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CUSTOM BOOT FITTING

Altberg boot fitting
"We make boots and pull/mould them onto the last using steam and heat. Many years ago we realised that is was possible to alter the boots after they had been made by using the same process of heat and steam. We started to use this as an inexpensive way of customising a boot to a customer's specific foot - especially bunions, heel spurs and pushing in of the small toe.

"The custom fitting service enables the shape of a standard boot to be altered to accommodate minor boot fitting problems.

"Custom fitting has it's limitations especially in the toe box area of the boot - but it is very cost effective and perfectly adequate for many less extreme boot fitting problems.

"Custom fitting does not require a last or patterns to be made to a customers specific foot dimensions."

THE CUSTOM FITTING PROCESS
Altberg resole service
The foot is measured for length using a brannock gauge.		 Altberg resole service
The forefoot is measured around the joints (metatarsal heads).		 Altberg resole service
The boots with the nearest appropriate sizes are tried. Volume is checked excluding the pressure caused by bunions or foot joint shapes.		 Altberg resole service
The customer must now decide. Once altered the boots cannot be returned. If the customer wishes to continue then the boots will be steamed and reshaped where necessary.
Altberg resole service
The boots are marked where the alterations are to be made.		 Altberg resole service
The specific area to be reshaped is steamed to soften the leather ready for moulding.		 Altberg resole service
The forefoot of the boot is remoulded using a boot shaping machine.		 Altberg resole service
The forefoot is fine moulded by re steaming and using a shaped rubbing bar.
Altberg resole service
For heel spurs, the heel is steamed and then re moulded around the spur area using heel spur pliers.		 Altberg resole service
The instep areas of motorcycle boots can be altered using an instep moulding machine after steaming the boot instep.		 Altberg resole service
Boots are tried on in the shop and checked for fit on the sloping ramp.

PLEASE NOTE:
A 100% fit cannot be guaranteed. There will be an improvement in fit and custom fitting has worked satisfactorily for hundreds of customers.


CUSTOM BOOT MAKING

Altberg boot fitting
"During manufacture there are many things we can do to adapt a boot to improve the fitting but it must be borne in mind that - the boot is still made on one of our standard lasts - sometimes, by incorporating extra sponges, felts, soft leather panels or different reinforcements we can make significant changes to the fit and comfort of an upper by changing the type of sole we can significantly change the flex and walking gait of the boot.

Boots which are custom made are normally non refundable for fit or suitability - we will only do this type of work after seeing a customer in our factory shop and it is normal for the customer to return to the factory for fitting once the boots are ready.

"Custom fitting and custom making are both very cost effective and very well suited to many less extreme boot fitting problems. Custom fitting does not require a specific customer last or patterns to be made , so the whole system is based around our standard width fitting lasts."

"Customers should be realistic in their expectation of this service. An improvement is normally achieved however a 100% fit is not guaranteed and boots are non refundable for fit or suitability."
CUSTOM FITTING PRICE GUIDE 2009
Steaming, stretching and machine moulding the upper at the heel or the joint - for bunions, heel spurs etc.

