I bet you’re wondering if work boots can be resoled. Yes, you can resole your work boots, but there are a few exceptions.

Often workplaces are fraught with potential disaster. Your work boots are designed to protect you against hazards like punctures, shock, or slips and falls. A worn-out sole will do very few of these things for you.

So while you are pondering profound existential dilemmas like “toe be or not toe be”, don’t let your boots decide for you. Rather keep your toes safe with the intel revealed in this article. Come discover how to get your boots resoled right away.

Our editorial squad at MyBestWorkBoots works tirelessly to bring you the latest retail scoops. We applied our specialist knowledge to compiling this professional manual on how whether your work boots can be resoled with class.

Let’s get started.

What Does Resoling Your Work Boot Mean?

Resoling your work boot means replacing the original outsole, removing it, and reattaching it to the midsole by stitching them together.

If the outsole is no longer functional, a boot cobbler must replace it with a brand-new outsole for your protective boots, costing up to $150.

Can Work Boots Be Resoled? 

Yes, several types of work boots can be resoled, but there are exceptions. 

Boots made with a welt construction, in which the upper is stitched to the lower, may usually be resoled, whereas boots with the upper glued or cemented to the lower can never be resoled.

If you’re unsure about the construction of your boots, you should look at the product page on the company website. 

Pro tip

If the production page doesn’t address your question, try contacting that boot company’s customer care department or asking your local cobbler.

Why You’d Need to Resole Your Work Boot

You need to resole your work boot because it’s an excellent way to avoid purchasing a new pair of boots, especially if the top half is still in good condition. 

Some of the reasons why you should resole your work boots are as follows:

• To keep your work boot from deteriorating.
• To extend or maximize its useful life.
• To avoid foot injuries caused by a damaged outsole.
• To maintain its degree of comfort.
• To ensure the necessary traction.

You don’t have to wait until the outsole of your work boot is completely worn out before resoling it. You can take them to a cobbler as soon as you notice the need to prevent further damage and avoid paying a high boot resole fee.

Is Resoling Your Work Boot Worth It?

Resoling your work boot is definitely worth it! 

The only component of your work boot that has contact with the ground is the outsole, which offers grip to keep you from sliding or slipping. 

Even if resoling boots might cost up to $150, the comfort and protection a newly resoled boot can provide are priceless.

Remember

Resoling your boot when needed not only ensures that you’re safe and protected at work; it also provides an alternative and, in most cases, a cheaper option than purchasing a new pair.

When you resole your work boot, you extend the life of the entire boot, especially if the rest of the boot is still in good condition.

Pros to Resoling Your Work Boots

Pros to resoling your work boots are saving money, the fit of familiar boots, and high-quality service. 

The most apparent advantage to resoling your work boot is that paying for a resole is less expensive than purchasing a new pair.

The fit of familiar work boots is also better than the fit of new boots, which must be broken in first. 

Boots take some time to conform to the curves of your feet, and repairing your existing pair saves you from going through the complex process of adaptation all over again. 

Another great pro

You’ll receive high-quality service if you hire someone else to replace your boots.

Repairing your existing work boots rather than purchasing new ones is better for the environment.

Another pro is that you can keep your favorite boots when you resole them. 

Isn’t that amazing?

This would be a significant benefit, especially if you paid top dollar for a high-quality, heavy-duty pair of work boots. 

Resoling replaces the tread while allowing you to keep the same pair of boots you’ve broken in and don’t want to part with.

Only fix what has to be fixed. 

You don’t have to replace the entire sole when your boots are resoled. You have options with boot resoling and only pay for what you require.

Cons to Resoling Your Work Boots

The cons of resoling your work boots are potential damage to your boots, being without work boots for some time, the cost of resoling, and lack of quality. 

Resoling your work boots could result in ruining them, wasting money on materials, and wasting time on a poor remedy if you do it yourself. And you will be highly frustrated!

If someone else does it

If postage to and from the repair facility is included, you’ll be without your boots for an extended period, possibly several days. If you have to work during these times, you’ll have to get a spare pair of work boots to work in or take time off.

For low-cost boots, resoling may not be cost-effective. If you paid less for the boots than it will cost to have them resoled, you might be better off getting a new pair. Resoling is the most cost-effective for high-end, handcrafted boots.

It could take some time

Repairs could take up to a couple of weeks to complete. If you wear boots every day, this delay could be inconvenient.

The boot upper may not be of sufficient quality to warrant a replacement outsole, and getting a new sole is pointless if the remainder of the boot is also starting to wear out. Many low-cost boots lack the quality required to warrant repair.

When’s It Time to Resole Your Work Boots?

It’s time to resole your work boots as soon as they begin to compromise your safety or comfort. You shouldn’t wait until the soles of your work boots break off before resoling them. 

In terms of safety, it’s usually too late if you have a hole in your sole.

You are jeopardizing the primary reason you wear boots on a job site: your safety.

If there’s even a slight reduction in the tread, it’s time to take your boots to the cobbler.

Keep your eyes peeled

Even a minor sole split (when the upper portion of the boot begins to separate from the sole) jeopardizes your safety and necessitates immediate treatment.

Similarly, if moisture is seeping into your socks, it’s a sign that your boots aren’t adequately covering you. If you don’t take care of this wetness right away, it could lead to athlete’s foot, which you don’t want!

Another warning sign

If the ground suddenly feels much closer to your feet, the leather is weakening, and the boots are no longer pleasant or safe. It’s time for a resole.

