What happens to most climbing shoes?

This is probably a useless discussion, but I'm curious...

What do you think happens to "most" climbing shoes - let's say ones that are from the middle of product lines and up (nice/aggressive shoes). Do you think they are used to some definition of exhaustion and then discarded, rather than resoled? By discarded I think we can mean - trashed, given to the thrift store, left in the closet till the next generation.

I walk into Rock and Resole and there a zillion shoes. But there must be a million zillion of shoes out there being used.

In the end, I wonder if there is a continuous supply of Miuras going into the landfill... :(

Not that useless of a discussion. I've recently thought of a good solution...

I've recently opened a climbing shoe resole business in SLC, UT. Currently just working out all the kinks before we do any actual advertising. Once I feel comfortable handling a large volume of shoes I was thinking of accepting old climbing shoe donations...

Send in your old climbing shoes, I'll resole them, then sell them at local consignment shops. I would just ask for a small cut to cover cost. The rest would be donated to the access fund, SLCA, Friends of Indian Creek, etx..

I think it would be a nice way to keep all those muiras out of landfills, give something back to the climbing community, and raise awareness for the shop.

greg t wrote:Not that useless of a discussion. I've recently thought of a good solution... I've recently opened a climbing shoe resole business in SLC, UT. Currently just working out all the kinks before we do any actual advertising. Once I feel comfortable handling a large volume of shoes I was thinking of accepting old climbing shoe donations... Send in your old climbing shoes, I'll resole them, then sell them at local consignment shops. I would just ask for a small cut to cover cost. The rest would be donated to the access fund, SLCA, Friends of Indian Creek, etx.. I think it would be a nice way to keep all those muiras out of landfills, give something back to the climbing community, and raise awareness for the shop.

That's awesome!! I'd happily send a few pair of shoes your way from Michigan. Are you taking donations yet?

Not quite. I've got my hands full currently with other aspects of the business. Soon though! I'll be sure to get the word out there when I do.

That's excellent Greg, I hope you can rescue some shoes! When you get up and public, maybe you would be kind enough to update this thread for future readers. :)

Well, regardless of how much they are used or how many times they are resoled, or donated and used again, eventually they probably all end up thrown out. My guess is nearly 100% of all shoes sold are eventually garbage. At least, I've never heard of a good shoe recycling program.

Greg T post up on here if you end up doing it!
I'll gladly send you a bunch of old pairs

greg t wrote:Not that useless of a discussion. I've recently thought of a good solution... I've recently opened a climbing shoe resole business in SLC, UT. Currently just working out all the kinks before we do any actual advertising. Once I feel comfortable handling a large volume of shoes I was thinking of accepting old climbing shoe donations... Send in your old climbing shoes, I'll resole them, then sell them at local consignment shops. I would just ask for a small cut to cover cost. The rest would be donated to the access fund, SLCA, Friends of Indian Creek, etx.. I think it would be a nice way to keep all those muiras out of landfills, give something back to the climbing community, and raise awareness for the shop.

Em - yes of course. I was mainly wondering if people thought that most shoes went just through one sole and then were tossed.

Hiro wrote:Em - yes of course. I was mainly wondering if people thought that most shoes went just through one sole and then were tossed.

I resole mine. Usually get 4 or 5 resoles before the shoe is done.

Some people get pro deals or buy shoes cheap enough that they just buy new shoes.

I would suspect most people resole their shoes, as it's usually cheaper than buying a new pair.

Well - Thanks to the wonderful people here on Mountain Project - our local climbing wall now has shoes for all the kids who come here. I started a Pay It Forward thread on here and many pairs of shoes started showing up - in every condition from worn clear out and full of holes to several pairs of brand new in the box climbing shoes - most were in used but quite usable condition for our essentially non profit climbing wall designed to keep kids off the street and out of trouble. A few harnesses, belay plates, ropes, chalk bags etc were sent as well and we are so very Thankful. If the shoes aren't too worn out - try giving them to parents with kids at the local climbing wall - kids outgrow them really quick and we all know what they cost - and all parents aren't made of money. Pay It Forward - you'll help someone in need and build some good Karma for yourself!

FrankPS wrote: I resole mine. Usually get 4 or 5 resoles before the shoe is done. Some people get pro deals or buy shoes cheap enough that they just buy new shoes. I would suspect most people resole their shoes, as it's usually cheaper than buying a new pair.

Based on talking to people at the gym and hearing people complain about their shoes I would not think this is the case. I hope people do resole but many probably don't, because they climb on the shoes too long or they just don't know you can.

I still have all my shoes, haven't thrown em out yet despite the holeyness. Been climbing consistently at least once a week for 3 years now

Nivel, when do you get them resoled? I've learned the hard way that most people wait way too long to do a Resole, which is why the shoes are never the same. The key is to send them in before you wear through to the rand. If you have holes in your shoes, it's too late.

I go through my shoes every couples months (6-9). I always buy the cheap ones like La Sportiva Tarantula (80-90$). I would like to resole them if it was convenient but I don't want to lose my shoes for 2 weeks and it's not much more $ buying than resoling. I guess it's a moral question whether you wan't to resole or trash a reusable commodity and have a cheap labor/new pair shipped from China. Anybody knows a good places to resole in the Bay area? I tried twice by myself with shitty result...

Hey Guillaume - well, you've already got an established pattern which seems like it would work for resoling. Just take your last worn out pair and drop them in the mail today to the resoler of your choice (there is a recently thread with a list). When your current pair is done, you're ready to go and send those off.

BAM. I just saved your 50+% of the $ you have been spending, go buy some more beer instead. :)

I more often run into poor friends who can't and don't want to own two pairs, so they do indeed have to give up climbing for as long as it takes to get them resoled. Or (more likely) wear the same pair until their fingers fit through the front holes.

FrankPS wrote: I resole mine. Usually get 4 or 5 resoles before the shoe is done. Some people get pro deals or buy shoes cheap enough that they just buy new shoes. I would suspect most people resole their shoes, as it's usually cheaper than buying a new pair.

I get pro deals on shoes but, truth be told, I don't like new shoes very much so I almost always resole. I say almost because there have been some shoes that never fit right so I sold them off or donated them. I don't think I've ever just thrown a pair of climbing shoes away though.

I'd bet most of the people here are atypical; based on what I've seen I think most people pay close to full retail and then buy new shoes when theirs wear out.

Be cool to see some of these end up on the feet of some vets dealing with ptsd and other climbing therapy program participants.

bus driver wrote:Be cool to see some of these end up on the feet of some vets dealing with ptsd and other climbing therapy program participants.

You sir, win the best comment of the day! Thank you. As a veteran with a severe injury behind me, rock climbing is my escape. I've taken my passion for helping my Veteran brothers/sisters who needed a different kind of mission to accomplish with the comradaerie and communication nescessary to achieve it.... and rock climbing was it.

To the OP, my gut tells me most folks who aren't as passionate about climbing wear them out to the point of noticable friction loss/worn down/soles delam/whatever then trash them to buy another pair....of the exact same kind. Which sucks, because they can be resoled for !!FAR!! less than a new pair of shoes cost.

I guess the trick is to find a pair of shoes that just work best for you to the point that you dont want to get rid of them and spend the money they cost on new ones. Or, if the shoe topic ever comes up while bullshitting at the crag, encourage others to resole them. I have a pair of Mythos and TC Pros. They work best for me and there's no way in hell im gonna pay $140 or $180 bucks for new ones when my soles are gone.

Have you started collecting old climbing shoes yet?

Still got my first pair.

Anyone know if Nike or similar companies accept climbing shoes as part of their recycling program?