Outdoor Odysseys

A question of resoling

The pair of Scarpa boots that I retain for muddy hiking are showing signs of wear. The uppers are fine, but the soles are another matter. The back of a unit on one of the boots is holed and picking up stones. The other is showing signs of my aberrant pronation, with wear on one side of the heel and not the other. That applies to the first one a little too, and tarmac tramping may not have made for extended longevity.

This dilemma emerged before with an elderly pair of Meindl boots. Then, the uppers were so worn that resoling felt like false economy and replacement became the chosen option. That is not the case with the Scarpas, so I am seriously considering the idea of getting them overhauled, which would involve ensuring that they were well cleaned before being sent away.

Naturally, there is a cost implication. Doing some research online, I found this to be £100, which is reasonable given the cost of replacement. The catch is the amount of time that it takes to get the work done. The quoted nine-week turnaround time that I have seen is not the most attractive, it needs saying. If someone else can do it quicker, that would be better, so long as the quality is acceptable.

While the reason given for the extra time taken is that the work needs added skill to perform it, and that may be the case, losing the use of a pair of boots for two to three months does change the practicality of the process significantly. If you have to have another pair of boots in hand, is it worth doing in the first place? That is fine for someone with the extra pair of boots or the ability to borrow them. Would someone who is active in the outdoors be content with a temporary cheaper while all this is happening? That might depend on the season: summer might be better than winter, depending on the activities undertaken in each season.

One thing is certain: walking boots are more expensive than they ever have been. Those old Meindl items were acquired for around £100 in 2009, possibly because they were the old model when a new one was coming on the market. A good pair of leather boots can set you back around double that amount these days. Thus, the cost works, even if the timing is not the best. The practice also should be the better way to go in what feels like a throwaway society, but not if another pair of boots is need to cover the time that the first boots are away. This conundrum needs a little more thought.