Save our soles: cobblers on the best ways to look after shoes

With trainers replacing smart shoes for many occasions and regular turnover becoming the norm, shoe maintenance is slipping into a lost art. Cobblers say there is little they cannot fix: often a small gluing or stitching job can add months to a favourite pair, and resoling trainers or reinforcing split soles can be a cost-effective alternative to replacing them.

Choose footwear with care by checking linings and insoles—leather-lined shoes and anything beyond a cardboard insole will last better. For leather soles, have a thin rubber cover put on straight away to improve grip and wear; vegan options need a sturdy sole and reinforcement.

Rotate pairs so midsoles can decompress and dry out, and fit toe and heel protectors before those areas wear through. Leather needs feeding: oils penetrate to keep it supple while waxes are better as waterproofers used sparingly.

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