FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Answers you’re looking for:
HOW LONG DOES YOUR RESOLE SERVICE TAKE?
Resoles should be completed generally within 3-5 weeks** from when we receive them. Sometimes much faster. This varies depending on the amount and type of workload we receive. We will forward you bank transfer details when your shoes have been received and have been assessed and will proceed from there.
**Please keep an eye on our Home page for up to date information regarding current turnaround time.
Replacing only the soles will take much less time than if the toe rand rubber also need to be replaced.
Please see "When To Resole" page for further information.
We suggest having extra pairs of climbing shoes while you are waiting for a pair to be resoled.
A NOTE OF PATIENCE:
We appreciate you sending your shoes to us and we do the best we can to return them to you in a timely manner.
Note that your resoles are handcrafted, this is a process that takes time. Our resoling service is not industrial.
We won't rush through the work on your shoes. As an Officially Authorized La Sportiva resoler, we don't compromise on our standards.
Please be aware that from time to time we will be swamped and to please be patient during this time as we only have four hands. Please know we are trying to return your shoes to you as soon as we can.
Thank you for your understanding.
N&G
HOW DO I GET A QUOTE?
Please see the "Resole Prices" page to get an estimate of your resole price.
See the "When to Resole" page for more information and the Postage FAQ below.
See the FAQ note on this page to self assess your own toe rands.
You can send us photos if you still have queries.
We can only fully assess your shoes after we receive them.
We cannot fully assess your shoes until we receive them. We advise that you see the When to Resole page to self assess your shoes before you send them.
Please see further notes below about rand replacements.
HOW CAN I GET A CHEAPER AND QUICKER RESOLE?
We encourage you to resole earlier rather than later.
Resole your shoes before any toe rand damage. Shoes with needing toe rand replacements will cost more and take longer to repair and return to you
(see "When to Resole" page). Only climbing on the sole and avoiding climbing on the toe rands, will improve the quality of future resoles for that pair of shoes.
Drop Off your shoes (see "Drop Off Your Shoes" page) at one of our collection stores next time you shop to lower postage charges. Postage cost varies among stores from $7 to $10 each way. You pick up from the same location.
But bottom line is resole much earlier than when it becomes obvious...see the later note on toe rands, self assessment.
CAN I REPLACE A TOE RAND WITHOUT REPLACING THE SOLE?
No. The sole can be replaced without replacing a rand but the rand cannot be replaced without also replacing the sole.
The rand wraps around a climbing shoe and the sole covers the lower part of the rand. To remove a rand, the sole must be removed first to uncover the rand. Only then can the rand be replaced. Next and finally a fresh sole goes on to complete the resole.
Additionally, if the rand needs to be replaced it is extremely unlikely that the sole hasn't been worn down enough requiring a fresh resole. Resoling earlier rather than later will make further resoles possible before it is too late.
See the "When to Resole" page for some pictures of rands to get a better idea.
DO I NEED MY TOE RANDS REPLACED? SELF ASSESSMENT.
What is a toe rand?
Please refer to our "When to Resole Page" to see a short 2 minute video.
For examples of our repaired toe rands please see our "Before and After Pics" page.
Toe rand rubber needs to be replaced if:
1. There is the smallest hole in the toe rand rubber.
2. If the rubber has not broken through yet but is too thin in the in the toe box area of your shoes.
New rand rubber is 1.5mm - 2mm thick. Worn rand rubber needs to be at least 1mm thick to take a resole.
To self assess:
Firstly look for areas of abrasions or holes.
Feel for inconsistency in rubber thickness. Feel for soft spots indicating worn, thin, rubber.
Feel for usually horizontal indents or creases around the toe box area.
If these are present, then the rand rubber may be too thin to take a fresh resole.
Feel and push around the big toe area to gauge the thickness of the rand. If it feels less than 1mm thick it likely needs to be replaced.
FYI - If you have climbed on a pair of climbing shoes for 6 months and say only 30-40% of the thickness of toe rand rubber remains, it is likely the thin rands will not outlast the brand new sole rubber underneath from a resole in the next few months.
We will assess your shoes after we receive them and let you know then what repairs are absolutely necessary. This ensures the rand rubber lasts longer than the freshly resole sole rubber and allows you to climb longer.
We cannot resole shoes that have rands worn too thin as it may rip, puncture or tear during the resoling process.
We use rand rubber that matches closely the original rand rubber for most models as well as lasts that match the exact shape of your climbing shoes. This ensures a near return to factory specifications (see photo above and Resoled Shoe Gallery page).
See the When to Resole page for more details..
DO YOU REPAIR OR RESOLE APPROACH SHOES?
We specialise in resoling rock climbing shoes not approach shoes or mountain boots. However, please text message us in 0450 490 197 as we do have good recommendations for those who do do it well. We will let you know by text.
I POSTED IN OR DROPPED OFF MY SHOES, CAN I CHECK YOU RECEIVED THEM?
