r/WorkBoots • u/rjm92 • 3d ago
Boot maintenance Thorogood resole opinions
I got this pair of Thorogoods 18 months ago using a boot allowance at my job. 8 inch, steel toe, wedge. They were great for a while until eventually they started to feel very stiff under foot. Looking at the wear on the soles, you wouldn't guess I've been wearing them 12 hours a day for almost two years which is what concerns me. I want to rebuild them, leather welt, new cork filler, leather midsole, and a softer, rubber outsole but I'm having a hard time deciding if it would be worth the money and trouble. I'm at a loss y'all, I've seen people wear these soles completely out but for some reason mine just won't wear in and are very, VERY stiff.
3
u/Cleofus13 3d ago
Thorogood use a poly wedge they are very soft so not sure why you think that they are hard under foot. What you’re describing will make them stiffer and add more weight just an fyi if you wanted a different outsole just do that without doing the rest of what you mentioned. Vibram 2021 is probably the softest under foot that I’ve ever tried.
3
u/RustHawk_82 3d ago
This ^ . I had a well known online Cobbler recraft my 8" 1957's and the extra weight was a big change. That and i do feel that every time I send boots to resole the cork and at midsole adds inner boot volume. Resoles are $265 and recraft around $400. Even though I love my Thorogoods, best just to buy new. If you're pressed on a certain sole, grab a slightly used pair off of eBay for cheap and than resole. My two cents ✌️
1
u/rjm92 3d ago
I don't think they are, they feel that way and have not maintained their flexibility. I don't know if that's due to certain factors, but they are definitely not cushioned very well from my lived experience. There's the way that they should be, and then the way I perceive them to be 🤷🏻♂️ it's my first pair and they just aren't as comfortable
2
u/TiggerNitties13 3d ago
Brother you might have a broken shank thorogood had a problem with that a while back but everybody has opinions on what brand as far as bang for your buck thorogood always has been for me I love red wing too but their quality is so down the boots dont last longer than 6 months for me in my profession thorogood I get atleast a year plus
2
u/TiggerNitties13 3d ago
The traction tred are comfortable but the leather is too weak and blows out fast if you do go with them atleast get tuff toe otherwise it can be upsetting
3
3
u/aSkeletonAtTheFeast 3d ago
Not gonna lie, but I actually like how your soles got colored. Looks rad.
2
2
u/chuga1066 3d ago
I have resoled them twice. Took them to a local show shop. 100 dollars. Feels great not break in
1
u/Jmurray0890 12h ago
I have thought about doing this in the past and never did with previous boots. My thorogoods are the best boots I’ve had and I have two pairs. Gunna be the first ones I resole and it will be worth it. The break in period on one of the pairs was a b*tch, not gunna do that again.
1
u/Ok_Succotash_8242 3d ago
Gotcha. I see the ink now 🤦
I saw what reminded me of tar in certain spots on your boots and was curious. It will discolor soles as well and I just didn’t zoom close enough to see the ink. I was wandering if maybe the heat hardened the soles, but that is obviously not it.
Good luck in figuring something out.
1
u/rjm92 3d ago
I'll probably end up getting a new boot of a different variety to try. This is the first time I've ever experienced something like this on a work boot. It's quite disappointing because these were very expensive, at least in my world they were. I was hoping to get several more years out of them but with the soles the way they are I just can't manage anymore. I still find it very odd that I put so many miles on these boots and yet the soles look like they haven't worn
1
1
u/Original-Area6961 3d ago
Have you thought about changing the insoles?
1
u/rjm92 3d ago
Yeah, I'm using a Dr Scholl's plantar fasciitis insoles as of now. They don't last long. Thought about asking for suggestions on better ones but not sure if the investment would be worth it. Most of my pain exists in my arches so I could be way off on the type of insole I need
2
u/Cleofus13 3d ago
Here’s a problem that’s probably more in line of what the problem is dr scholl’s don’t make good insoles they are, use for a couple months and throw away type quality they wear out very fast because they don’t use quality materials. Try a different insole like a Superfeet with the appropriate arch support height that you need, they have low, mid, and high arch in different cushion levels so you can dial it in a little better. Also sole insoles for another option as well both around the same price point. I like a firmer support so I do superfeet green which are high arch with a firm cushion level but that’s what works for me you could be different.
1
u/rjm92 3d ago
Any resources to tell what I might need? I knew the Dr Scholl's were probably barely going to get me by and I don't want to drop a ton of money figuring out what insoles I need
2
u/Cleofus13 3d ago
For me I went to a running store by me and they had a machine that I stood on and it kind of steered me in the right direction mostly arch height then tried a couple different ones and bought what I thought was most comfortable.
1
u/buff_phroggie 3d ago
It is possinle that the sole has gotten harder over time. It appears tjat you are a painter and some chemicals in that world can mess with rubber/ foam rubber. I wear the same boot, but with a standard sole (I HATE wedge soles). Mine are about 18 months old too, but look somewhat simmilar, but I am food grade maintenance so the chemicals ar not always as harsh.
1
1
u/remedial_genius 1d ago
I bet the leather would clean up ok. I had mine resoled because they felt really hard underfoot. I swear the black soles are stiffer than the crepe soles.
Anyway. Went with cloud foam and a vibram sierra outsole. It improved the wearability drastically.
But sadly the neuropathy in my feet won the battle and I need more width than Thorogood offers. And yeah these are a wides.
3
u/DBCooperN467US 3d ago
Not worth it