Lost soles (on my hiking shoes)
April 3, 2022 5:10 PM Subscribe
The soles on my not-very-often-used hiking shoes have come apart. The rest of the shoes are in great condition. Can they be repaired? Is it even worth trying?
Both shoes have this problem. Photo: https://pasteboard.co/CYE3LCaCJ7U2.jpg
It just seems wrong to throw out shoes that are in such good shape otherwise. A past AskMeFi question asked about gluing soles, but I think it was for a smaller failure, not the massive separation these shoes are experiencing. Would a shoe repair shop be able to repair something like this? Will it compromise the flexibility and comfort of the shoe? Will the repair last?
Both shoes have this problem. Photo: https://pasteboard.co/CYE3LCaCJ7U2.jpg
It just seems wrong to throw out shoes that are in such good shape otherwise. A past AskMeFi question asked about gluing soles, but I think it was for a smaller failure, not the massive separation these shoes are experiencing. Would a shoe repair shop be able to repair something like this? Will it compromise the flexibility and comfort of the shoe? Will the repair last?
I take it back! at’s link to Asolo’s resoling service notes that they replace the entire midsole as well. There is hope for your boots yet!
posted by rockindata at 5:26 PM on April 3, 2022
posted by rockindata at 5:26 PM on April 3, 2022
Best answer: Yes definitely get a professional to resole/ replace the midsole etc - it's totally worth it. I have a pair of Scarpa hiking boots that have been resoled several times and the uppers are still in great shape after hundreds of kilometers in the mountains.
posted by lulu68 at 6:39 PM on April 3, 2022
posted by lulu68 at 6:39 PM on April 3, 2022
Best answer: A local hiking store should have lists of cobblers that will do that.
Squinting, that's a vibram brand soul on those boots, and vibram is somewhat designed to be replaceable.
posted by sebastienbailard at 6:53 PM on April 3, 2022
Squinting, that's a vibram brand soul on those boots, and vibram is somewhat designed to be replaceable.
posted by sebastienbailard at 6:53 PM on April 3, 2022
Start with a thick, high quality adhesive. Clean hell out of the inside first, then shoe goo or goop and duct tape to hold them tight for a couple of days. I have one pair of really, really comfortable very ratty slip-on suede shoes that are at least ten years past where your boots are just now, I use them as beaters, work on my truck or whatever else; think Saturday afternoon with Gordon Lightfoot playing, the Old Dans Records CD maybe. Obviously your boots are much higher quality than my beater shoes; I say fix them yourself or sub it out, whatever, but don't toss them.
posted by dancestoblue at 4:31 PM on April 4, 2022
posted by dancestoblue at 4:31 PM on April 4, 2022
Response by poster: I wanted to follow up about this. I looked into Asolo's service, mentioned by rockindata upthread, but it turns out it requires mailing the shoes to Asolo in Italy, which seemed like it might be kind of expensive and involve customs and who knows what.
Per suggestions of lulu68 and sebastienbailard, I asked at local shoe repair places, and found one that would do the replacement. They charged $120, which seemed expensive but still less than new shoes, so I said yes. They replaced the soles entirely (good) but … they used completely different-looking, much chunkier soles (not so good). They're new Vibram soles, so, okay, but the bottoms are much flatter, and I'm a bit worried the change in gait will be a problem when wearing them for long durations. On the other hand, they're so chunky that they added about an inch to my height, so yay for that.
The lesson I learned is, ask to see the soles the shop will use as replacements before agreeing to let a shop do a replacement. I assumed, naively, that they would find the same soles, or at least ask me about making a significant change like this before actually doing it. (I mean, that's what would I would do.)
So, in summary, replacements can be done, but be smarter about it than I was.
posted by StrawberryPie at 8:43 PM on July 9, 2022
Per suggestions of lulu68 and sebastienbailard, I asked at local shoe repair places, and found one that would do the replacement. They charged $120, which seemed expensive but still less than new shoes, so I said yes. They replaced the soles entirely (good) but … they used completely different-looking, much chunkier soles (not so good). They're new Vibram soles, so, okay, but the bottoms are much flatter, and I'm a bit worried the change in gait will be a problem when wearing them for long durations. On the other hand, they're so chunky that they added about an inch to my height, so yay for that.
The lesson I learned is, ask to see the soles the shop will use as replacements before agreeing to let a shop do a replacement. I assumed, naively, that they would find the same soles, or at least ask me about making a significant change like this before actually doing it. (I mean, that's what would I would do.)
So, in summary, replacements can be done, but be smarter about it than I was.
posted by StrawberryPie at 8:43 PM on July 9, 2022
Response by poster: Thinking about it some more, I think I remember that they did mention the soles wouldn't be the same. I think I just didn't imagine how different they could be. Anyway, the lesson stands: ask to see what they plan to use as replacement soles before committing to doing it.
posted by StrawberryPie at 3:33 PM on July 11, 2022
posted by StrawberryPie at 3:33 PM on July 11, 2022
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posted by rockindata at 5:21 PM on April 3, 2022