How long can you expect a pair of boots to last (months or several years?) before needing to resole will depend entirely on the boot make and the type of wear and tear you submit your boots to.

And if the damage on your work boots is structural, meaning that elements other than the soles are coming apart, it may be time to rebuild them or buy a new pair altogether.

Warning Signs That Your Boots Need to Be Resoled

Warning signs that your boots need to be resoled are as follows:

• If the bottoms of your boots appear smoother than they should, or if you’re not getting the same traction, a worn-down tread is likely to blame. No matter how good the treads are, they will eventually wear down.
• The tread that’s damaged or ripped. You may be pierced or pulled from the soles if you step on a nail, which could be partially torn or ripped off. Having the boot resoled is the best option to repair it.
• The tread is coming off. You may notice that the tread is starting to split from the sole over time. This is also a result of wear and tear and is frequent.
• Foot ache is another warning sign that your boots need resoling. If you’ve been wearing your boots for 12-24 months, and the tread appears to have worn down in some locations, and you’re starting to feel it more in your toe pad and heel, it’s probably time to get a new sole.

What Type of Work Boots Can Be Resoled?

The following work boots can be resoled: 

• Welted Goodyear
• Stitch down by Blake Stitch
• Stitching in Norway

This group’s most prevalent construction is welt construction. A welt structure is used in many labor boots. 

Virtually any boot with sewn soles can nearly always be resoled.

With these types of boots, the upper and lower have been sewn together, and a cobbler can remove the stitching, replace the necessary components, and then reattach the top to the lower.

What Type of Work Boots Can’t Be Resoled?

Work boots with cementing or direct attach boots can’t be resoled or aren’t worth resoling.

• Cementing means that the outsole is attached or cemented to the upper.
• Direct-attach boots are created by injecting molten rubber or other materials into a pre-made mold to construct the boot’s sole. The newly produced sole is instantly affixed to the bottom of the boot, allowing the injection to securely bind to the boot and link the boot top to the freshly formed sole.

These boot construction methods can’t be unstitched, replaced, or restitched. 

Furthermore, these methods are frequently less reliable and are employed in less expensive work boots that aren’t worth resoling in the first place.

How Far Does Resoling Work Boots Get You?

Resoling your work boots will get you very far; you could get 2 or 3 cycles of wear out of them before considering rebuilding or replacing them.

Should You Resole Your Work Boots or Buy a New Pair?

Whether you should resole your work boots or buy a new pair is determined by the general condition of your safety work boot and its comfort level.

For example

If the top half of your work boot is still in fine shape, but only the outsoles are damaged and worn out, you should think about resoling them.

If the general quality of the boot’s no longer satisfactory, it is time to get a new pair, significantly if both the outsole and the upper of the boot are damaged. 

However

It’s preferable to get a new pair, primarily if a resoled boot cannot ensure the general protection of your feet.

But keep in mind that before you decide whether to buy a new pair or resole your work boots, you should have them assessed by a shoe cobbler so they can give you the best advice.

The Price of Resoling Your Work Boot

On average, the price of resoling your work boot is approximately $90, while a new high-quality pair might cost around $160. 

The difference is significant, so you must decide what’s best for you.

While full-sole resoling costs between $50 and $150, a half-sole resoling will cost about $30 – $70.

The Time Involved

The time involved to resole your work boots could be from 2 to 3 weeks. 

It takes some time to have your boots resoled. For one thing, if there isn’t a nearby repair shop, you may have to travel some distance to find a good cobbler. 

You might also send them via mail to a repair firm in another area of the country, but this would take more time and cost more money for delivery.

Now

Even if you take them to a local cobbler, depending on how busy they are, it may take them a few days to get to your boots. 

Overall, it is not uncommon for a process to take a couple of weeks.

Where to Get Boots Resoled

Where to get your boots resoled depends entirely on what is most effective and convenient for you and the available alternatives.

You may have several options for getting your boots resoled. You will take your boots to a local cobbler or repair business if one exists in your area. 

Alternatively

You might take them to a nearby town or city repair shop, or you could check online.

It’s also worth mentioning that certain boot companies will offer to re-craft their boots (at a cost to you, of course), so check into that first before making your decision.

Seek Advice for Repairing Boots

Seek advice for repairing boots before resolving if you’re uncertain to determine if it’s a worthwhile decision. 

Having your boots resoled is an excellent way to increase the life of your boots. You can save money on a new pair of boots by having the soles repaired and not having to worry about breaking in a new boot.

If you’re not sure 

Find a local cobbler and have them evaluate the boots and give you a quotation. In some cases, the repair may be substantially less expensive than anticipated.

Can You Resole Your Work Boots by Yourself?

Yes, you can resole your work boots yourself; however, you must have the required abilities and tools for the job.

Cobblers have been honing their skills for years, and it takes time, commitment, and determination to cut this and stitch that.

In our opinion

Cobblers who can do a better job are always appreciated, and it’s a reward for their hard work. They protect our feet by fixing existing shoes, replacing key sections, and creating personalized shoes.

If you believe you have the expertise, please don’t hesitate to resole your works boots at will, but if you don’t, don’t bother. You will not only squander money on expensive instruments, and you may just injure yourself in the process.

Common Questions

In Conclusion

Resoling your work boots is typically both inexpensive and environmentally friendly.

However, whether it’s the best option depends on the type of boots you wear, their condition, and the availability of cobblers and boot experts.

If you believe it’ll be too much work, you can always get a new pair of work boots. 

Resoling your work boots is a great way to keep your safety and comfort at the forefront.