The A Forme Fitting Development

During 2006 I decided to develop a new boot last for a foot shape that had different characteristics to most commonly occurring foot shape covered by our existing 5 width fitting boot lasts.

I’d began calling the different foot shape ‘the asymmetric foot’, and I started to make a boot last with an asymmetric running shoe toe shape. This was how the development of the AForme last began. – The Altberg Senior Bootmaker

Lasting a boot on the AForme Last

Preparing to fit the sole to the AForme boot

The development of the AForme last took place over a number of years, during which time I drew inspiration from a small number of classic boots, lasts and drawings that form part of a collection have gathered over many years.

In addition to the ‘hands on’ instructions from the master bootmaker who taught me, I also have many old technical books mostly pre 1950’s, these are my bootmaking bibles when it comes to the calculations of all the 3 dimensional angles that go to make up a boot last.

The AForme is a fusion of the modern running shoe combined with classic models from the past, formulae from old technical manuals and observations of feet as we see them today. – The Altberg Senior Bootmaker

running shoe shape

Steve Prefontaines running shoe: with an extreme asymmetric toe shape – set a new American 3 mile record in 1969

Picture of Steve Prefontaines shoe © National Geographic

narrow waist

Hawkins WWII Aircrew Boot Last – note the classic sculpted line of the narrow waist

increased toe spring

The Classic Shepherds Hill Boot – note the extreme toe lift

narrower curved heel

The Avalon 1966 Shoe Last, a beautifully shaped heel with classic bell curves and radii

first prototype of the Altberg aforme last - 1996

Note the almost banana shaped forefoot – it proved to be too extreme