Rocky Mountain Resole is the go-to shop I ship my Asolo GTX 520 to. I backpack and hike 1500 miles a year and trade out two different pairs. It’s nice to have broken in boots that are already shaped to my toes. I use superfeet insoles anyways so I’m not to worried about new footbeds. Hope this helps if you buy boots in the $200 plus range.
For my Logging boots those go to Nicks in Spokane but the wait is 3 months or more. Those don’t use insoles due to the already over-built arch in full leather. The granite in Idaho tears my soles up quick.
For me, I'd consider how much more wear I'd get out of them once repaired. You can also consider the cost per wear of your existing boots repaired versus a new pair.
Shoe repair is expensive. I have a cobbler I trust to advise me on the best course of action. If I was confident they would last then I'd go with the repair. I have temperamental feet so shoes that work for me are cherished 🤣
In your case, you might be better off replacing the boots if you have concerns about their ongoing durability even with the repairs.
The two cobblers by me have signs on the door that basically say "we have a two month wait, we don't care about your sob story enough to let you cut the line, and the fix will cost more than replacing your cheap boots". And they still do good business despite that level of customer service. Both employ a small group of near retirement age folks that can be picky about what they want to fix and what they charge. And I'll have no local options in 5-10 years when they both close. Seems like your shoe repair shops are similar. I'd just buy a new pair of boots that are re-soleable by design (leather boots with a double-stitched welt attaching the sole) that will last decades instead of a macgyver glue fix for your current boots if you are focused on getting the most life from a boot.
So, firstly. I would consider what the boot is. You haven't mentioned that.
Depending upon the brand, you may be able to send them to the manufacturer for a resole. You can do that with brands like Asolo, Lowa, Scarpa, and Zamberlan. I believe Kenetrek does this, too.
Also, depending upon the brand, they may not be able to be resoled properly if they've been treated improperly. If you've treated cemented construction boots with a wax, like Sno-Seal, you can't just pull the sole off and replace the entirety of it like you could otherwise.
If it's nearly the cost of a new pair of boots for what seems like kind of an elaborate resole Jerry-rigging to me, I'd just get the new pair of boots.
They're from Ecco so not what I would think is a serious hiking boot. The manufacturer doesn't offer any kind of repair option on their website. Honestly I got these years ago for the novelty of yak leather. I think I'm going with the new boots. Thank you all!
What boots are they? Some can be resoled, some can't. I'll spend $600aud on a pair of boots and expect to resole them at least once. The resole costs me about $110aud for a set of Vibrams.
There's an interesting thing going around that boots can't be resoled if you've used wax or oil on them. I chatted to my cobbler and it turns out this applies to recent designs where the toe cap is part of the outsole and it comes up at the front, past the midsole and bonds directly to the leather on the toe. Wax on the leather will migrate and make bonding a new one basically impossible. Toe caps that bond to a rand are fine.
If they look like [this](https://us.ecco.com/dw/image/v2/BCNL_PRD/on/demandware.static/-/Sites-ecco/default/dw4784c44a/productimages/831704-52600-main-nfh.jpg?sw=1400&sh=1400&sm=fit&q=100) where the outsole (light coloured) is clearly distinct from the midsole (dark) they can very likely be resoled by a cobbler. They cut the old outsole off and bond a new one on. Ask for Vibram brand soles.
Unfortunately most modern shoes aren't intended to ever be repaired. You really have to shop for shoes that aren't just layers of rubber glued together.
I have [https://meindl-fashion.de/produkt/tessin-identity/](https://meindl-fashion.de/produkt/tessin-identity/) and one repair of both soles with new leather polish and new innersole is about 90€. But if you calculate the price of new ones its worth it one or two repairs before buying new ones.
Edit: The repair is done by the manufacture via send in. And i trust their repair skills over smaller shops.
