Since I started riding motocross bikes, people have talked about Alpinestars resoling or reconditioning the boots they make. However, it was always just talk at the track. It seemed more like a myth or a rumor because I had never seen a set of Alpinestars repaired boots or thought to send a pair in for repair. I thought it might be something only for pro or sponsored riders. I would just replace my MX boots whenever something broke or got worn down.
Fast forward to today, as an Ultimate Motorcycling test rider, I have been wearing Alpinestars Tech 10 boots exclusively and putting some major wear and tear on them. This old memory of my friends talking about boot repair came back to me when I noticed my current pair of Alpinestars boots were looking a bit thrashed after many hours of track time.
My knowledge of the boot repair program was based solely on hearsay. I had to investigate this seemingly mythical Alpinestars boot repair program.
I contacted Alpinestars USA’s headquarters in Torrance, Calif., to inquire about sending in a pair of Tech 10s for repair and find out exactly what the boot repair program is all about.
The process was simple. We first did a photo analysis of the damages via email. As you can see, the right boot’s inner heat shield was punctured and worn down to almost nothing. I had no idea if it was possible to repair that sort of wear, so I let the experts at Alpinestars tell me yes or no.
In most cases, the boots can be reconditioned. However, there are rare cases where the boots are too severely damaged, and a repair could be a safety issue. The photo analysis helps eliminate unnecessary shipping costs to the customer.
Alpinestars examined my photos and told me to send in my Tech 10s for repair. The work was completed in a few days, and the boots were shipped back to me.
The craftsmanship on the repairs was better than new. Alpinestars completely replaced the inner heatshield with new material. According to Alpinestars, the new inner heat shield was replaced with the same rubber compound and pattern as the pros.
I couldn’t wait to test them out. The new inner heat shield felt like a softer rubber compound. In theory, that would mean more grip on the bike. In reality, after putting some laps in on the reconstituted Tech 10 boots, I can say confidently that I did notice a difference in grip on the bike.
Intrigued, I dug in deeper to find out more about the process. So, I sat down with the in-house artisans at Alpinestars for an interview. I had about a million questions, but narrowed it down to a dozen or so.
UM: How long has Alpinestars been offering boot repair services?
A’stars: Alpinestars started offering boot maintenance and reconditioning services in the late 1990s from our US headquarters in Torrance, California
UM: What is the most common boot model sent in for repair?
A’stars: Reconditioning to MX boots is the most common, mostly because they’re ridden in the most challenging conditions on a regular basis. Of the MX boots, the Tech 10 is the most commonly serviced boot, but keep in mind it is also one of the most popular boots with top athletes and off-road riders all over the world. Tech 10 boots see more hours and miles of tough terrain than most off-road boots on the market.
UM: Aside from third-party vendors, I am not aware of any other boot brands that have a boot repair program. Why does Alpinestars offer this?
A’stars: Boot maintenance and reconditioning are part of the DNA of Alpinestars. When Sante Mazzarolo founded Alpinestars in 1963, he started out making hiking and ski boots. Soon after, he shifted his focus and energy to purpose-built motocross racing boots with the help of our very first development rider, Roger DeCoster.
The dedication and determination to build the best boots doesn’t stop the moment they leave the shop. When a boot comes back for service, it’s an opportunity to learn where we can improve. Because no two pairs of boots will have the same exact experience, no two repairs are identical, and we can see where our strengths are and what riders need to be faster and more confident on the bike.
UM: Can you describe the most common repairs performed on Tech 10s?
A’stars: The most common services are complete resoles and sole insert replacements. That’s due to the nature of sharp, high-grip pegs, and the fact that the sole comes into contact with rough terrain more often than any other part of the boot.
UM: Does Alpinestars offer boot repair for all Alpinestars boot models, street and off-road?
A’stars: Nearly every pair of Alpinestars footwear can be re-soled. What makes Alpinestars footwear special is the durability of our footwear, which allows customers to have the soles replaced multiple times before the whole boot needs to be replaced.
