Our craftsmen have been installing sole protectors on shoes since 1955. Trusted by generations of Australians and a host of designer brands, we take care of thousands of pairs of shoes each year. If you are looking to install a shoe sole protector near you, then look no further — we service all of Australia with an easy online service.
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A team of experienced craftsmen will install sole protectors on your shoes.
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Rubber sole protectors are thin soles overlaid on the main soles of shoes for enhanced longevity and traction on otherwise slippery surfaces. While sole protectors for designer shoes are very common, they are reasonably affordable and suitable on most shoes with soles that are otherwise prone to wear — especially leather soles.
Sole protectors are thin (about 1mm thick), carefully shaped to fit the shoes to which they are attached, and come in a variety of colours and finishes — all of which help to avoid disturbing the original silhouette or aesthetic of the shoes and, in fact, help to sustain it. Moreover, the rubbers used for these protective soles offer improved grip, especially when they include a light anti-slip tread.
Adding a sole protector (sometimes referred to as a “leather sole protector” or a “topy sole protector”) is generally feasible where the main soles are brand new or net yet too heavily worn. Otherwise, a shoe resole may be required.
The best sole protector for a given pair of shoes depends on a few factors, including the construction of the shoes and composition of the main soles. However, we always use premium rubbers made of high-grade rubber compounds by Vibram and Casali in Italy and TOPY in France.
Read on to learn more about our sole protector installation services.
Sole protectors vary by length, in that they can cover the full length of shoes or only those flatter parts of the soles that touch the ground. While full protective rubber soles only offer additional protection on shoes that are flat, since the whole of each sole touches the ground, they also sometimes offer a superior aesthetic, because the whole of each sole is covered (i.e. with no change in colour or texture part-way down the soles).
The rubbers we use for our sole protectors are made from a variety of colours made to approximate and occasionally match the colour of the main soles of the shoes on which they are installed.
The following are some of the colours we use, subject to availability in our workshop and with our suppliers.
Sole protectors vary by not only colour but also finish or texture. This additional variety allows us to trade off between sole protectors that offer superior durability and traction as against those that do better at integrating with the aesthetics of the original soles. Regardless of the finish, all rubbers used for protective soles retain their original colour as they are worn.
Matte sole protectors are made of the hardest-wearing rubber and with a light tread, making them an ideal option for customers looking for the best in both durability and traction.
Glossy sole protectors are specifically manufactured with a finish that allows them to integrate aesthetically with shoes originally manufactured with high-gloss soles.
Sole protectors are available in a silk finish similar to the matte finish but with a smooth texture intended to mimic that of the original leather.
A common question that arises in the minds of buyers of new shoes (especially more expensive shoes) is whether to install rubber sole protectors to preserve the original soles and how best to proceed when the decision is made to do so. However, the trade-offs involved in making these decisions are rarely clear.
Sole protectors are quite thin (about as thin as a 10 cent coin) and yet made of extremely hard-wearing rubber, so they last a very long time compared to unprotected leather soles that are otherwise exposed to exposed to the elements and tend to wear away quite quickly. Moreover, sole protectors are reasonably affordable, with a complete replacement of the original soles generally costing 3–4 times the cost of installing protective soles.
So a relatively small investment in sole protectors represents an excellent value-for-money proposition in avoiding more expensive repairs down the track and extending the useful lives of shoes — especially where those shoes will be worn regularly on rougher surfaces.
Naked leather soles tend to be slippery on wet or smooth surfaces. Protective soles naturally offer greater traction because the rubber from which they are made is marginally more flexible and often comes with an anti-slip tread.
There are a few myths around sole protectors that are worth discussing.
Myth #1: Sole protectors disturb the aesthetics and offset the balance of shoes
Sole protectors are often believed to be rubber soles simply glued over the top of the original soles. We understand where this belief can come from, as we have seen cases where cobblers do this, leaving the shoes looking tacky. You can see an example of this below, with the ‘before’ and ‘after’ photos.