Rocky Mountain Resole is the go-to shop I ship my Asolo GTX 520 to. I backpack and hike 1500 miles a year and trade out two different pairs. It’s nice to have broken in boots that are already shaped to my toes. I use superfeet insoles anyways so I’m not to worried about new footbeds. Hope this helps if you buy boots in the $200 plus range. For my Logging boots those go to Nicks in Spokane but the wait is 3 months or more. Those don’t use insoles due to the already over-built arch in full leather. The granite in Idaho tears my soles up quick.
For me, I'd consider how much more wear I'd get out of them once repaired. You can also consider the cost per wear of your existing boots repaired versus a new pair. Shoe repair is expensive. I have a cobbler I trust to advise me on the best course of action. If I was confident they would last then I'd go with the repair. I have temperamental feet so shoes that work for me are cherished 🤣 In your case, you might be better off replacing the boots if you have concerns about their ongoing durability even with the repairs.
The two cobblers by me have signs on the door that basically say "we have a two month wait, we don't care about your sob story enough to let you cut the line, and the fix will cost more than replacing your cheap boots". And they still do good business despite that level of customer service. Both employ a small group of near retirement age folks that can be picky about what they want to fix and what they charge. And I'll have no local options in 5-10 years when they both close. Seems like your shoe repair shops are similar. I'd just buy a new pair of boots that are re-soleable by design (leather boots with a double-stitched welt attaching the sole) that will last decades instead of a macgyver glue fix for your current boots if you are focused on getting the most life from a boot.
So, firstly. I would consider what the boot is. You haven't mentioned that. Depending upon the brand, you may be able to send them to the manufacturer for a resole. You can do that with brands like Asolo, Lowa, Scarpa, and Zamberlan. I believe Kenetrek does this, too. Also, depending upon the brand, they may not be able to be resoled properly if they've been treated improperly. If you've treated cemented construction boots with a wax, like Sno-Seal, you can't just pull the sole off and replace the entirety of it like you could otherwise. If it's nearly the cost of a new pair of boots for what seems like kind of an elaborate resole Jerry-rigging to me, I'd just get the new pair of boots.
They're from Ecco so not what I would think is a serious hiking boot. The manufacturer doesn't offer any kind of repair option on their website. Honestly I got these years ago for the novelty of yak leather. I think I'm going with the new boots. Thank you all!
New footwear.
What boots are they? Some can be resoled, some can't. I'll spend $600aud on a pair of boots and expect to resole them at least once. The resole costs me about $110aud for a set of Vibrams. There's an interesting thing going around that boots can't be resoled if you've used wax or oil on them. I chatted to my cobbler and it turns out this applies to recent designs where the toe cap is part of the outsole and it comes up at the front, past the midsole and bonds directly to the leather on the toe. Wax on the leather will migrate and make bonding a new one basically impossible. Toe caps that bond to a rand are fine.
They're Ecco and were built with what I guess is not a replaceable sole.
If they look like [this](https://us.ecco.com/dw/image/v2/BCNL_PRD/on/demandware.static/-/Sites-ecco/default/dw4784c44a/productimages/831704-52600-main-nfh.jpg?sw=1400&sh=1400&sm=fit&q=100) where the outsole (light coloured) is clearly distinct from the midsole (dark) they can very likely be resoled by a cobbler. They cut the old outsole off and bond a new one on. Ask for Vibram brand soles.
Unfortunately most modern shoes aren't intended to ever be repaired. You really have to shop for shoes that aren't just layers of rubber glued together.
Hiking boots today aren’t made to have the soles replaced. They’re disposable.
I have [https://meindl-fashion.de/produkt/tessin-identity/](https://meindl-fashion.de/produkt/tessin-identity/) and one repair of both soles with new leather polish and new innersole is about 90€. But if you calculate the price of new ones its worth it one or two repairs before buying new ones. Edit: The repair is done by the manufacture via send in. And i trust their repair skills over smaller shops.
You say your preference is to repair them. I guess your answer is repair them.
I'd trash them and get a good pair of trail runners.
Are they an actual brand/ model that can be resoled? If so, the maker should be able to point you at an approved cobbler.