SAVING YOUR SOLE | FAQs | Anatomy of a Rock Shoe
Saving Your Sole
The average climber goes through two pairs of rock shoes a year. More if you gym climb on a regular basis. You'll save a minimum of $70 if you just have one pair of shoes resoled rather than buy a new pair. If you climb a lot, four pairs of shoes a year is not excessive. If you send your shoes to us they will be able to take up to four resoles and you'll save over $300 a year by not buying new shoes - with no loss in performance or fit.
At the Rubber Room, our method of resoling returns your boots to that golden period when fit and friction are at their optimum. We don't reform them to their original factory shape but keep them how your foot likes them - but with the sole and rand totally restored and ready for action.
If you want the best return for your dollar you've got to send your shoes to us before the sole wears through to the rand. This will ensure that with a new sole your boot will perform well and that you can have several resoles per shoe. Remember, you are only climbing on your toe and that is where your shoes take the most wear. Your boots may look like new on the rear sole but if they've worn through at the toe and rand its like climbing on a pair of banana skins. Try to resole when the sole is 80% worn.
We can resurrect your shoe if you have worn through to the rand and if holes appear through to the midsole and uppers. You'll have to have the rand replaced or patched, as well as a new sole.
If you look after your rock shoes they'll last longer, you'll save money and you won't have to have them resoled as often. Here are some suggestions that will conserve the sole, rand, and general construction of your shoe:
Resurrection
- Keep them away from heat, especially the back of cars. This conserves the glue used to hold the sole and rand onto the uppers and midsole.
- Clean them before stepping onto rock. This increases friction and hence your chance of success and also decreases wear.
- Don't walk far in them.
- Take them off between routes or boulder problems and take approach shoes with on climbs with long descents.
- Store them in a dry and airy place.
- Check them regularly for wear. If the sole is nearly through to the rand (80% worn) send them to us.
