Boot resole: what to request from cobbler

[Hobbes1]

I've been doing some online searching in an attempt to determine what exactly I want from a local cobbler. I have a pair of Frye Prison boots and it's time to resole them. I do not want lug type soles nor crepe. I don't really care for the cork/rubber mix that I've seen pictures of online. Dainite? Mmmmm....not too sure about that.

What I want: leather midsole and some sort of rubber or harder wearing outsole. I love the look of the Role Club type resoles but I want to A) support a local business and B) not wait two years to get my boots back. Stacked leather heel would look good, too, I think.

So: what sort or rubber or hard wearing outsole to I want? I'd like to sort of know what I want and how to best express it when I visit the shop. I don't want to have to fumble around, wasting time and not get what I want do to failure to communicate. Thanks for any constructive help with this.

 

[Hobbes1]

Attached are a few pictures of what I'd like but I'm not really sure of what a good brand of outsole would be or if there are any other considerations.

 

[jdbenson]

The foks over at Reddit's goodyearwelt sub-reddit have done a lot of thinking about soles...this may help guide you.

https://www.reddit.com/r/goodyearwelt/comments/92x6ai/the_gyw_outsole_guide/

Of course your mileage may vary, but I quite like the corded-rubber soles on my Red Wing Beckmans.

 

[Ernest P Shackleton]

Vibram makes differing degrees of wearing soles. I remember their website being helpful. I'd also 2nd that Reddit recommendation. They know their stuff.

 

[AeroFan_07]

Why not just ask - in person - your local cobbler what options exist?
In my experance folks prefer this - they know thier trade and thier options, and generally prefer being asked what a customer thinks, instead of being "told" what they are to do.

Good work wanting to support local businesses! Need more folks doing this...

Last cobbler I worked with actively was 80 years old - 40+ years of experance.

 

[Aerielle Max]

Oh your local guy would know a lot. It is time to build good relationships with them.

 

[Hobbes1]

Why not just ask - in person - your local cobbler what options exist?
In my experance folks prefer this - they know thier trade and thier options, and generally prefer being asked what a customer thinks, instead of being "told" what they are to do.

Good work wanting to support local businesses! Need more folks doing this...

Last cobbler I worked with actively was 80 years old - 40+ years of experance.

Oh your local guy would know a lot. It is time to build good relationships with them.

Thanks. Yes, you are both right. I am planning to tap his expertise. However, I'm trying to be informed/educated as to what is being talked about so that I can know I'm getting what I want.

 

[jpto]

Attached are a few pictures of what I'd like but I'm not really sure of what a good brand of outsole would be or if there are any other considerations.

View attachment 326739

Brian sources his soles from Dr Sole a company out of Taiwan. Dr Sole makes a variety of good soles. Some cobblers carry Dr Sole and they can be ordered online if you want to bring them to your cobbler.

Vibram has a couple of good options for half soles as well, the 430 is a low profile mini lug sole and the 700 is a flat sole.

 

[Fifty150]

First, I would make sure that the local cobbler is capable of doing the job. Any shoe cobbler who has the equipment for resoling a welted shoe, usually knows how to use the equipment. I have seen shoe repair shops where they only do bad repairs. Not every shoe repair shop is able to recraft. Many only know how to use glue. Like putting a patch on an old tire. They just glue on a piece of rubber, and that's all.

 

[AeroFan_07]

I have head very good things about this place in the US South East...
https://www.unsung.house/

This video will give an idea of what they can do...

 

[Fifty150]

perhaps you know a way of stretching them that may help

Some cobblers offer shoe stretching.

Or you can buy a device to stretch the shoes yourself.