Repair of climbing frames

Those of us who have been climbing for more than one Friday know what it's like to have shredded climbing shoes. Whether it's a leaky sole, torn binding or just a shoe reduction, repair shops are priceless. Here at VARP, we also had to go through it, that's why we have a short guide for you on how to take care of climbing shoes at home and where to send them if you can't do it at home anymore. Is climbing rope repair necessary? Find out here.

Prevention

Prevention and proper care of climbing frames can save you a lot of worry, time and money. Of course, not everything can be prevented. However, there are a few basic things you can do to extend the life of your expensive pairs.

I know what I have

Knowing what you have is the first step to not having to change the soles of your shoes every year. When you buy a new pair, you go into the selection with certain demands. For example, do you want new boots for bouldering, traditional and joint climbing or simply universal? Great, but remember what you bought when venturing into new territories. It is definitely not ideal to use a very soft, narrow shoe on joint climbing or tiny sharp slats. Such an approach will very quickly cost you the tips and edges of the sole.

Therefore, remember what you have and buy wisely. For beginner climbers, it will be better to buy a more versatile hard shoe that can withstand all the new experiences you want to have. On the contrary, experienced climbers know exactly what they want and buy in a targeted manner.

Purity

Shoe cleanliness is an important part of sole survival. It doesn't hurt to wash the shoe in your hand under lukewarm water once in a while. Don't be afraid to use an old toothbrush to scrub the inside. However, definitely do not put the shoe in the washing machine or dry it on a hot heater or near a fire. This deforms the shoe and threatens to unstick it.

Editing and checking

The second simple thing that delays the repair of climbing shoes is the physical care of your shoes. Once in a while (ideally a week) it is a good idea to check the climbing frames. We look at protruding rubber, forming holes and other imperfections on the shoe. The main way in which the sole of a shoe becomes punctured is the continuous capture of pieces of rubber by stones, edges or holds on the wall.

When you find such a "dummy", you can get rid of it. Just take sharp scissors or nail clippers and cut off the protruding piece and then plan very smoothly. The goal is to prevent the rubber from being caught on the wall structures.

When is it time for resole?

Now you are probably wondering when is the best time to send the climbers to the service center - the so-called resole. This is relatively simple. If you've come across this article and are asking yourself if it's time, there's a good chance it is. If you have a hole so big that you can see your leg, it's too late and the service is calling! Check the edges, toes and heels often. If the edges and toes no longer hold and slide even on grips where they shouldn't, it's probably time to send the shoes to a service center.

The ideal "gold standard" of sending a shoe for a resole is when the sole is almost worn out, but the perimeter rubber is still holding. Repairing the sole itself will preserve the shape of the shoe and its adaptation to your foot, so you don't have to painstakingly take it apart again.

Another option when you can send your climbing shoes to a resole is if you misjudged the size or if you want to change the shoes to a different type of climbing. Resole in these cases is cheaper than buying new shoes. Depending on the type of climbing you want, you choose rubber for the sole and the problem is solved. Of course, it's nice if someone experienced advises you on the choice of rubber for the sole. If you don't have anyone, you can look to us at differences in climbing shoe soles.

Repair of climbing frames - Where?

There are several places in the Czech Republic where you can send shoes for resale. Repairing the climbing frames does not take that long. If you climb indoor climbing walls like Prague's Bigwall, there's a chance you've seen large "waste bins" with forms for sending climbing equipment to a repair shop. In the Czech Republic, this service is mainly (and best) provided by a company Restday.eu. This is run by Czech climbers who will repair and disinfect your shoes for a good price. When repairing, you can choose from several brands and hardnesses of rubber, depending on what you want the shoes on and what suits you best.

However, we recommend that you check out Restday for yourself. Take a look at their offers and prices and decide if it's worth it to you rather than buying new climbing equipment. Personally, as VARP, we have already sent several pairs to Restday and they have always returned to us in beautiful shape and in the original bag.