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How to Repair Climbing Shoes

How to Repair Climbing Shoes
Specialized rock climbing shoes, which evolved during the 70s and 80s, have made difficult, technical rock climbs far easier than they were in the days when mountaineers struggled up difficult faces in heavy boots. Modern shoes, in addition to being lightweight and flexible, have a sticky rubber bottom that enhances the friction between the shoe and rock. Climbing shoes can break down over time, but simple repairs can prolong their life.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Resoling

Things You’ll Need:
  • Resole kit with rubber matching your shoe type
  • Shoe Goo
  • Utility knife
  • Sander
  • Electric stove or heat source
  • Pliers
  • Hammer
  • Vice grips
Step 1
Take the climbing shoe and use the utility knife to make an incision across the rubber sole at the midway point of the shoe.
Step 2
Heat the rubber bottom over the stove for 30 seconds.
Step 3
Use the pliers to grip the sole and peel the worn portion of it off the shoe.
Step 4
Cut a piece of climbing shoe rubber from the resole kit that is slightly larger than the piece you have removed.
Step 5
Clean and sand the climbing shoe so that the new rubber has a smooth surface to bond to.
Step 6
Apply Shoe Goo or the cement included with the resole kit to the new piece of rubber and to the shoes.
Step 7
Hammer the new piece of rubber onto the old shoe so that it is well bonded.
Step 8
Place the shoe inside the vice grips so that the bottom of the shoe is facing one of the grips, not the table the grips are on, and close the grips so that the bottom is gripped rightly in the grips. Alternately, use two-inch tape wrapped tightly around the shoe. Leave the shoe this way for several hours.
Step 9
Use the utility knife to trim any excess rubber from the newly resoled shoe so that the new sole is only in contact with the rand.
Step 10
Lightly sand the new sole to give it texture and help with grip.

Article Written By Candace Horgan

Candace Horgan has worked as a freelance journalist for more than 12 years. Her work has appeared in various print and online publications, including the "Denver Post" and "Mix." Horgan holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and history.

Write for Trails.com

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