Resole Your Shoes: It's the Greenest Way to Keep Kicks on Your Feet

I hate buying new shoes—and I know I'm not the only one. I can see it in the faces of shoe-shoppers everywhere: that half-frown plastered on some guy aimlessly wandering through Payless or that sniffling woman who's trying to shake that weird new shoe/sweaty sock smell that floats through the aisles.

And it's precisely why I'm currently wearing a pair of sneakers that literally has a hole in the sole the size of my thumb.

You see, I love those sneakers?why would I want to throw them out and subject myself to the horrors of the shoe store?

The good news is, I don't have to: I can simply resole my favorite shoes and wear them forever! Resoling your shoes is actually an extremely simple process that even the most arts and crafts-challenged can complete in just half an hour. And it's the most sustainable way to keep shoes on your feet. All you'll need are some common household tools, a couple composition half-soles and heels, and some shoe-repair contact cement. The latter two can be bought at most variety stores (try Target) or shoemakers.

With the goods in hand, you'll be ready to set about resoling. Just follow this straightforward guide on how to resole your shoes from How Stuff Works. Then make sure to take good care of them to make them last even longer afterward.

If you're strapped for time, or have no interest in at-home cobbling, you can always have your shoes resoled professionally. There are actually more pro shoemakers still around than you probably would've thought—just check out this extensive list of shoe repairers in New York City alone. Any of them would be glad to quote you a price for resoling your shoes (though they may look at you strangely if you bring them sneakers). And if you've got Patagonia shoes, Mountain Soles will extend the life of your shoes thanks to special arrangement between the two.

So next time you're looking sadly at your favorite beaten up shoes and dreading a trip to the mall, consider resoling the good ol' boys and sparing them from the landfill in the process.