Climbing shoe resoling by mail
Climbing shoes are among the easiest footwear to resole, and among the most often thrown away too early. Specialist resolers work almost entirely by mail. Here's how to get the most resoles out of a pair.
Timing is everything: resole before the rand goes
The rand is the thin rubber band that wraps the toe and sides above the sole. As long as it's intact, a resole is a straightforward half sole: the old rubber at the front is ground off and a new piece is bonded on. Once you wear through the rand, the resoler also has to repair or replace it, which adds cost. If you go further and wear into the upper, the shoe may not be resoleable at all. The Rubber Room puts it plainly: for the best return on your money, send shoes in before you wear through the rand.
Signs it's time:
- The sole rubber at the big toe is thin, flat or starting to shine through.
- There are soft or thin spots, wrinkles or splits in the rand at the toe.
- Edges have rounded off and the shoe "rolls" on small holds.
The main jobs and what they cost
These are prices the shops publish themselves. They were current on the date we checked them, so confirm before you ship.
| Job | What it is | Published prices |
|---|---|---|
| Half sole | New front-half sole rubber | Type 2 Repairs $55/pair; Rubber Room $60/pair |
| Pad / full sole | Replaces the full sole or the factory pad | Rubber Room pad soles $65/pair; Type 2 full sole $70 |
| Rand / toe cap repair | Rebuilding worn rand rubber at the toe | Rubber Room $12/shoe; Type 2 $15/shoe |
| Return shipping | Rubber Room: USPS Priority $9 (+$3 per extra pair) |
Most resolers let you choose the sole rubber. For example, Type 2 lists options from Vibram, Unparallel, Davos and Butora. If you don't know which to pick, ask for the shop's recommendation for your climbing style. Stiff edging rubber and soft smearing or indoor rubber behave quite differently.
How the mail-in process usually works
- Order or fill in the form. Some shops take orders online. Return to Sender's form generates a priority shipping label. Others want a printed form in the box (Rubber Room) or just a note with your name, contact details and rubber choice (Type 2).
- Pack it the way the shop asks. Clean, dry shoes. Rock & Resole recommends a Tyvek envelope, and asks you to avoid plastic bags and shoeboxes. The Rubber Room says no packing peanuts.
- Get an invoice and pay. Usually by email once the work is assessed or done.
- Wait. Posted turnaround on the dates we checked: about 2–4 weeks at San Juan Resole, 3 weeks at Return to Sender, and about 5 weeks for climbing shoes at Rock & Resole. These change with the season, and spring is usually busiest.
Tips to get more resoles per pair
- Send shoes in early. A half sole costs less than a half sole plus rand work.
- Send a few pairs at once. Several shops charge less per extra pair for return shipping.
- Footwork matters. Dragging your toes up the wall wears through rands fast.
- Let shoes dry out of the bag. That's also why shops warn against shipping them in plastic.
Other outdoor footwear
Several climbing resolers also resole approach shoes, trail runners and sandals (Rock & Resole, San Juan Resole, Return to Sender). For hiking and mountaineering boots, see shops like Daub's and The Cobbler. You can also filter the directory by "Climbing shoe resole".