Repair

Should I get my climbing shoes repaired?

Sure! A professional resoler can restore your climbing shoes to their original form and peak performance.
The pros:
- The nature is grateful. Think of the production and recycling of shoes. Instead of throwing the climbing shoes away we just replace a piece of rubber.
- Your wallet says thank you. A new pair of climbing shoes will cost you around four times the price of the repairs.
- Your feet are happy as well. No breaking in! You can rely on your shoes and attack right away!

When is the best time to bring my climbing shoes to the resoler?

A good sign that the climbing shoes need a new sole is the moment when we start to loose confidence in our footwork. As a rule it happens when there is about 1mm of the sole rubber left. Please consider bringing your shoes to the resoler at the latest when you notice that the sole rubber is completely worn out and the rubber of the toe rand is used on the footholds. Soon you will make a hole in it.

What if the toe rand is worn out?

When the sole rubber is worn out we start to use the toe rand, and when the toe rand is broken down, the leather layer of the shoes will be damaged. If there is a small hole in the leather layer of your shoe, it can still be repaired. We will carefully remove a part of the rand, bring the material together, glue on a toe patch and smooth out the seam. Of course, it is better to avoid it. You will save money, we will save time, and there will be more happy climbers in the world.

How many times can you repair my climbing shoes?

It depends on how used the shoes are. Sometimes the seams connecting the leather of the shoes break, or the leather itself gets worn down from the inside, and the shoes will have holes that are really difficult to repair. In this case no mortal man will bring the shoes to their original form and performance. If you feel like your shoes are made of straw, you should let go.

Can you recycle my old climbing shoes?

Footwear recycling is a complicated process. The climbing shoes have to be broken down into several components. We cannot do it ourselves but we are working on it. We will let you know, when we find the right recycling company for it.

Care

How do I take care of my climbing shoes?

Protect your shoes from the elements. Our main enemies here are moisture and high temperatures. Roughly speaking, do not dry your wet climbing shoes on the heating radiator! Climbing outside, avoid leaving them in the sun for a long time. If your climbing shoes get wet, stuff them with paper and leave in a cool dry place. Make it a rule to give your climbing shoes some air after each training session. It will help to keep them in shape and stop the growth of bacteria. Spray some antibacterial agent or odor neutralizer from time to time, buy a shoe deodorizer bag or make one yourself by filling a sock with baking soda. Especially if your climbing shoes are made from synthetic materials — bacteria just love them.

Can climbing technique help save rubber?

Invest in your footwork! Remember that the best part of the climbing shoe to stand on is the sole around its sharp tip, where we have our big toe. This allows for the greatest range of motion and most contact, so you will less likely slip sliding with the other parts of your shoe along the wall. Try to control the foot placement instead of hitting the wall with the foot and making gravity do the job. Train bringing your foot swiftly to the wall, making a small pause right before contact to correct its position. Best practice is to pivot your foot so as to start the movement with your toe raised and lift the heel upon contact, «biting» into the foothold. Otherwise you will sometimes just end up standing on the wall with your toe rand like a ballerina.

Can I make any minor repairs myself?

If the rubber on the sole of your climbing shoes starts to peel off, which may happen even to new climbing shoes, put them aside. This is a weak spot, where the sole will wear out more quickly. It is surely frustrating, especially in the first weeks after the repair, and unfortunately, it is not that rare. The resolers usually consider it a guarantee case and fix the shoes free of charge. If you are on your climbing trip and there are no shoemakers around, glue the spot yourself. Even super glue or the rubber glue from a bicycle repair kit will do. As soon as you are back from the trip consider sending the shoes to the resoler.