When to Resole

 

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 Repair)

 

 

 

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.

 All Other Repairs

 

 

 

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.



 

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.

Keep your shoes performing

Don't let worn-out soles hold you back. Timely resoling not only saves you money but keeps your gear performing at its peak. If you are are still unsure whether your shoes can be resoled, please contact us.

 

 

 

Rockcobbler   -   PO Box 311 Takaka 7142 New Zealand

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