Hi everyone,

Just wondering who has had any recent experience with boot repair and resoling in the Lower Mainland. For years Gold Star on Dunbar was the recommended place to go and I've always had good experiences with them. However, I've heard that Gold Star has changed ownership and may have closed down completely. A friend recently had rock shoes repaired by the new owners with poor quality results. Quick Cobbler does boot repair and resoling but I'm unclear about their experience and quality. During a recent visit to MEC a staff member could not recommend anyone.

Thanks!

I had my mountaineering boots resoled by Gold Star this summer. I have been on only one three day trip with the boots since but the resole job looks good and kept up well on that trip. I have another two hiking boot pairs to be resoled and was going to go to Gold Star again. The price was stiff ($150+, if I remember) but beats the price of new boots.

Hi Peter,

Thanks for the feedback! That's good to hear - I think I have a bit more mileage on my mountaineering boots, hopefully till next summer, but I'll see how it goes. $150 is expensive, but as you point out, is still cheaper than new boots or, from my recent experience with a friend at Quick Cobbler, their charge of about $190!

Murray

My son had a pair of mountaineering boots repaired at Gold Star about a year ago, with excellent results.  They aren't cheap.

Glenn

Thanks, Glenn - yes, definitely not cheap. Re Gold Star's status - I get the impression that the change of ownership is more recent...

Murray

Ah, maybe it has changed hands again.  If I recall, the old(er) guy who had it for years retired or died and it was taken over by his daughter.  I was in there last week to buy some shoelaces (I live 2 minutes walk away) and there was a man in there I didn't recognize.

Alpine start on broadway is the new local dealer for Meindl boots.  They periodically ship boots to Germany for resoling by Meindl.  I had this done for my hiking boots recently - the cost was $200.

Thanks for the info, Scott. How long did it take to get the boots back?

Murray

It took 2-3 months

Thank, Scott - wow, 2-3 months is a long time to wait for boots! OK I guess if you're not using them for that period (e.g. in the winter) or have a second pair, but I think I'd definitely want faster service. And the Meindl price seems higher than what Peter paid...

Murray