Repairing/Replacing Soles on Sneakers

lreidgreen · 06-02-16, 11:25 PM

I know this sounds crazy but I have a pair of New Balance Minimus trail runners that I love. They do not make them anymore and I cannot find them anywhere online. The vibram sole on one side has a hole in it. I am getting by with duct tape (the universal adhesive)
Is there a service somewhere that replaces soles on fitness shoes? Not sure it is even possible but I thought I would ask.

marki64 · 09-24-16, 02:24 PM

They make shoes so cheaply these days. I would just get a new pair. it would probably cost more to repair anyway.

lreidgreen · 09-24-16, 04:11 PM

I would buy new but New Balance doesn't make this style of shoe anymore. It was their Minimus trail runner. I bought their latest Minimus shoe which has also been discontinued but they are not the same. I use them for workouts at home. I ended up buying Merrell shoes for walking/running which are even more "minimal" than the New Balance version.

luvcritters · 09-24-16, 04:42 PM

You could check the internet or the yellow pages for "shoe repair" or a "cobbler." We have at least 2 shoe repair shops in my area and my area isn't very big. I'm glad they're still around. I hope you find someone. My NB's are discontinued too and my feet would like those shoes back.

Pratima · 09-28-16, 12:41 PM

What's the model? I'm pretty good at finding old shoes...because I never want to switch either! I'm guessing they're not these.

lreidgreen · 09-28-16, 02:41 PM

Those are not them. They totally redesigned them and not in a good way, IMO. They are not minimal anymore or at least not like the older ones. I have found the ones I want but only the extremely small sizes so I am out of luck I am afraid. If I knew they were discontinuing that style I would have purchased several pairs.

Helen · 09-28-16, 05:46 PM

I admire your wish to repair before replacing - we need more people with that mindset, but I'm not optimistic in this context.

beyond.omega · 09-29-16, 07:06 AM

A couple decades ago, I wanted to save a pair of combat boots whose soles had worn out, and took them to a cobbler. He explained to me that he can resole them, but he has to add a mid-sole to them, and then recommended several different soles to add (including a vibram street option, like DocMartens). The point he was making is that the midsole was a considerable cost - combat boots aren't built with them because they are considered..."expendable".

However, putting a mid-sole on a shoe kind of detracts from minimalism, in the modern sense of a shoe, so I'm not sure if you would want to even if you could. But I would suggest taking your shoes to a cobbler and seeing if they know of some trick-of-the-trade.

Bummer about your shoe being discontinued. when my favorite VFF went end-of-life, I did manage to get 3 pairs at a discount from various sources on the internet, and I still use them, cycling through them. Also, a Vivobarefoot shoe I really liked for the style because discontinued, but I found a store in Australia that still had it in stock. They weren't willing to ship overseas, but a very kind VFer agreed to buy them for me and ship them to me, in exchange for Paypal, which was amazing. I was really lucky though - for the availability of the shoe and the kindness of an aussie VFer.

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06-02-16, 11:25 PM
lreidgreen VF Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: New Jersey	Repairing/Replacing Soles on Sneakers I know this sounds crazy but I have a pair of New Balance Minimus trail runners that I love. They do not make them anymore and I cannot find them anywhere online. The vibram sole on one side has a hole in it. I am getting by with duct tape (the universal adhesive) Is there a service somewhere that replaces soles on fitness shoes? Not sure it is even possible but I thought I would ask.

09-24-16, 02:24 PM
marki64 Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Wisconsin	They make shoes so cheaply these days. I would just get a new pair. it would probably cost more to repair anyway.

09-24-16, 04:11 PM
lreidgreen VF Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: New Jersey	I would buy new but New Balance doesn't make this style of shoe anymore. It was their Minimus trail runner. I bought their latest Minimus shoe which has also been discontinued but they are not the same. I use them for workouts at home. I ended up buying Merrell shoes for walking/running which are even more "minimal" than the New Balance version.

09-24-16, 04:42 PM
luvcritters VF Supporter Join Date: Nov 2001	You could check the internet or the yellow pages for "shoe repair" or a "cobbler." We have at least 2 shoe repair shops in my area and my area isn't very big. I'm glad they're still around. I hope you find someone. My NB's are discontinued too and my feet would like those shoes back. __________________ Linda Trust no one. - X-Files, and me. Comfort food only provides comfort while it's in your mouth. - Me

09-28-16, 12:41 PM
Pratima Exchange Moderator Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Phoenix, AZ	What's the model? I'm pretty good at finding old shoes...because I never want to switch either! I'm guessing they're not these. __________________ Don't care what people say, just follow your own way. -- Enigma, Return to Innocence DISCLOSURE: I have professional relationships with several producers of fitness videos and related products; please see my profile for details.

09-28-16, 02:41 PM
lreidgreen VF Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: New Jersey	Those are not them. They totally redesigned them and not in a good way, IMO. They are not minimal anymore or at least not like the older ones. I have found the ones I want but only the extremely small sizes so I am out of luck I am afraid. If I knew they were discontinuing that style I would have purchased several pairs.

09-28-16, 05:46 PM
Helen Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Australia	I admire your wish to repair before replacing - we need more people with that mindset, but I'm not optimistic in this context. __________________ 2024: 👏 STRIVE rather than settle.👏 💪STRONG rather than soft.💪 • No exercise can compensate for a poor diet. 😖 • Walking is phenomenally good for me. 😊 • Resistance training is critical. 💯 ¹ Walk first ² Weights next ³ Cardio for fun ⁴ Add stretch & balance.

09-29-16, 07:06 AM
beyond.omega VF Supporter Join Date: Dec 2006	A couple decades ago, I wanted to save a pair of combat boots whose soles had worn out, and took them to a cobbler. He explained to me that he can resole them, but he has to add a mid-sole to them, and then recommended several different soles to add (including a vibram street option, like DocMartens). The point he was making is that the midsole was a considerable cost - combat boots aren't built with them because they are considered..."expendable". However, putting a mid-sole on a shoe kind of detracts from minimalism, in the modern sense of a shoe, so I'm not sure if you would want to even if you could. But I would suggest taking your shoes to a cobbler and seeing if they know of some trick-of-the-trade. Bummer about your shoe being discontinued. when my favorite VFF went end-of-life, I did manage to get 3 pairs at a discount from various sources on the internet, and I still use them, cycling through them. Also, a Vivobarefoot shoe I really liked for the style because discontinued, but I found a store in Australia that still had it in stock. They weren't willing to ship overseas, but a very kind VFer agreed to buy them for me and ship them to me, in exchange for Paypal, which was amazing. I was really lucky though - for the availability of the shoe and the kindness of an aussie VFer.