However, we perform additional work to ensure the sole protectors are properly installed without disturbing the balance and silhouette of the shoes. In particular, we:
Choose the ideal sole protector having regard to the shape, colour and thickness of the original soles;
Sand down the main soles slightly so that the sole protectors, which are only about 1mm thin, sit flush with the rest of the soles and do not protrude when installed with proper adhesives; and
Carefully shape the protective soles and finish the edges with a colour-matched dressing to ensure that they fit the aesthetics of the main soles.
Myth #2: Sole protectors prevent the underlying leather soles from breathing
It is true that leather generally needs to breathe. Like skin, exposure to air allows the moisture on leather soles to naturally evaporate, thereby preventing mildew and rot. However, the trade-offs to be considered in relation to leather soles on shoes are different.
In particular, unprotected leather soles are prone to significant and often quite quick wear and damage (much more than, say, a leather jacket that does not hit the ground with each step). Leaving leather soles unprotected leaves them exposed to the risk of disintegration due to exposure to the elements and of eventually wearing into harder-to-repair parts of the shoes, while the cost of completely replacing the leather soles is generally several times the cost of merely replacing a pair of overlaid sole protectors.
In these respects, the preservation of leather soles with rubber sole protectors will leave the shoes significantly better off compared with simply allowing the leather soles to breathe while worn.
If your are looking for extra protection for a pair of new or lightly worn soles, then you might be interested in a pair of toe plates.
Toe plates are installed on the front of soles (usually wear-prone leather soles) to protect them where they otherwise tend to wear fastest. These are available in rubber, steel or brass and either installed over the top of a new pair of soles or flush with the rest of the soles.
We also perform a variety of other specialist shoe repair services. If you do not see what you are looking for or you are not quite sure what your shoes need, learn more about our shoe repair services or select the ‘Soles’ option while completing our order form — you will then be able to describe and upload photos of your soles, which we will then review and recommend work for.
Here is some of the feedback we have received from customers whose shoes we have installed sole protectors on.
Drop off from my post office was a breeze and was able to recieve the shoes after 8 days. Quality of work is great. The transition between the leather sole and topy sole is seamless. I will definitely use SoleHeeled again in the future.
Great service from SoleHeeled. The workmanship is top quality and exceeded my expectations. No hesitation in recommending.
SoleHeeled did a wonderful job in making sure the leather soles on my designer shoes aren't damaged by the city streets. The team was reassuring and the shoes look perfect! Couldn't be happier with the result. Highly recommend.
I ordered repairs for my designer shoes, which the team took great care of and very little time to fix. I am thoroughly impressed with the quality of the craftsmanship. The team was very responsive and patient with my enquiries. Thanks team!
Love the online system. I am based interstate and the whole process from start to finish was fast and efficient. Competitively priced. Great repair job on my shoes!
And all regional areas ...
Here are a few examples of shoe sole protectors installed by our team of experienced cobblers, along with before and after photos.
These Rene Caovilla Cleo shoes were brand new, but the signature glitter leather soles were unprotected and prone to accelerated wear. We installed sole protectors to both enhance traction and keep the soles looking fresh for longer.
The rose gold leather around these Jimmy Choo Lancer heels was extensively scuffed and discoloured, and the leather soles were visibly worn. We recoloured / refinished the leather around the shoes and also installed a pair of thin rubber sole protectors.
The leather soles on these Herring Chelsea boots were visibly worn after only one wear. To enhance both longevity and traction, we installed flush metal toe plates alongside rubber sole protectors.
These Loeffler Randall Camellia Bow shoes were dirty, and the leather soles were unprotected, leaving them prone to accelerated wear and tear. We cleaned the shoes and installed premium sole protectors.
These Scanlan Theodore boots were in excellent condition, but the soles were unprotected and showing signs of wear after only a few wears. We installed protective soles.
These Manolo Blahnik Lurum shoes were a little worse for wear after a wedding, with the leather soles visibly worn, the satin uppers stained, and one of the crystals was missing. We clean and re-dyed the satin to black, we replaced the missing crystal, and we repaired and protected the soles.
The rubber heel caps and leather soles on these Hermès Santorini sandals were heavily worn. We replaced the heel caps and also repaired and protected the soles.
The glittery uppers on these Jimmy Choo Misty 120 shoes were discoloured, and the leather soles were worn and unprotected. We restored the glitter, and repaired and protected the soles.
