Once the tread on high-performance men’s rock climbing shoes wears bald, it’s resole time for a grip reboot.
Continue reading on when to repair plus effective DIY tactics and professional resoling best practices.
Signs Your Soles Need Help
With heavy usage, rubber soles lose stickiness and shape. But at what point is resoling warranted? Consider:
- Slippage on previously trusted footholds – Losing stick makes basic moves suddenly dicey
- Throughsole holes/tears – Protective separations indicate advanced degradation
- Pronounced heel/toe sloping – Abrasion erodes structure altering secure fit
- Midsole flexibility or creasing – Compromised stability stresses feet and limits power transfer
Generally after 6-12 months of frequent climbing, surfaces show signs of wear necessitating reinforcement.
Weigh the Worth of DIY Resoling
Before attempting homemade remedies, determine if DIY makes sense based on shoe construction. Consider:
Type
- Crack climbing/mountaineering boots – Difficult resoling
- Neutral/moderate downturn – Possible to resole
- Aggressive/high performance – Challenging DIY
Current State
- Minimal wear – Wait before resole
- Major holes or seam rips – Risky DIY project
- Localized tread thinning – Prime for DIY
For high mileage neutral shoes with patchy lugs or edges, DIY extends useful life at low cost.
DIY Resoling Instructions
With suitable stable shoes, rub on a fresh sole layer using:
Key tips:
- Thoroughly roughen old treads first
- Apply thin even coats to prevent globs
- Let dry fully between additional layers
- Sand down any ridges bumps when finished
Voila! Though not as durable as pro resoles, extra miles without excess expense.
Benefits of Professional Resoling Services
For highly technical shoes or thorough revitalization, professional resoling optimizes performance including:
Full sole replacement – Smooth bald spots by fully replacing base layers
Added durability – Industrial rubber materials thickly applied by specialists last longer
Customization – Modify shape, stiffen midsole, add sensitivity-boosting thin soles
Other repairs – Reinforce rand edges, patch tears, replace fastening straps
While pricier, factory-fresh traction and tailored fit restore top functioning.
What to Expect with Resoling Services
Sending treasured kicks off is unnerving but the process is smooth:
- Inspect shoes first for needed parts/modifications
- Provide background on age, frequency/type of use
- Drop off shoes at shop or mail in with order form
- Crafters strip original sole and prep shoe base
- Apply and mold specialized rubber sole layers
- Add any custom reinforcements
- Confirm work meets expectations
- Break in new tread with care
Within 2-4 weeks, favorite companions return adventure-ready!
Maximizing Resoled Shoe Longevity
Whether DIY or pro fixes, protect your investment with:
- Allow resoles to fully cure before first wears
- Spot clean dirty upper fabric, don’t soak entire shoe
- Remove debris in outsoles regularly post-hike
- Use shoe trees between wears to hold shape
- Give adhesive ample time to set on delaminating areas
With some attentive care, boots bounce back better than new!
Key Takeaways
Rather than retiring climbing shoes at first sight of tread wear, consider resoling first to grant uninterrupted grip at a fraction of replacement cost.
Just ensure proper construction for DIY and enlist a master craftsman for intricate jobs. With fresh traction underfoot, many more mountain memories await!
