FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Answers you’re looking for:

HOW LONG DOES YOUR RESOLE SERVICE TAKE?

Resoles should be completed generally within 2-4 weeks** from when we receive them. Sometimes much faster.

**Please keep an eye on our Home page for up to date information regarding CURRENT turnaround time. Occassionally we will be inundated an the turnaround time will change.

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.

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/s 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, and Scarpa Official 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 AND DO NOT PROVIDE QUOTES.

We advise that you see the When to Resole page and to follow SELF ASSESSMENT GUIDELINES before you send your shoes to us.

Please see further notes below about rand replacements and self assessment.

See the Contact Us page if you have other questions.

HOW CAN I GET A CHEAPER AND QUICKER RESOLE?

We encourage you to resole earlier rather than later. When you lose your edge and it is rounded and thin, it time to start thinking about when to resole.

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 and the self assessment section). Only climbing on the sole and avoiding climbing on the toe rands, will improve the quality of future resoles for that pair of shoes, lengthening its life.

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. Dropping Off at a store is the cheapest way to save on postage costs if you happen to be near a store doing some shopping.

The bottom line is to resole much earlier before it becomes obvious... see the later note on toe rands and self assessment.

Or think about No Edge climbing shoes..see note at bottom of this page.

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 the fabric of a climbing shoe, then the sole is attached to the lower part of the rand.

To replace a rand, the sole must first be removed, uncovering the rand beneath. Only then can the rand be removed and a fresh sole replaced to complete the resole.

Note:

If the rand needs to be replaced, it is extremely unlikely that the sole hasn't been worn down enough to require 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 0.8-1mm thick to take a resole.

To self assess:

Firstly take a slightly damp rag or cloth and wipe or clean around the toe rand area, then 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 say o.8-1mm 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 without replacing rands first if the rands have 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 OR HIKING BOOTS?

We specialise in resoling rock climbing shoes. We also resole select resole-able La Sportiva Approach Shoes with original factory soles.

Please see the La Sportiva Authorised Resoler page (at the very bottom of the page) for more details.

Important note: The Online Form for Approach Shoes is different to the Rock Climbing Shoes Online Form.

I POSTED IN OR DROPPED OFF MY SHOES, CAN I CHECK YOU RECEIVED THEM?

All climbing shoes received have been meticulously logged and tracked. Please allow at least 2-3 weeks from when we received them before checking in with us. We always prefer a text +61 450 490 197 and we will get back to you when we have a moment out of our busy workshop. Please see the Contact Us page.

HOW MUCH IS POSTAGE?

BY POST :

If sending in your shoes by post, return postage is:

Aus Post Small bag - $15 to get a single pair back to you

Aus Post Large bag - $25 to get two pairs back to you

Aus Post XL bag - $30 to get 3-4 pairs back to you

If shoes are sent in with a self addressed pre-paid return postage bag, then you pay $5 per pair for handling & administration costs.

DROPPING OFF AT A STORE:

Postage to and from stores $7-$10 each way per pair. Stores will collect between $7- $10 per pair to send your shoes to us. We charge the same to get your shoes back to the store.

Scroll down to the bottom of the "Drop Off Your Shoes" page for further details about postage to and from each store.

WHICH PAYMENT METHODS DO YOU ACCEPT?

We will forward you bank transfer details by text when your shoes have been received and have been assessed.

IF I DROPPED MY SHOES OFF AT THE STORE, IS IT POSSIBLE FOR THEM TO BE SENT DIRECTLY BACK RATHER THAN RETURNING THEM TO THE STORE?

All shoes that arrive together in a bag from a store, get sent back to the store in bulk at the bulk postal rate.

Stores expect the same shoes to be retuned back in their system.

Additionally, posting shoes back separately delays other customers' shoes being returned to the store.

Next time, you're welcome to post them in to us directly and we will post them directly back to you.

See the Post In Your Shoes page.

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. Techniques used by other resolers are too dissimilar for us to resole those shoes cost effectively for you.

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 to read more.

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 and Scarpa 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. See also the Scarpa Official Resoler page.

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 wear and thinning 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 shoes which have been received and assessed by us, a customer may change their mind and cancel their order. In this case there is an amount of $25 to stores or direct post to cover the costs of return postage, handling, assessing, logging, tagging and correspondence.

If shoes are sent in with a return self addressed postage bag, then you just pay $10 per pair for handling & administration costs.

Shoes we receive from stores will be returned to stores.

We encourage all customers to thoroughly review the Resoles Prices page, When To Resole page and especially the Self Assessment Guidelines and this FAQ's page before sending in or dropping off their shoes.

Be mindful that shoes received, assessed and then cancelled do take up other customers' place in the queue and it slows the resoling process and slows the turnaround time for all climbers wishing to use this service.

IN CASE OF POSTAL ISSUES

We take full responsibility for your shoes from the moment they arrive at the workshop until they leave.

If for some reason they go missing before we receive them or after we have sent them back ( i.e. lost in the post ), then the responsibility lies with the customer and the postal service. We will do the best we can to help. But if your shoes go missing, we cannot reimburse you or give refunds for completed work.

Be assured that in our history of thousands of pairs of shoes sent by post, none have ever gone missing.

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.

Adam Ondra’s hardest on-sight was in a pair of Futuras. He also uses them in world cup events. Ai Mori finshed first in the lead finals at the 2024 Olympics using Mandalas. 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 Google reviews.

See our Affiliations page.

See our Editorial by Mountain Equipment.

See our Interview by Bogong Equipment.

Why Choose Us?

Click the bottons below to find out how get your shoes to us.

How to Post In Your Shoes

How to Drop Off Your Shoes