New boots or resole Meindl
Equipment
I have had a pair of Meindl boots for about 15 years. Yea I don't use them alot. Well the sole finally gave out to dry rot.
I contacted a Meindl authorized dealer to resole them. Cost was 140 plus shipping there, so I am guessing 155 to 160 total.
I have never resoled boots. I have always just bought new ones. However, these boots fit like a glove. After reading the post about Kentrek, I'm just curious if it is worth it to resole the boots or buy new ones.
I am guessing a new pair would cost about double the cost to resole, however do resole boots typically last as long?
I think if I wanted to resole it would also depend on the condition of the leather or the Goretex lining. If the leather is still good then it could be worth it to resole. I just bought a new pair of the Meindl comfort hunter boots and I am impressed with just like my previous Meindl’s. My last pair I bought from Cabela’s 16 years ago and they are on their last leg. I bought the comfort series this time around because they have a wider toe box.
i would resole them. if you haven't already, contact hoffman boots about resoling. they sell meindl and also resole many boots, not sure about meindl though. good folks.
Resole them for $175. How long they'll last depends on usage. Or try to find a pair of $175 boots that will last that long.
"these boots fit like a glove." Yeah, I'd resole.
Tough call. I’m in the same boat. My Meindls are so perfectly broken in I keep them in my gun safe. No dry rot yet but I imagine the leather has lost pliability and resoling may change the fit.
Let us know what you decide.
I was worried about the leather too. I sent a photo to the company Meindl suggested and he didn't mention any concerns with the leather. Just mentioned it was dry rot.
I am leaning towards resole. I will make sure to update.
For me it would depend on how much it would cost to replace them vs the cost of resole.
I have had great luck resoling boots with this guy in Seattle. Have done several pairs of lowa Tibet’s and Sheep hunters. Call and ask if he can do your specific boots. I bet he can. https://www.google.com/search?q=dave+cobbler+seattle&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-us&client=safari&dlnr=1&sei=UaKwZNbzOKn3kPIP-Z6j4AQ
https://www.davepagecobbler.com/
Use this.
Sounds like they are 15 years old. How not sure I’m would be too eager to invest much $ in them. Regardless of sole wear my boots are way worn out before that! Obviously you don’t wear them that much so is it really worth doing anything with them?
I personally find when I have things like that repaired they are just never quite what they used to be. I’d probably lean towards replacement myself. But admittedly I also like shiny new stuff too.
—Jim
Im in the same situation as you. And with my meindl’s also. I’ve had them for quite a few years and like you said they fit like a glove. Sheep and moose season are coming and I’ve decided to resole them instead of breaking in a new pair in the next month. I am taking an extra pair along just in case they don’t hold up. I don’t have many options in boots where we live so when you find a pair that works you keep them as long as possible. Lol.
I resolved a pair of mountain hunter extremes from kenetrek and the rest of the boot wore out before the sole. I use them for light excisions with no chance of getting wet. Everyone’s feet and boot experience is different, my meindls the toungue squeaked with every step I threw them in the garbage they drove me nuts
Shedhead, you threw a $300 + pair of boots away because of a squeaky tongue?! You could have sold those suckers quick. A good boot treatment would have cured that squeak right up. My old Meindl’s had a squeak and I used some Obenhauf’s treatment on them and not a single issue after that.
Easy decision, 100% resole if broken in. I had my Lowas done 3-4 years ago, nothing like having a boot broken in that’s perfect.
JT, that was my concern is the age, but they fit so good it's scary lol.
Then as someone else pointed out my fear is they won't be the same after resole. Ugh the decisions lol.
NVgoat that is exactly who I sent the picture too that Meindl suggested.
Mike, I am shocked you don't have options in moosehorn :).
If the boots actually have dry rot you can't save them.
However, if they don't, the leather is just dried out and they are sound internally I would resolve them if they were mine.
I have never had hunting boots resoled but have had it done to my Wesco work boots several times and it’s been great a new pair of boots that feel great day 1
I had a local guy stitch up a pair of Meindl Perfkt Hikers. New stitching lasted less than a month. Waste of money in my case, but certainly was not a recommended Meindl repair shop.
Do they replace the goretex booties as part of the repair? Can’t imagine that their integrity remains in tact after the use you’ve had.
You probably have 20 bucks a year in those things you bought in 2008. Get yourself a brand new pair of boots. You deserve it.
I was in the same boat a few years ago and got mocked and ridiculed relentlessly here for being a cheap ass for not wanting to buy new boots. My real motivation was the same as yours- the boots were like a protective part of my foot rather than a clunky ol' boot that I tied on and I hated to get rid of them. In the end, I threw them away and bought new boots. In hindsight, I think it was probably the right choice.
Yea I can't deny I am a little frugile at times lol. But do love they way they fit.
I am going to reach out one more time to the cobbler to ensure there won't be other issues.
“Frugile” sounds like a mix of frugal and futile. Probably pretty accurate. Bou said it best. U deserve new boots.
I had a pair of Meindls resoled by Dave Page, Cobbler three years go...still going strong today.
Bruce,
Thanks for the reply he seems like a straight shooter, so glad to get first hand knowledge.
I had a pair of Meindls resole’d by hoffmans. It was a brand new pair for my goat hunt but they did an excellent job.
I figured. I would update this post. I decided to have the boots resoled. I get them back tomorrow. I will update and add photos how they turned out.
Got my boots back today and they turned out great. New soles and waterproof treatment.
Dave Page was the Cobbler that did the work. He is an approved Meindal Cobbler and all my contacts with him were great.
Nice, what model are they? They look like the perfect hiker, but taller??
You know I don't know the model. I bought them when Cabelas had Meindal made them for them. I think I bought them around 2001.
Perfect. I’ll send my boots home with Bill next spring and have him get them resold also.
All that I have to say is…. You’re welcome!
I honestly don't think I ever had a pair of boots or shoes fit as good as these.
My Oakley warm weather boots are a distance second.
I should mention. I asked how to take care of the boots to prevent dry rot in the future.
Cobbler advised with the Vibram soles, there is no worry of dry rot. Don't ask me how, that's just what he said.
Glad to see they'll re-sole those. I never thought of doing that and simply just bought new pairs. I've been a big fan of Meindl for years as they just seem to fit my feet better than all the others I've tried. I started buying the Cabelas Denali (Vakuum Hunter) about 15 years ago and have gone through three pairs. I own the Comfort Hiker, Comfort Hunter, Vakuum, Perfekt Extreme (was previously Cabelas. When the time comes, perhaps I'll just get these re-soled.
Yea, it is hard to believe how good the boots fit.
So far I can highly recommend Dave Page who resoled mine
