Is It Worth It To Replace Soles On Shoes Or Get A New Pair?
Replace Soles On Shoes Or Get A New Pair?
When you’re faced with making the decision of whether you should replace the soles on your shoes or splash out on a new pair, the primary consideration is, of course, the cost. In our latest post, we’re delving into everything you need to consider. Although repairing shoes is often a relatively low-cost endeavor, sometimes it will actually pay to replace them.
It’s likely that you’re in need of a helping hand when it comes to making this all-important decision, so, we’re giving you a step by step guide so that you can get the most out of your hard-earned dollar.
Firstly, you should determine the importance of your shoes. Are they your favorite pair that you couldn’t possibly live without, or would you barely miss them if you just got rid? If a pair of shoes go well with all your outfits and they fit perfectly, then you’ll probably determine that it’s worth repairing them if you can’t find an exact replacement.
If you’ve realized that the pair of shoes aren’t actually too important to you, then you should recycle or donate them. If you want to replace or repair your beloved shoes, keep reading.
To Replace Or Repair?
If you want to keep the costs down, you can always attempt a DIY job if the repair is quite straightforward. In this case, glue for shoes is your best friend. You can pick up a decent shoe glue for less than $10, making it a much more affordable option than replacing a pair of shoes or paying a cobbler to repair them.
If your shoes are far too precious to whip out the glue yourself, then you’ll need to take a trip to the cobbler. Although a simple repair job won’t cost you a fortune, it will be significantly more expensive than a DIY job. It goes without saying the exact cost will vary from store to store, so, if you’re super savvy, you should shop around a little.
The sole of a shoe is usually replaced along with the heel, costing anything between $40 and $80 as a ballpark figure. If you want to replace the soles and heels on a pair of your comfortable high heels, any heel replacement of more than 2mm will likely be unachievable so it worth bearing this in mind beforehand.
Can My Shoes Be Rescued?
If you’ve never used a cobbler before, you might be surprised at how much they can actually do to revive your favorite shoes. From new soles, zippers, insoles and deep cleaning, they can have your shoes looking as good as new. However, what they can’t do is repair cracked or damaged leather. Typically, cobblers can do much more with the sole/base of the shoe than the top part.
If you’re under the impression that just the soles need replacing only to take your shoes to the cobbler to be told a lot more work needs to be down, you must weigh up the overall cost of the repair in relation to the value of the shoe.
Prevention Is Key
If you want to save money later down the line, you should always try to preserve the quality of your shoes from the get-go, especially if you’ve spent a pretty penny on them. Cleaning your shoes regular, using electric shoe polisher for leather shoes, storing them correctly and ensuring they’re weatherproof can go a long way in increasing the lifespan of your favorite footwear.
The Final Decision
Beyond cost, you must consider the ability of different cobblers. A cheap repair might not always be worth the money. If you want your repaired shoes to last a long time, it’s best to invest a little more cash. As a general rule of thumb, if you have a pair of high-quality shoes that you really don’t want to part with, you can re-sole them from 3-10 times. Men’s heels can be repaired 7-10 times, and high heels can usually endure around 5 heel fixes, assuming they’re of good quality. If you’re a little bit of a hoarder when it comes to your footwear, you’ll be glad to know with the correct care and attention, a high-quality pair of shoes last more than 20 years. So, if you’ve really fallen in love with a pair of shoes, take good care of them and use a quality cobbler and they’ll serve you for many years. If you’re buying cheaper footwear, just be mindful that after one or two repairs it might be better for you to replace them rather than repair.