All climbing shoes we have received we have meticulously logged and tracked. Please allow 3-6 weeks from when we received them before checking in with us to track them. We prefer a text to 0450 490 197.
HOW MUCH IS POSTAGE?
To return your shoes to you directly costs:
- small satchel is $12 for 1 pair
- medium satchel is $15 for 1-2 pairs,
- large satchel is $19 for 2 pairs,
- extra large satchel is $22 for 3 pairs or more pairs of shoes.
Postage for store drop off and pick up varies between stores from $7 each way or $10 each way. See "Drop Off Your Shoes" page (bottom of page) for further details for each store and postage to and from that store.
WHICH PAYMENT METHODS DO YOU ACCEPT?
We will forward you bank transfer details when your shoes have been received and have been assessed.
WHY DO YOU ONLY ACCEPT SHOES THAT YOU HAVE PREVIOUSLY RESOLED?
Unfortunately we no longer resole shoes that have been resoled before unless we have resoled them.
This is due to the different cobbling techniques we have worked with in Europe. We aim to bring untampered shoes back to the original factory standard.
If you've had your shoes resoled before by someone else, we recommend you send your shoes back to them.
For more information & explanation, click on the Blog link at the bottom of this page.
DO YOU ACCEPT SINGLE SHOES TO BE RESOLED?
No, we only accept pairs of shoes to be resoled. Soles of shoes and lasts are only provided in pairs so we only resole them in pairs.
WHAT ARE ORIGINAL SPARE PARTS?
These are the same rubber soles used and provided by the La Sportiva factory for brand new shoes, which will be used replace your used rubber soles with your resole (for La Sportiva models only).
See the La Sportiva Authorised Resoler page for more information and resoled examples including a video and a link to an article by Mountain Equipment.
HOW MANY TIMES CAN ROCK CLIMBING SHOES BE RESOLED?
Climbing shoes resoled by Sticky Rubber Resoles can be restored back to factory settings a few times. Let's say 2 times for a return to factory performance by giving them a fresh rubber sole depending on the wear. Likely more times for shoes resoled earlier rather than later, see below. Also see the "When to Resole" page and video.
Resoling your shoes before there is any damage to the rand of your shoes will considerably extend their life.
Damage to the upper suede/leather/fabric will greatly limit the number of times climbing shoes can be resoled back to high performance levels. Also, the inner fabric will gradually degrade over time and this will be the absolute limit of how many times the shoes can be resoled with fresh rubber.
Bear in mind, more resoles and more climbing on the same pair of climbing shoes means greater wearing thin of rand rubber which only starts at 2mm or less depending on the model. This adds to the cost over time.
Shoe rubber also perishes over time adding to the expense required for repairs that may require complete rebuilding of the shoes.
See the "When to Resole" page and view the video and the "Shoe Care Tips" page for more information.
RUBBER AND CLIMBING PERFORMANCE
See the following links for "Shoe Care Tips", "Rubber and Climbing Performance", "Rubber", "Customisation".
IN CASE OF RESOLE CANCELLATION, WHAT ARE ASSESSMENT, ADMINISTRATION, POSTAGE AND HANDLING COSTS?
Occasionally, after sending in their shoes which have been received by us, a customer may change their mind and cancel their order. In this case there is small postage & handling cost to cover our costs of the assessment, logging, tagging, correspondence, handling and return postage.
$35 per pair to cover, postage and handling & administration from stores to us back to stores OR to cover postage and handling to return back directly to a postal address when sent in by post.
We advise all customers to review the Resoles Prices page, When To Resole page and this FAQ's page thoroughly before sending in or dropping off their shoes with us.
LA SPORTIVA NO EDGE RESOLING?
Why use La Sportiva No Edge shoes like the Genius, Futura, Mantra & Mandala?
Checkout why No Edge is popular around the world:
See the La Sportiva blog about no edge technology or watch the following You tube link by LaSportiva.
No edge shoes effectively protect the rand rubber with an extra layer of sole rubber which even extends over the top of the shoe. This sole extension means that once you go through the sole around the toe area, you notice quite easily that it is time to resole your shoes.
At this time the rand is still protected so no extra work is required by your La Sportiva authorised resoler to replace the rands. This is cheaper for you.
Bottom line, you likely don’t have to replace rands and the price of the resole is for just replacing the sole.
The price of a no edge resole is cheaper than all other climbing shoes.
Adam Ondra’s hardest on-sight was in a pair of Futuras. He also uses them in world cup events. The concept may be worth a test run. In the long run they could be the best value shoes you have ever had in terms of longevity ... and on-sights?
HOW DO I GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT STICKY RUBBER RESOLES?
Please follow us on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/stickyrubberresoles/
What it means to have an official resoler? (ARTICLE BY MOUNTAIN EQUIPMENT).
See our Editorial by Mountain Equipment.
See our Interview by Bogong Equipment.
Click the bottons below to find out how get your shoes to us.