The leather soles on these Manolo Blahnik Hangisi pumps were worn and unprotected. We repaired the soles and installed a pair of thin, textured protective soles, for improved durability and grip.
The heels on these Salvatore Ferragamo Double Bow Pump Shoes were heavily damaged after a run in with an escalator, and the unprotected leather soles were showing signs of significant wear. We re-covered the heel blocks with new leather and installed a pair of premium rubber sole protectors.
These Louis Vuitton Silhouette Ankle boots were brand new, with the original glossy leather soles unprotected and lacking traction. We installed a pair of premium rubber protective soles over the top of the original soles to enhance both durability and grip.
These Hermès Oran sandals were brand new, with the original leather soles and combination leather + rubber heels unprotected. We protected the original soles and heels from wear and improved traction without detracting from the shoes aesthetically by installing a pair of premium sole and heel protectors.
Here is a list of recent shoe sole protection orders we have received from customers across Australia.
November 2024
Sydney
Loake
Dress
Soles, Clean / restore
Need a topy sole protector over the soles to stop me stacking it. Also, I seem to have a strange-looking water mark on the right shoe.
November 2024
Wollongong
Jimmy Choo
Heels
Soles, Heels
Replace rubber heels and leather soles, with an added rubber sole protector.
November 2024
Melbourne
Salvatore Ferragamo
Dress
Soles
Please add anti-slip sole protectors.
November 2024
Sydney
Gucci
Loafers
Soles
Brand new shoes needing protection of the soles.
November 2024
Brisbane
Christian Dior
Heels
Soles, Heels tips
New shoes. Protective soles needed. I'd also like steel heel tips in place of the existing rubber (or plastic?) tips.
November 2024
Brisbane
R.M. Williams
Boots
Soles
Leather sole very slippery. Please add treaded rubber sole for grip.
November 2024
Sydney
Valentino
Heels
Soles, Heels
I would like to add sole protectors on the front half of the shoes.
November 2024
Newcastle
Louboutin
Heels
Soles, Heels
Looking to get my heels fixed and a sole protector.
It's all very quick and easy — promise!
The cost of installing a pair of sole protectors varies depending on the type of sole protectors involved. Installing half-length sole protectors can cost as little as $79, while installing full-length sole protectors can cost up to $149. Meanwhile, opting for Casali rubber soles with a glossy or silk finish, over a regular Vibram or Topy sole protector, adds $20–30 to the total cost.
Simply complete our order form to get a free diagnosis/quote based on your particular requirements.
The best shoe sole protector always depends on the type of shoe involved and what exactly the customer is looking for.
TOPY and Vibram rubber sole protectors are the best options when the goal is to preserve the main soles and improve traction as much as possible — because these soles are made of the hardest-wearing rubber compounds and include an anti-slip tread. While Casali's glossy and silk-finish rubber sole protectors also help to preserve the original soles and improve grip, they do a better job at blending in with the original soles aesthetically.
We often receive enquiries about transparent or clear sole protectors or sole protector stickers, which are widely available online for use as DIY sole protectors. However, we do not use these ourselves and do not recommend their use, as they tend to wear away and become discoloured quite quickly. Having a professional install your sole protectors is always a better option as we can ensure the materials used will last as long as they ought to, look great and complement the design of the shoes on which they are installed.
The time it takes to complete a sole protector installation varies depending on the particular work required and the workload in the workshop when the shoes are received.
We are generally able to complete basic sole protector installations within 2-5 business days of receiving shoes at the workshop. This extends to 1-2 weeks for most specialist sole protector installations.
If you will be using our free shipping service (rather than dropping off and picking up your shoes at the workshop), then you should also factor in shipping time via Australia Post. This varies depending on your location, but generally takes no more than a few business days if you're in a metropolitan area and otherwise up to 5 business days (if you're in a regional or remote area).
Once you submit your online order form, you'll be given a token that allows you to track everything online, throughout the process of getting your shoes' soles protected.
And whenever your shoes are in transit (whether on their way to our workshop via Australia Post or on the way back to you via courier), you'll have a parcel tracking number and receive real-time shipping notifications by email.
Yes, you can drop off and pick up your shoes at our workshop in Martin Place, Sydney provided that:
