Self Assessment 

 

Climbing shoes are built for performance, but like any footwear, their soles gradually wear out with use. Getting them resoled regularly helps extend their life and brings back the grip, precision, and support you need to perform at your best.

Timing the resole correctly is important: doing it too early means wasted rubber, while leaving it too late can damage the rand, upper, or even affect the shoe’s overall shape. The guide below breaks wear into stages, to help you easily judge when your shoes need resoling and keep them performing at their best.

        Just Right:  Time to Resole. Sole only

 

 

 

At this point, the sole rubber will show light wear, often forming a subtle dip or “smiley face” shape, particularly around the toe area.

 

The rand should still be intact, with no holes or damage. This is the best time to resole before the shoe’s performance or comfort starts to drop.

 

What to Look For:

  • A mild “smiley face” dip or wear pattern in the sole rubber.
  • The rand remains solid, with no holes or noticeable damage.

              Slightly Past:  Rand Repair + Resole

 

At this point, the sole rubber shows more uneven wear, often forming a smiley face” pattern, especially along the edges.

The rand may also be worn through in areas, revealing the leather underneath.

A combination of rand repair and a resole is needed to avoid further or permanent damage.

If you don't know what the rand is go to the Rands page.

What to Look For:

  • Noticeable uneven wear or a “smiley face” pattern along the sole edges.
  • The rand is worn through in places, exposing the underlying leather.

            Too Late for Resole or Rand Repair

 

 

 

At this point, the sole- rand  and upper leather are all completely worn through, often leaving the climber’s toe exposed.

The shoe has lost its structural integrity and is no longer able to be   resoled. Stop climbing before you see this

What to Look For:

  • The sole, rand, and leather are fully worn through, with the toe area exposed.
  • The shoe feels collapsed, misshapen, and no longer provides support.

Other Repairs: Delamination & Webbing Issues

 

In addition to sole and rand work, there are other common repairs that may be required depending on the shoe condition.

Key Areas to Watch:

  • Rand Delamination: The rand can begin to lift or separate from the upper or midsole. This is fairly common in heavily used shoes. It can be repaired, but addressing it early helps prevent further deterioration.
  • Toe Patch Delamination: The rubber toe patch may also start to peel away, especially on shoes that see frequent toe hooking. Any sign of separation should be repaired promptly before it worsens.
  • Velcro Webbing Repairs: On Velcro closure systems, the stitching or webbing can wear out over time. If the Velcro loses hold or the fabric begins to tear, repair can help restore proper function

Key Focus:

  • If you notice delamination or fabric damage, it’s important to address these issues early. Minor repairs like these can be addressed alongside a resole or rand repair.

Minor issues such as lace puller damage, small areas of rand delamination, or toe patch lifting.

Velcro straps, webbing or stitching can usually be repaired without a full resole.

Does my toe rand rubber need to be replaced? 

 

 

For examples of repaired toe rands please go to the Before & After page.

 

The toe rand rubber needs to be replaced if...

 

  • There is the smallest hole in the toe rand rubber.
  • If the rubber has not broken through yet but is too thin in the in the toe box area of your shoes.

New rand rubber is 1.8mm - 2.5mm thick. Worn rand rubber needs to be at least 1mm thick to attach a new sole.

 

 To self assess...

 

  • Firstly clean the toe rand area so you can then look for holes and abrasions.
  • Feel and push around the big toe area. If it feels less than 1mm thick it needs the rands replaced.
  • Feel for inconsistency in rubber thickness around the toe box. If there are soft spots this will indicate the rubber, leather or stitching is worn, thin or broken down. If soft spots are present, then the rand rubber is too thin and will need to be replaced.
  • Feel for horizontal creases around the toe box area. If these are present, then the rand rubber will need to be removed to do a structural repair.

 

I cannot just put new soles on if the rands are too thin, as they may rip, puncture or tear during the resoling process.

 

If you definitely 'DON'T WANT THE RANDS REPLACED' please let me know as I will do them if I think it is necessary. (If you choose to not have the rand repaired and the rand on your shoes wears out soon after resoling, I take no responsibility, obviously!

 

 

Rockcobbler   -   PO Box 311 Takaka 7142 New Zealand

+642040328366  -  rockcobblernz@gmail.com  -  www.rockcobbler.co.nz.