Why Resole Your Climbing Shoes
- Resoling climbing shoes extends their life, maintaining the performance and fit you've grown accustomed to. Over time, the rubber on the soles wears down, reducing grip and decreases their performance. Resoling replaces the worn rubber, restoring the shoes' original traction, fit and edging capabilities. It's a cost-effective alternative to buying new shoes, allowing you to preserve your well-broken-in pair.
- Resoling is environmentally friendly, reducing waste by extending the lifespan of your gear. Regularly resoling your climbing shoes enhances your climbing experience while keep them out of the land fill. This reduction in demand for new shoes reduces the resources required to produce new shoes.
Using an authorized climbing shoe resoler is vital because they possess the expertise, lasts and access to the correct materials required to maintain the shoe's performance. Authorized resolers use high-quality, original rubber compounds that match the specific design of each climbing shoe, ensuring the restored shape, grip and durability. Their specialized knowledge ensures the shoe’s shape and fit are preserved, which is crucial for maintaining performance and precision.
La Sportiva Authorized RESOLERS
Quebec
M. Varappe - 2025 Rue Parthenais #304,
Montreal, PQ H2K 3T2
Ontario
Ontario Resoles
2410 Lucknow Dr, Unit 21,
Mississauga, ON L5S 1V1
https://www.ontarioresoles.ca/
British Columbia
West Coast Resoles
132- 2936 Amy Road,
Victoria, BC V9B 0B2
Scarpa Authorized RESOLERS
British Columbia
West Coast Resoles
132- 2936 Amy Road,
Victoria, BC V9B 0B2
Ontario
Ontario Resoles
2410 Lucknow Dr, Unit 21,
Mississauga, ON L5S 1V1
https://www.ontarioresoles.ca/
Alberta
Smallfish Resole
4528 41 Street N.W.
Calgary, Alberta T3A 0N2
www.facebook.com/climbingresole/
smallfish.nets@gmail.com
Kumpfy Shoe Repair
306 Bow Valley Trail #117a
Canmore, AB T1W 0N2
(403) 609-2292
Let's Talk Rubber
The holy grail of rubber is super sticky at all temps, with all rock types and has amazing durability while being environmentally friendly. This mythical goal is currently impossible and generally there is a trade off between durability and stickiness, this doesn't mean that all rubbers are equal.
The starting materials for rubber mixtures are now made mostly synthetically. Natural rubber or caoutchouc is still obtained by making incisions in the bark of rubber trees, but the vast majority of rubbers are made by chaining hydrocarbons derived from crude oil.
The definitive chemical composition of climbing rubber composition* used by each company is a guarded trade secret, however the rough ingredients include butadiene rubber, natural rubber, ethylene propylene diene monomer, zinc methacrylate, calcium carbonate, an antioxidant and dicumyl peroxide. The rubber is then vulcanized.
Climbing Shoe Rubber Types
- Vibram XS Grip: Known for its high friction and excellent grip, commonly used in performance climbing shoes.
- Vibram XS Grip2: An evolution of XS Grip, offering even better friction and performance, particularly suited for bouldering and sport climbing.
- Vibram XS Edge: Designed for maximum edging support and durability, ideal for technical and vertical climbing.
- Vibram XS Flash: Developed for indoor climbing, providing optimal grip and durability on artificial surfaces.
Unparallell
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Real Honor (RH): An excellent all-arounder. Unparallel's RH has good grip on overhangs, excellent grip on vertical climbs, and performs well on edges.
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Real Supreme (RS): Unparallel's RS rubber is the softest compound they offer. RS offers maximum sensitivity and excellent friction on low-load smears: think ultra-steep overhangs.
- Real Advanced (RA): Unparallel's RA rubber is made for durability and hardness, making it ideal for precision edging and improved durability over RS and RH.
We find the Unparallel rubber particularly suitable for granite and noticeably stickier on the rock here in Squamish
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Stealth C4: This is the most versatile and widely used rubber by Five Ten, known for its excellent friction and durability. It's a favorite among climbers for its performance on a variety of surfaces.
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Stealth HF: High Friction (HF) rubber is designed for maximum stickiness, providing exceptional grip on overhanging and smooth surfaces, making it ideal for bouldering and sport climbing.
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Stealth Mi6: This rubber offers extraordinary sensitivity and stickiness, designed for smearing and technical climbing. It’s particularly useful on volumes and delicate foot placements.
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Stealth Onyxx: Known for its high durability and edging capabilities, Onyxx rubber is perfect for long routes and technical climbing where precision is key.
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Stealth Phantom: This non-marking rubber is designed for indoor climbing, providing excellent grip while maintaining the cleanliness of climbing walls.
Boreal
- Zenith Pro: Is Boreal's best all-round rubber for higher level climbing.
- Zenith Quattro: Is more durable than Pro & Ultra but not as sticky.
- Zenith Ultra: Is their stickiest compound; offering improved friction for steep terrain and marginal smears.
- Endurance: Their most durable rubber suited for extremely high wear applications.
Evolv/Trax
- Trax SAS (Superior Adhesion System) Known for its excellent friction and durability, providing a great balance of grip and longevity. It is widely used across Evolv’s performance climbing shoes.
- Trax XE (Extra Edge) Designed for maximum edging performance, offering a stiffer and more supportive feel, ideal for precise foot placements on small holds.
- Trax GT (General Traction) A versatile rubber that offers a good combination of grip and durability, suitable for all-around climbing and varied terrain.
Rubber Summary
The rubber on your climbing shoes has been selected for its intended purpose, and generally, when resoling a shoe, most climbers replace the sole with the same type of rubber. However, this is not fixed, and you can request a different rubber. The type and thickness of the rubber on a shoe sole can make a noticeable difference in your climbing performance. Therefore, climbers often have preferences depending on their climbing style, rock type, and shoe. We suggest trying different shoes and exploring various rubbers to see what works best for you.
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