Is it worth buying used shoes and resole them completely?

[Aleksejs]

Hello.

I see many are not buying second-hand shoes because of the cork layer melted to the other person foot.
I want to buy Church loafers for £150 (new £500), and just to resole them.

What do you guys think?
Are there any more concerns?

 

[Caustic Man]

I wouldn't worry about resoling a pair of used shoes unless they actually have heavily worn soles. The cork layer isn't as a big a deal as it might seem. Sure, it molds to your feet over time but this is rarely a major impediment to wearing shoes comfortably. Keeping that in mind, if the shoes are uncomfortable it is unlikely that resoling will significantly change that.

 

[philosophe]

Doesn't really make sense. A quality resoling job is quite expensive, and the uppers of the shoes will still reflect someone else's foot. I'd start a savings project for a pair of my own.

 

[Reiver]

Doesn't really make sense. A quality resoling job is quite expensive, and the uppers of the shoes will still reflect someone else's foot. I'd start a savings project for a pair of my own.

Unfortunately I have to agree with this. I think lightly worn, barely broken in shoes would be ok but I would imagine by the time they are due a resole they will be fully shaped to the original owners foot which I doubt can be undone.

Also as @pilosophe said a quality resole is expensive, maybe up to £100 which makes them less of a bargain.

I could however be wrong and your plan may work.

I once got some Alfred Sargent Veldtschoen used and had plans to resole from leather to commando sole but the insole just felt wrong for my feet. The toe indentations were in the wrong place which never felt right so I moved them on unfortunately.