Climbing Shoe Diagnostic Guide

When is the right time to resole?

As you climb, the sole wears down in the toe area and becomes thinner over time. Resoling is necessary when the sole thickness reaches 1 mm.

A good rule of thumb is when the transition between the rubber rand and the sole edge is no longer straight and the rubber becomes very thin in the area of the toe.

Below is a picture of the same shoe from above, after it has been resoled.

Do you also need a new climbing shoe toe cap (rubber rand)?

If you continue to use your climbing shoes after the sole has worn out, the rubber rand will also begin to wear down. Eventually, a hole may appear in the rubber rand, exposing the inner-leather.

In this case, the toe of the shoe also needs to be redone to repair the hole.

Toe repair involves applying a thin layer of climbing rubber to the toe of the shoe and tensioning it. The additional rubber makes the shoe feel a little stiffer.

When is it too late for a repair?

Climbing shoes are sometimes so worn out that they get holes in the leather. If the hole is small and easily accessible, a repair is still possible. The hole is sewn shut by hand. The seam ensures that the shoe retains its original shape and does not open any further.

Sometimes the holes are just too big or just hard to reach. At this point the shoe probably lost its tension or the repair is simply not possible anymore.