To potential customers of Charles Van Gorkum Custom made hiking boots Summary of my experience with custom made boots by Charles Van Gorkum Arround the middle of October of this year I started looking for custom made hiking boots and sent the following email to several websites of custom boot makers including the Limmer Boot company and Charles Van Gorkum:
[I am a 54 year old and an avid hiker with a with a pair of very different size feet.
I had a ham string injury when I was nine and my foot on the injured leg is very wide and my little toe is permanently in a raised position.
I have always tried to not let my past injury slow me down and I have always bought shoes that were a compromise between my feet. I recently needed a pair of steel toe safety boots and a went to Redwing and bought my 1st mismatched pair, they are the first pair of shoes that I've had that fit both feet, since I was nine years old. My left foot is a normal 11 1/2 D and my right is 8 1/2 EEEE (H).
I currently have three pairs of heavy hikers which I change off wearing when my feet bother me. My favorite pair is a Vasque Sundowner size 11 extra wide, but after getting the steel toes that fit from Redwing, I know that a pair of hiking boots that fit are the only thing that I want for Christmas. Do you mismatch pairs or make them to order to fit people like me?
I routinely do 16-17 miles per day when hiking and have done some light mountaineering (was on the summit of Rainier on my 50th birthday).
Please send me an ordering kit and information on your boots, including the estimated wait and price my address is:]
A few days later I received an ordering kit from Charles and a letter from the Limmer Company the emails were either undelivered or ignored by the other companies.
The Limmer company letter explained that they would sell me two pairs of different size boots from their ready made group and hold the odd shoes on consignment waiting for another buyer who needed one shoe of an odd size, or I could place an order for a custom made boot, but the pair of boots would not be made until Christmas 4 years from now.
The package from Mr Van Gorkum, included an ordering kit and a letter saying that no matter what shape my feet were he could make a pair of boots that would fit them, and the exact time table of when they would be done could be estimated after he received the order, but generally was 1 to 2 months.
I thought about it for a week or so and decided to place the order, mailing the forms and foot prints to Mr Van Gorkum about Nov. 1, 2003. On Nov 7, 2003 I received an email from him saying that there were three pairs to be made in front of mine and that the pair he would make for me should most probably be done before Christmas, and that he enjoyed the challenge of fitting difficult feet. By this time he had seen the foot imprints and knew that this wasn 12;t going to be an ordinary job.
About the 1st of December I received an email from him saying personal problems (the flu & car wreck) had prevented him from being able to ship them in the first week in December, like his original plan but he was starting to work on them and the would be done in about a week. I sent back the following email:
[Charles,
I have waited over forty years for a pair of shoes that fit my feet, a few more days won't make any difference at all. Please take all the time you need, I am sure that results will be worth it. I would rather have your best work than a rush job. I intend to have these boots as trusted companions for a long time, just knowing they are on the way is going to make Christmas.
You certainly have had a run of bad luck, but fortunately, it sounds like it is over. The unexpected severity of this year's flu is making the newspapers and the Internet reports 11 people have died from it so far in the US and it is still very early in the season.
I am planning a long weekend over New Years, in the Sam Houston National forest and if they are here by then it will be the first opportunity for me to try the boots out. However, again take all the time you need.]
On Dec 12, 2003; he sent the following:
| Hi, Rod, I just came in from the shop, it's time for supper and---------YOUR BOOTS ARE FINISHED! They are beautiful. The last thing I do is oil and wax them inside and out, which I have just finished. Now they need a couple of days to set and dry, so I'll be shipping on Monday by express post. Lately they have been arriving anywhere in the U.S. in 6--8 days, but this is Christmas with lots of conjestion at the border I assume, so it may take longer. They will be fully insured, and I will e-mail you the tracking number so you can follow their progress. Yes, they are all conditioned and water-proofed and ready to go-----but you must break them in, first, only your feet can do this. Merry Christmas, Charles Van Gorkom |
The boots arrived on Dec 23, 2003 and I sent the following:
The boots were on my door step when I got home from work on the 23. I won't open them until Christmas morning.
It's currently 41degrees F (5 degrees C) in the Houston area and the high for the day is predicted to rise to 61 degrees F (16 degrees C), which of course, is perfect weather for hiking. It is supposed to stay in a similar temperature range for the next week or so, I am looking forward to breaking in the new boots as soon as I can.
I will e-mail you periodically to let you know how the boots and consequently, my feet are doing. Thanks for the great service, and have a Merry Christmas.
On Dec 29,2003 I sent the following message:
Charles,
I know that you have 70 or 80 customers a year, so that you don't have the time to keep up with everyone that you have made boots for, but since my feet are so unusual, I thought you might like to keep track of my progress with the new boots.
In short Charles, you crafted them exactly right. I opted for the fast break in procedure, where you fill them with water and keep wearing them until they are dry. Except for sleeping, they have been on my feet since 2:00pm Christmas. You were right to advise me that the would feel tight because they did. I started with light weight socks and have worked up to normal hiking socks.
The insoles that you made for me, and the depression in the sole, seem to be working perfectly. The boots are breaking in nicely and are very comfortable to wear for long periods of time. They are of course still somewhat tight but I know that they will only get more comfortable from here.
I wore them to work this morning and will continue to wear them approximately 16 hrs a day for the next two days, before attempting some hiking on New Years Day.
The insoles have helped my feet even when the shoes aren't on. I have found that it is easier to walk without a limp on hard floors in my bare feet after wearing the shoes with the insert all day. The front edge of the ball of my right foot isn't as sensitive. I think it has been more or less permanently bruised, and is now being protected.
At any rate, I thought you would appreciate hearing how your skill has been able to help this old hiker.
I will update you periodically, and to help you remember which pair of boots I am talking about, I will include a reference line (X-mas 2003 and the sizes 11 1/2D left & 8 1/2 right).
Thanks again for the great boots, and Charles, thank you for the service you are providing to people like me.
Rod
On Jan 5, 2004 I sent the following:
Hello Charles,
I took the boots out on the Lone Star Trail this past holiday weekend and put 40 km of trail hiking on them. They worked beautifully, on Saturday I did 20 km in less than five hours.The terrain was rolling pine and hardwood forest, generally good trail with some wet and muddy spots.
My muscles are a little sore but, my feet don't hurt, this seems like a miracle.
You have one very satisfied customer. Charles, if you would like, I would be happy to serve as a reference for you. Just email me first, since I always delete messages from people that I don't know, no matter what the subject line says.
Thanks again
Rod
That about sums it up, great boots and great service, I will happily recommend Charles Van Gorkum as a custom boot maker to anyone who asks. I should have had them made for me years ago. If he can fit my feet I am confident he can fit yours.
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