What does resoleable mean?

If the soles of your shoes are unusable for various reasons, but the shoe is otherwise still in good condition, a resoling of your hiking shoes can be useful. The shoes receive a new sole from the shoemaker or directly from the manufacturer and can then - no matter how old they are - be worn further. So you don't necessarily have to buy a new pair of shoes right away - this saves resources and your wallet.

For which shoe is a new sole suitable?

As a rule, shoes are resoled for two reasons:

• The materials of the sole are worn out over time or the sole is worn out through constant use in such a way that it no longer offers support and therefore poses a danger in slippery areas during demanding hiking tours.

OR

• The chemical reaction of hydrolysis has begun. Manufacturer expect this to happen about six to seven years after production. This chemical process allows the polyurethane (PU) midsole, which is responsible for damping, to escape from the outsole by evaporation. The material becomes harder and harder and more porous and as it rolls off, the outsole "breaks" off the shoe. This process is not visible from the outside, which is why a short trial hike before the right tour makes sense.

The design of the shoes is decisive for whether your shoe can be repaired or not.

• Double stitched shoes: A double seam is visible on the outside of double stitched shoes. This is due to the connection of the upper leather, the frame (only on some models) and the midsole. Thus the upper leather is firmly connected with the shoe bottom. The detached or worn sole can be repaired.
• Pinched shoes: With the pinched design, the upper of the shoe is pulled down over the lasts over the insole and fixed, creating a unit. The upper and insole are glued together under high pressure. Then the mid- and outsoles are attached. The old pair of shoes can also be repaired here.

These two types of production are often used for high-quality hiking shoes

Manufacturers such as Lowa, Hanwag, Meindl or Mammut offer resoleable models which are specially designated as such. If the sole wears out at some point, you can have the hiking boots resolled by a local shoemaker or you can contact us. As a specialist retailer, we will inform you about the costs and send the shoes directly to the manufacturer. You can find more information about the resoling on the respective websites of the manufacturers.

Conclusion

Having your "old shoes" resole has the advantage that resources and the environment are conserved, since no new shoe has to be manufactured. In addition, your shoe has already shrunk. So the good wearing comfort is maintained and at the same time the profile is available again and the quality remains the same. Therefore you should already include the possibility of new soles in your purchase decision.