Solaris folks ROCK.

Suzybelle

Okay - kira and Binney met with the CEO of Solaris not too long ago and they told her that several of us had been having issues with our Tribute nightsleeves.

I emailed her using the contact info. kira gave me, and the company fixed my sleeve, and it is now officially FABULISHIOUS.  It is sooooooooo great not having to wrap every night and I am sooooo happy.

Just thought I'd pass along what a great job this company did to fix my sleeve.

kira66715

Suzy, that is so great!!! I'm so jealous, and I haven't tried what she told me to do (put a swell spot on the dorsum of the hand and in the palm) but what the heck am I waiting for??

Great news, great company and customer service.

Kira

Sher

My Solaris Tribute fingertip to axilla remake is a HUGE improvement! 

After my displeasure with the hand part of my first Tribute, my therapist added additional measurements and tracings and we both spoke to Solaris reps about what was needed.   As requested, the thumb on my new Tribute is a separate, sewn in piece like the Caresia and Tribute gloves and the finger ends are curved and extend to the tips.  My little finger is a bit further inside the garment, probably because of the digit spacers.  I've tried it a couple nights and it is quite comfortable and seems to work great - I get the same types of white lines or tracks that I do when wrapping.  The only problem with the remake is that the thumb is too long for some reason and extends past the tip about 1/2 inch, which makes it feel a bit awkward and cumbersome.  Too funny, right when I'm wearing a full length arm oven mitt and worrying about the thumb being cumbersome!  I haven't spoken with Solaris about the thumb yet, but I'm thinking it may have something to do with the thumb seam location - which is more in the web than at the actual end of the thumb.  After wearing it for a couple of nights, I really hate the thoughts of giving it up for it to be altered even for a short time. 

My first Tribute I had made in black, partly because I couldn't make up my mind what other color I'd prefer........I do have trouble making decisions!  The inside fabric of the black Tribute seemed scratchy and thin, almost like I could feel the foam directly on my arm.  When I mentioned that it felt different inside than the Tribute glove (also black), Solaris agreed since they had to completely recut it anyway, to make it in teal instead.  It's great and I do agree with you Suzy, that Solaris folks ROCK!

KS1

Sher -- two questions.

First, was this your first alteration for your Solaris? I know they allow one free alteration. I've already had mine altered once, and it certainly helped (I don't get frank thumb blisters anymore). However, I still think there is room for improvement - my thumb and index finger look great when I take it off, but my pinky finger and ulnar side of my hand and wrist are slightly bigger than when I put it on at night. I just bought (for about $100) a new outer jacket and a palmar swell spot on the hopes that they will improve things, but I suspect that the solaris itself needs to be altered.

Second, what you describe seems different than any of the options that Solaris talks about on their website. How did you get them to do it, and how much more did it cost than the standard fingertip to axilla with spacers?

I haven't gotten my insurance to pay for night garments and they are so $%#& expensive. It's hard to plunk down more money for a new one unless it is a lot better than my current one.

A question for all Tribute-wearers - has anyone gotten Solaris to make a second alteration?    If so, how much did they charge for the second alteration? KS1

Sher

Hi KS1

I honestly don't know if this is to be considered my first alteration.  The first Tribute was so wrong, I hated the way it was made.   I have a Caresia glove that I love and had tried on a Tribute glove that my Therapist has as a sample.  Any photos I saw of the fingertip to axilla Tribute never clearly showed the hand, so it was a great shock when I opened the package and discovered how it was made!  I spoke with Emily at Solaris about the hand/finger differences thinking possibly to have it remade as a 2 piece just so I could have the hand made same as the gloves.  She mentioned they had a pattern for a sewn in thumb, but that she'd have to get an okay to use it.  So mine had to be a full remake, not really an alteration.  

From what I understand, Solaris is agreeable to making the garments however we want them........problem is they don't clearly define or describe any specifications from the normal that would be possible.  The sewn in thumb is one example, the length and shape of fingers another.  For the remake, my Therapist included tracings, length measurements, notations and specifications on the order form as to how the hand/fingers should be made and I must say, Solaris did a great job with the exception of the thumb length. And that's not terrible - it works fine, just a little too long.

From what Kira and Binney learned recently, I believe Solaris does indeed want to make garments that are comfortable and work great, exactly like we hope them to be.  I'd give them a call and express your dispeasure with your garment and see what could be done.

I too had to pay out of pocket for mine which is a whole 'nother story with my insurance saying garments are covered, but not being able to find a dealer who will actually process this.  Plus, I'm fully confident in the way my Therapist measures, so didn't want anyone else to do it.  

Good Luck!