Not a question of where, I know that much (feet first/cheshire shoe), but when!
How do you decide whether it is time for a resole?
When you go through the rand? (not really planning on waiting that long!)
The sole less than 80% worn and NOT worn away into the rand. Damaged rands do not make a good resole, and if the rand is replaced you'll get a floppier shoe and it'll cost more.
Cheshire shoe do a better job than feet first IMHO- or at least the resoles with Cheshire shoes seem to climb better with less loss of sensitivity.
Also worth really cleaning the rubber before you send it away- the last time CC did my katanas I didn't bother and as they were pretty dirty the resole is coming away from the old rubber. Yes that is a bit contradictory with my first statement!
Because you already know the shoes you have fit your feet. I've heard that resoling can change this but mine still fit perfectly, went with Cheshire and it was 29 quid.
> (In reply to Mick Ryan - UKClimbing.com)
> Thanks all, silly question but what does 80% worn look like!
> Not sure if mine have got there yet...
Hard to tell by sight, you kind of dig in a nail and feel how much rubber is left- if you can feel the cardboard or whatever the hard stuff is nearly coming through that is when I get mine resoled.
If you want the best return for your pound send your shoes for resole before the sole wears through to the rand. This will ensure that with a new sole your boot will perform well and that you can have several resoles per shoe.
Remember you are climbing on your toe and that is where your shoes take the most wear. Your boots may look like new on the rear sole but if they've worn through at the toe and rand they perform like a pair of banana skins.
If a hole appears in the rand STOP climbing in your shoes. This can cause irrepairable damage.
