while there’s still time! Vote for your favorite local police department listed here, for a chance to outfit that entire department with pairs of our tactical boots.

The first team to reach 5k votes wins; one vote per day allowed, so share with friends, family, and anyone you know who wants to Back The Blue!

We are proud to be in partnership with Tyler of I Donut Need A Reason To Thank A Cop in this effort to give back to the men and women in blue!

Today we put the ALTAI™ Retailer Spotlight on a unique treasure located in Western Wisconsin: Bawek’s Shoe Store of Arcadia Wisconsin. A place where ‘customer service’ includes personal care and unique attention to detail that’s hard to find these days.

If you live around the Arcadia, Western Wisconsin area, stop by for a try of our boots in person; and “get a glimpse of the past.”

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Bawek’s Shoe Store
119 West Main Street
Arcadia, Wisconsin 54612
(608) 323-7236

Today, our fabulous guest blogger, Katlyn Spade, offers some free advice on how to get a good night’s rest in the wilderness.

Camping is an inexpensive way of seeing this amazing country and can also make for a great vacation. However, when you are out in the great outdoors, you may struggle to nod off at the end of the day. But, with a little preparation, you can get an amazing night’s sleep out in the wilderness while feeling safe and secure in your tent.

Be at one with your environment

When you are sleeping outside, you will be exposed to all the sounds of the environment—from the birds and animals to the roaring wind and rain and even the crashing waves. You can’t fight this noise, so instead, close your eyes and enjoy the sensations. People all over the country listen to nature music and sounds when they are going to sleep on streaming services. But you are lucky enough to have your own personal live performance. Focus on your breathing and become at peace with the noises around you.

Be prepared for the weather

To ensure a great night’s sleep, prepare your tent for all weather eventualities, including heavy wind and rain. In exposed areas, such as flatlands, you may find that there are frequent gusts of wind. Make sure that you pack some heavy-duty stakes to keep your tent in place and a hardcore rainfly; then, there is no possibility of rain getting in. If you’re camping near the coast, the weather can change rapidly, so make sure that you can set your tent up quickly. Make sure that you place the entrance of your tent away from the ocean to avoid sea spray.

Have your clothing ready

You may find that you need to get up in the middle of the night and go outside to the toilet block (or nearest bush if you are in the wilderness). To make sure that this goes as smoothly as possible, leave your Altai boots ready, with the laces undone, in the doorway of the tent; that way, you simply have to put them on your feet. Lay out some loose-fitting and easy-to-wear clothing that you can put on quickly. Trousers with an elastic waist and a straight-over sweater are ideal if you need to get dressed in a hurry.

Consider wild animals

When you are camping, make sure that you clear up any trash that you have—especially food waste. Don’t leave it in bags outside your tent. The last thing that you want is to be woken up in the middle of the night by a bear or raccoons looking for a snack. If you have food, keep it in a bear bag or secure container at least 500 ft. away from your camp.

Going to sleep in a tent when surrounded by the elements is an amazing experience. You can drop off listening to the sounds of nature and wake up refreshed and ready for the day.

Today we highlight a very special journey with Katie Wolf, hunter and adventurer with Sporting Classics Daily Magazine. Since we believe in the power of real world feedback on our boots, we will let Katie tell her experiences in her own words.

“When I learned I was heading to Africa, I struggled trying to figure out what to wear to protect me from the blazing sun while keeping me cool in the extreme heat. But it wasn’t just the sun I had to worry about. Everything in Africa has either thorns, horns, or fangs.

…my Altai boots kept me standing tall.

Luckily, I came across a company that creates boots that are light on the feet but can stand up to what the outdoors may throw at you, Altai boots. I would quickly learn how unforgiving the land really is. Finding a patch of grass that wasn’t thick, sharp, and course was unlikely. At least once a day we would set out on a stalk up a steep hill covered in loose rocks that slipped out from under us, however, my Altai boots kept me standing tall.

These boots served both form and function getting me within range of the animals and looking good in the photos. At night, when I went back to camp, it took only a few seconds under the hose to clean off my boots preparing them for the next days adventures. Africa’s lands may not be forgiving, but Altai boots are.”

More details about Katie’s African adventures can be found on her Instagram page. [All photos credit: @katiewolfoutdoors Instagram]