In short: where your soles wear tells you whether to patch them, replace the heel or replace the whole sole.
Worn soles are only natural. But where they wear tells you quite a lot: about how you walk, whether the shoes suit you, and most importantly whether they can still be repaired or it is time for new soles.
Many people wait until the sole has a hole before bringing them in. By then it is often too late, because the upper part of the sole has been damaged too.
Reading the wear
| Where it wears | Usually caused by | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Outer edge of the heel | The natural gait of most people | Replace the heel piece, cheap and quick |
| Inner edge of the heel | Feet rolling inward | Replace the heel, and consider orthotic insoles |
| Toe | Dragging the toe when walking | Patch the toe or add a protector |
| Even wear across the sole | Heavy use, sole at the end of its life | Replace the whole sole |
| One shoe clearly more worn | Left and right feet carry different loads | Check the pair; balancing insoles may be needed |
The two shoes wearing slightly differently is normal. But a big difference is worth noticing, because uneven shoes make your gait more uneven, which in turn affects your knees and back.
Three levels, three fixes
Level 1: outer layer worn, tread still visible
The grooves are still visible even though faded. This is the cheapest time to act: replace the heel piece or add a protective layer over the worn area. Low cost, and the original sole is kept.
Level 2: worn completely flat, no tread left
The sole is smooth and slips on wet floors. The worn part can still be patched, but if the worn area is large, resoling usually makes more sense in the long run.
Level 3: hole in the sole, inner layer showing
It needs resoling. Water and dirt have reached the midsole, and if you keep going the upper will be damaged too, and then even a new sole will not save it.
Why it pays to fix it early
- Much cheaper. Replacing a heel piece costs far less than replacing the whole sole.
- Keeps the shape. Walking for a long time on unevenly worn soles deforms the upper, and once the shape is skewed, even a new sole will not fully straighten it.
- Safety. Smooth soles with no grip cause slips and falls on wet floors.
- Less foot pain. Uneven soles force your ankles to compensate constantly.
Temporary fixes worth thinking twice about
There are a few tips online for adding grip to smooth soles, such as sticking on grip tape or sanding the sole. They work for a very short time, and there are two things to know:
- Sanding thins a sole that is already thin, shortening the remaining life of the shoes.
- Tape leaves adhesive on the sole, which the technician has to clean off before fitting a new piece, so it takes more work.
Fine if you just need grip for one day. But for long-term use, replacing the heel piece is still cheaper.
Worn soles on sports shoes
Sports shoes wear faster than everyday shoes, and in places typical of each sport. Badminton and pickleball shoes usually wear at the forefoot and the inner edge from constant side-to-side sliding.
These can be resoled and used for a long time afterwards, especially expensive pairs whose uppers are still good. Details on our page about pickleball and badminton shoe resoling.
Badminton and pickleball shoes wear differently depending on the brand. See badminton shoe resoling for Yonex, Victor, Li-Ning or pickleball shoe resoling for Asics, Babolat, Skechers.
When to bring them to the shop
- Wear down to the point of losing the tread in any area.
- The two shoes clearly worn unevenly.
- Odd noises or a lump when you step, a sign the midsole is damaged.
- The sole starting to separate at the same time as the wear; see also our article on regluing a separated shoe sole.
See our shoe repair pricing for heel and sole replacement. Not sure what level your pair is at? Take a photo of the sole and book online, and we can tell from the wear whether to patch or resole, and how much it will cost.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know the sole needs replacing?
Two signs: the tread worn flat with no grip left, or wear that has reached the differently coloured midsole. Once it is through to the midsole, adding a protector cannot save it.
What does resoling cost and how long does it take?
Resoling is 300,000d – 850,000d and usually takes 2 to 4 days, because the adhesive needs time under clamps. See shoe repair pricing.
Can uneven wear on one side be repaired?
Yes. Soles wear unevenly with your gait, so the technician builds the worn side back up or replaces the whole sole. Light heel wear only needs an anti-wear layer; see Vibram sole protectors.
Where do I get badminton or pickleball shoes resoled?
Both need a non-marking sole made for the sport. Foxpro has a dedicated service, see pickleball and badminton shoe resoling, priced 300,000d – 400,000d.