MORE THAN A RESOLE
...its not just about replacing rubber
WHY OUR CLIMBING SHOE RESTORATION IS DIFFERENT
When you hear the word resole, it's easy to think:
“The rubber is worn out. Put new rubber on it.”
But a climbing shoe is much more than its outsole.
It is a carefully shaped, tensioned piece of equipment in which the last, rand, midsole, sole geometry and rubber all work together.
That's why there can be a significant difference between simply replacing worn rubber and restoring the climbing shoe.
At Sticky Rubber Resoles, restoration is what we specialise in.
THE SHOE IS A SYSTEM
A climbing shoe is built around a specific shape and construction.
LAST → MIDSOLE → RAND → SOLE → RUBBER
Each part contributes to how the finished shoe feels and performs.
THE LAST
The last determines the three-dimensional shape of the shoe.
We use climbing-shoe 'lasts' matched to the original shape of the shoe to help restore its intended geometry.
THE MIDSOLE
The midsole contributes to stiffness, tension and sensitivity.
It is part of the shoe's original construction and needs to be preserved or restored where possible.
THE RAND
The rand contributes to the shoe's structure, tension and protection.
THE SOLE
The sole's thickness, curvature, shape and placement affect edging, smearing, sensitivity and contact with the wall.
THE RUBBER
Different climbing rubbers have different characteristics, affecting friction, sensitivity, edging and durability.
These elements work together.
That's why the quality of the restoration matters —not just the quality of the rubber.
WHAT WE DO DIFFERENTLY
WE USE CLIMBING SHOE LASTS
We use specialist lasts matched to the original shape of the shoe to help restore its intended geometry sourced from SCARPA, La Sportiva and others.
The shoe is rebuilt around its shape—not simply fitted with rubber.
WE PRESERVE THE UNDERLYING CONSTRUCTION
Our removal and restoration process is designed to preserve the integrity of the shoe's underlying construction.
We don't want to remove or damage material that still needs to be part of the finished shoe.
WE USE FACTORY COMPONENTS
For supported La Sportiva and SCARPA models, we use genuine factory-supplied sole components.
Where the original shoe uses a particular sole construction, using the appropriate component helps us restore the shoe as it was designed.
WE ASSESS THE WHOLE SHOE
Before rebuilding the shoe, we look at the sole, rand, midsole and other structural areas.
Where appropriate, we address problems such as delamination, frayed straps and worn components as part of the restoration.
WE FINISH THE WHOLE SHOE
A Sticky Rubber restoration isn't finished when the new sole is attached.
We clean the shoe, restore sticky heel rubber and attend to other appropriate remedial work required to return the shoe properly.
The aim is a restored climbing shoe— not simply a shoe with new rubber.
WHY DOES THE WAY A SHOE IS RESOLED MATTER?
There are different ways of approaching a climbing-shoe resole. A straightforward approach can focus primarily on removing the worn portion of the sole by typically grinding off the old sole and attaching replacement rubber.
That can produce a usable climbing shoe. But for a high-performance climbing shoe, usable and restored are not necessarily the same thing.
The shoe's original geometry, construction and relationship between its components all contribute to how it performs for you.
Our approach is to preserve those characteristics wherever possible and restore them where they have been lost. We do not grind off the old sole. We use different techniques to remove the old sole so as to preserve the interior rand and mid-sole and other components.
That's what makes a Sticky Rubber restoration different.
WHY WE ACCEPT ALL SHOES THAT HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY RESOLED BY AUTHORISED LA SPORTIVA AND OFFICIAL SCARPA RESOLERS
This is an important part of maintaining our restoration standard.
As we cannot know how a previously resoled shoe has been reconstructed or what adhesives have been used, we generally do not accept shoes that have previously been resoled elsewhere.
Different resole processes can use different adhesives and methods of attaching new sole rubber. Some adhesives can make the original sole difficult to remove when resoling without affecting the rand, midsole or other underlying components.
We would rather decline a shoe than risk compromising the restoration we are able to provide.
WHAT ELSE IS INCLUDED IN THE RESOLE?
A Sticky Rubber resole is not simply a charge for a piece of replacement rubber.
Where required and appropriate, our standard restoration can also include:
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Cleaning dirt and chalk from suede and rubber
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Gluing down delaminated rubber
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Midsole replacement where required
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Restoring sticky heel rubber
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Minor scum pad repairs where appropriate
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Toe rand replacements (extra cost)
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Resizing where applicable
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Fixing frayed threads and unstitched leather
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Rubber-compound changes where selected
We take care of the details because they're part of restoring the shoe- This is all included in the resole price.
DOES A STICKY RUBBER RESOLE COST MORE?
The job we are pricing is more than a rubber replacement...
You are not simply buying new rubber. You are restoring precision climbing equipment helping you perform at your best.
Our price reflects the time, knowledge, equipment, materials and care involved in restoring the shoe to the Sticky Rubber standard.
You're paying for:
・Specialist climbing-shoe knowledge
・Appropriate climbing-shoe lasts
・Careful removal and restoration
・Assessment of the shoe's underlying construction
・Factory components where available
・Whole-shoe remedial work
・Attention to the finished geometry and performance
If all you want is new rubber, there are less expensive options.
If you want to restore a climbing shoe you already know fits and climbs well, the objective is different.
We are a one-stop shop. You can have peace of mind that all your shoe needs are covered.
YOUR SHOE・YOUR FIT・YOUR PERFORMANCE
You've already found a climbing shoe that works for you.
You know how it fits.
You know how it feels.
You know how it performs.
A good resole gives you the opportunity to keep that shoe rather than replace it and start again and go through the wearing in process.
And because the shoe is already broken in to your foot, many climbers tell us their resoled shoes feel as good as—or even better than —when they were new.
Why replace a shoe you already know climbs well?
You are not simply buying new rubber- You are restoring precision climbing equipment helping you perform at your best.