Width fitting lasts -
X narrow to X wide

Boot altered at custom fitting for enlarged joint

X wide and X narrow Last shapes

X wide and X narrow Last shapes
£35.00
Steaming, stretching and moulding the upper ON A LAST which has been altered in the toe box area to change the shape of the front of the boot based on the customers' foot drawings.
*THIS IS NOT MADE TO MEASURE AND ONCE THE BOOT HAS BEEN ALTERED THE LAST WILL BE REMODIFIED FOR OTHER WORK.
£130.00
Steaming, stretching and moulding the upper on a STANDARD LAST TO CHANGE SIZE or width fitting on ONE foot (½ size or 1 width fitting)
£35.00
Steaming, stretching and moulding the upper on a standard last with a deeper toe box to give more room above the toes.
£45.00
*ON ALL OF THE ABOVE ... THE BOOT SHAPE AROUND THE FOOTBED, MIDSOLE AND THE SOLE DOES NOT CHANGE - THE CHANGE IS IN THE UPPERS ONLY
CUSTOMISING UPPERS IN PRODUCTION
Extra sponges in the tongue to take out volume above the instep - this is sometimes effective in reducing heel lift.
£20 - 40.00
Extra sponges in the heel to reduce the volume of the heel area and increase cushioning.
£20 - 40.00
Extra sponge over the 'D' ring area and extra felt across the forefoot - to allow easier 'bedding in' of the forefoot flex area and reduce volume to help limit heel lift.
£25.00
Manufacturing split sizes eg. Left Foot '7 Narrow' and Right foot '8 Wide' etc.
£40.00
*NOTE - WE CAN ALTER AN EXISTING BOOT BY ½ A SIZE OR ONE WIDTH FITTING. ANY MORE THAN THIS CAN ONLY BE DONE DURING MANUFACTURE.
MOTORCYCLE BOOTS - Hand cut boot leg for very wide or very narrow calves. Cost depends on boot style chosen.
£45-65
Hand cutting an upper to overcome a fitting problem - Walking boot collars, Achilles soft flex panels, special tongue modifications for wide ankles etc. Cost depends on work to be done.
£40-80
*NOTE HAND CUTTINGPATTERNS ARE KEPT AT THE FACTORY FOR FUTURE REFERENCE AND REPEAT ORDERS
CUSTOM FITTING - YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED
WHY SHOULD YOU CONSIDER CUSTOM FITTING?
It is relatively inexpensive compared with "made to measure" and it can be done on all makes of boots, not just Altberg boots.
HOW IS CUSTOM FITTING CARRIED OUT?
We use a standard boot and steam and enlarge a small area to make room for a bunion or a unusual joint shape. Customers with a ½ size difference in feet can have one boot steamed and stretched half a size or one width fitting, using the appropriate width fitting last.

Custom fitting can be used to increase the depth of the toe box - we steam and increase depth by using a special standard last.

These are just some exampleS - assessment is only really possible by seeing the customer at our factory shop.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE?
Small alterations can be done within 2 hours. For more extreme alterations it is necessary to keep the boot on the stretching machines or on the stretching last for between two and five days.

More than 50% of custom fitting is done successfully while the customer waits.
IS THE ALTERATION PERMANENT?
YES - We make our boots by steaming and pulling leather onto the last to the original boot shape - The method we use to steam and stretch is the same as we use to manufacture the boot in the first place.

However the boot will change shape naturally to the foot over a period of time.
CAN CUSTOM FITTING ONLY BE DONE ON ALTBERG BOOTS?
We can custom fit most makes of leather boots.
WHAT ARE THE LIMITATIONS OF CUSTOM FITTING?
  • We can't alter the shape of the toe box area - other than for toe depth. Altering toe shapes requires a hand altered last to be made.
  • We can't alter the shape of the boot close to the midsole/sole edge.
  • We can't shrink a boot to fit - we can only enlarge it.
  • We can't alter the fit by more than ½ a size or one width fitting.
  • We can't alter the boots flex or fit around the ankle or instep.
Custom fitting is used mainly for small to medium fitting problems in the joint area or for heel spurs.
MOTORCYCLE BOOTS - CUSTOM FITTING?
  • We can enlarge over the instep area to enable the boot to go on and off the foot more easily.
  • We can alter as described earlier in certain areas of the foot.
  • We offer a hand cut boot leg service for customers with very wide or very narrow calves.
DO I JUST TURN UP AT THE FACTORY?
IF YOU HAVE HAD FITTING PROBLEMS IN THE PAST AND THINK YOU MAY REQUIRE CUSTOM BOOT FITTING YOU SHOULD TELEPHONE AND MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO SEE A BOOT FITTER - 01748 850615 / 824717. DON'T JUST TURN UP, OUR SENIOR BOOTFITTERS ARE NOT ALWAYS AVAILABLE.

IF YOU THINK YOU ARE A NORMAL FITTING - IE. YOU CAN BE SUCCESSFULLY FITTED USING ONE OF OUR STANDARD 5 WIDTH FITTINGS - THEN JUST TURN UP AT THE FACTORY. The shop is open Monday - Saturday, 9.00am - 4.30pm
GOOD BOOT FITTING HAS FOUR ELEMENTS
THE BOOT SIZE  +  THE BOOT DESIGN  +  FOOTBEDS  +  SOCKS