UM: Does Alpinestars offer repair services for products other than boots?
A’stars: In addition to our footwear service center, we also operate a Tech-Air service center in our Los Angeles headquarters. We provide complete Tech-Air airbag support for recharges, repacking, and inspection.
UM: Generally speaking, the public knows about sole replacement, but nothing more. Beyond the sole replacement, what types of repairs are possible? For example, do you repair the stitching, buckle system, or any part of the boot chassis?
A’stars: Almost every part on Alpinestars footwear products can be reconditioned or replaced. For instance, after years of use, a customer might want to refresh the buckle system on their Tech 10s, breathing new life into an old pair of boots. Restitching is also available and is usually done by hand by skilled craftspeople with an intricate and intimate understanding of the product.
UM: Can you break down the program for customers to understand how it works? For example, where do customers send the boots? How long does it take, and are the customers responsible for shipping fees?
A’stars: To start the service process, the customer would reach out to our service center either by phone [800-409-0903] or by email [customer.us1@alpinestars.com]. They will be connected with Alpinestars support, which can diagnose the problem, provide estimates on time and cost, and relay the instructions on how and where to ship the product. Customers will ship their product to us, and Alpinestars will cover the return shipping.
UM: What are the costs associated with the repairs? Is there a minimum fee or price structure based on the types of repairs?
A’stars: Prices vary depending on the severity of the work and the parts needed.
UM: Do you do any consultation or photo analysis before a customer sends the boots in for repair?
A’stars: We do appreciate the ability to see photos in advance to make a preliminary estimate before products are shipped to us. In some cases, there may be more damage than is repairable, or the reconditioning may be more than the customer is looking to spend on service and may want to replace instead.
Structural integrity is critical from a safety perspective, and in rare cases, we may not be able to ensure that the product is able to be safely worn again. To reduce our carbon footprint, we might be able to assess this without the expense and impact to the environment of shipping a non-repairable product to our service center.
UM: Who are the people that perform the repairs in the U.S. and Italy? Is there any sort of qualification to be an Alpinestars boot repair tech? Can you go into detail about the repair team’s unique qualifications or competitive advantages compared to third-party vendors?
A’stars: The Alpinestars service team is composed of in-house highly skilled craftspeople and support specialists. Our team has multiple decades of experience working with Alpinestars footwear, apparel, and, for the past 10 years, Tech-Air. We are constantly innovating to find the best practices to effectively service products and efficiently get them back into the hands of their owners.
UM: Is there anything you want to share with the public about the technology or craftsmanship that goes into Alpinestars boot repair?
A’stars: While Alpinestars specializes in protective apparel across multiple disciplines of motorsports and action sports, it has deep roots in footwear, starting with motocross racing boots. When the company was founded 60 years ago in 1963, one of its first specialties was motocross. Alpinestars founder Sante Mazzarolo saw what racers at the time were wearing, thought it was not fit for the needs of performance and protection of the sport, and approached Roger DeCoster to help develop a better, more innovative boot.
That enthusiasm for protection and performance on track results in faster riders, and it’s a formula we still use to this day. Alpinestars continues to work with the world’s top athletes, like Eli Tomac, Jett and Hunter Lawrence, and Ricky Brabec, among others, to research, develop, and consistently improve our products. The elite feedback we receive makes its way into the design of every single product bearing the Alpinestars name.
When we spend $700+ on riding gear, we want it to perform and last. With Alpinestars’ repair program, we get a chance to increase the longevity of the use of our product. Our reviews on the website talk about the performance of the brand.
Before you think about replacing your current Alpinestars boots, contact the company and see what they can do. You might find that a cost-effective repair will significantly extend the life of the boots. If you are considering a new pair of boots, Alpinestars’ repair program is an almost hidden value-added feature to your purchase.
