M66

Production of the M/66 began during a period of expansion for ALFA, coinciding with the company's recognition for innovative footwear design. The experience gained from manufacturing march boots for the Armed Forces became valuable for the company's broader product development, as military specifications required footwear to withstand harsh conditions and intensive use.

The M/66 march boot entered production in 1967, during an era of significant growth for ALFA. Jacob Ihlen had been hired as CEO in 1957, marking the start of two decades of increased activity and product range expansion for the Norwegian manufacturer. This period saw the company receive the Norwegian Design Council's award for good industrial design in 1965 for the ski boot model 2001, demonstrating the company's focus on functional design innovation.

The military contract became very important for ALFA because it represented a user group with particularly demanding requirements. The Armed Forces needed footwear that could withstand extended marches, varied terrain, and challenging weather conditions typical of Norwegian military operations. The engineering and manufacturing expertise developed through producing the M/66 proved useful in the production of other types of boots in the company's catalog.

The M/66 was eventually succeeded by the M/77 march boot, which ALFA developed in close cooperation with the Norwegian Ministry of Defense in 1976. The Norwegian Armed Forces adopted the M/77 in 1977 as their standard military boot. The M/77 was designed to be lightweight, durable, and require minimal maintenance while withstanding water immersion for at least 30 minutes and tolerating rapid drying. The M/77 revolutionized military boots with these performance characteristics and remains in use by conscripts in the Armed Forces.

ALFA supplied march boots to the Norwegian Armed Forces for many years following the introduction of the M/77, continuing this relationship until 2010. In 2022, the Norwegian Armed Forces again selected the company as the main supplier, signing a four-year agreement valued at 154 million Norwegian kroner, marking a significant return to military footwear production for the manufacturer.