[OGZ's Yamamachi Tokyo + Azumino Special Edition] Did you know?! We'll be talking about the Vibram resole service, which allows you to replace almost any type of shoes, and hiking in the low mountains of Azumino!
However, surprisingly few people know that Vibram is actively promoting resoling services! And the scope of resoling goes beyond just hiking boots! Wouldn't it be interesting to know that you can resoling almost any shoe? And if it's possible to resoling even shoes that normally can't be resoled, the possibilities are almost endless, and it goes beyond resoling and into the realm of customization.
After hearing such a story, I couldn't stay calm! So I decided to visit Vibram Japan in Tokyo. I have visited the company before as Gearjin.
Past visit reports!
table of contents
Vibram Japan Office !
The Vibram office and showroom is as impressive as ever, with resole samples displayed everywhere, making it a space you could spend forever just looking at them.
The showroom was a great opportunity to talk about how to resole your own shoes and look at various samples; it was entirely possible to resole shoes with soles that curl up at the front, like these shoes.
What's more, the combinations of patterns and compounds are almost limitless, and you can even choose the color, so you're sure to be spoilt for choice in a good way.
There are even samples of the shoes themselves.
So, what I'm trying to order this time are not hiking boots or anything like that (!), but of course this is also possible, and Mr. Hirano from Vibram Japan suggested that it would be interesting to change the image by changing the sole to a flashy color, but I wanted to keep the original look and asked for a similar color pattern. The yellow that was suggested also looked interesting (lol).
These are the boots I ordered from the now-defunct fashion brand "Final Home." They're the only product still in existence, and it's a pair I'd like to keep wearing. As you can see, the heels are starting to wear down.
There's almost no pattern left (lol). Also, it doesn't have any grip at all, which is a nice thing to say, so you have to be careful on rainy days. Before you even notice the pattern, the compound is no good.
Resole completed!
And here are the newly resole Final Home boots. They're the same color so it's hard to tell, but the original sole was scraped and smoothed out, and a new sole was glued on. This varies depending on the shoes being resole.
The result is so beautiful and natural, you wouldn't even notice unless you were told.
The pattern was also very similar to the previous specifications, so there was no sense of incongruity at all.
I was impressed that the worn heel area was finished to be completely flat.
However, I was concerned about the grip. At first glance, the pattern looks the same as before, so I was curious to see if they would provide a good grip!? I wasn't sure what they were worth as city shoes on dry roads, so I decided to take them for a hike, and that's what I'll report on next.
However, please note that this is an experimental study and we do not recommend going hiking or mountain climbing in city boots.
And then to the site!
The place I chose for this hike was the area around Mt. Kojo, which I briefly mentioned at the end of my previous Azumino and Hotaka posts and which the Higashiyama Mountain Hiking Club apparently often climbs. I've been to this area on reporting trips, but I've never had the time to do a proper hike. I'd always wanted to climb a mid- to high-altitude mountain in this area, so I decided on this mountain range, where I could easily climb and descend in the morning and even wear boots.
From a past visit.
Even though it's a Vibram compound sole, I wonder how it will work...!? I started hiking, still wondering about it.
So we started climbing, but the trail was steeper than I expected, and the trail itself was well-maintained and easy to walk on.
Although they are easy to walk in, there are some slippery areas that are sandy, so be careful. And then there's the all-important Vibram sole... it grips like crazy without any problems at all!? I'm still not over the feeling I had before, so I'm feeling a little uneasy (bitter smile). Of course, since they're a slip-on type, your feet do move around inside the shoe, but the grip of the sole itself is incredible, so I don't feel uneasy at all!
I was amazed at how much grip that sole pattern could provide, and enjoyed the hike.
Looks like we've reached the top.
It seems like you can go in all directions from here.
From the top to the turnaround!
There were quite a few hikers at the top and it was quite lively.
The azalea season had just ended low down in the mountains, but up on the mountain they were still vibrant and beautiful.
The temple appears to have been there for quite some time and is incredibly well-maintained, which shows how much the locals love this mountain.
And you can see the Northern Alps in all their glory!
Although it is a low mountain, the view from here is amazing, and it's nice to just look at it without having to climb up there.
The signboard is a clear type that I don't see very often, which is great and I hope other places adopt it too.
This place is also great because it is equipped with a rest hut, which is rare for a low mountain!
I wish I could stay here forever, but that's not possible, so I'll just go back.
The leaf-fall areas that are common on low mountains can be slippery even with poor hiking shoes, but this was no problem at all. As long as you take one step firmly, you'll be fine!
Honestly, I'm impressed that these boots have become so useful, but I won't be hiking in them again (lol).
Yes, we made it back without any problems. It took just under two hours, including a short break at the top of the mountain.
Conclusion and resol process.
I'm impressed with the Vibram Re-sole! It's amazing that something that was originally a fashion boot can be returned to such a usable state, and thinking that I'll be able to continue wearing my beloved shoes for a while longer just makes me feel that it was worth it. I can't say this applies to every pair of shoes, but in most cases, the outer layer is perfectly fine and the sole wears out first. So, given the current trend towards sustainability, I think it's a great thing to have another option before throwing them away. What's more, it's a luxury to be able to add your own touch to them, so I think Vibram Re-sole is a great choice!
As for the essential Vibram Resoling process, it begins with a consultation with a Vibram certified store, of which there are only two (!) in the entire country.
・Nakada Trading Company: Specializes in outdoor shoes and boots
・Sample introduction (see reference budget here)
Vibram Sole Factor/Mainly for dress shoes, but also suitable for sneakers and other shoes
・Repair consultation | Contact us
Regarding repair costs, which repair shop should you choose? It depends on the degree of damage to your shoes, so we recommend referring to the two websites above, says Hirano from Vibram Japan. Regarding the final decision on what to do with your shoes, you can either send them in or bring them in. First, start by accessing the resole request form and consulting us. Vibram Japan also has a special article on resoles, so be sure to read that!
・RESOLE-Vibram-ism https://vibram-jp.com/resole/
One point that Hirano wants people to know about this place is that "there are companies that can resole not only leather shoes and stitched-down shoes, but also cemented sneakers and hiking boots. Nakada Shokai in particular can also handle special shoes such as hiking boots with welts and telemark boots. I recommend that you first consult with one of the certified shops before throwing away your shoes." This means that there is a possibility that those shoes that you had given up on until now can actually be resole!?
What did you think of the Vibram resole feature? It really expands the possibilities for your existing shoes, so I think it's a service I'd like to see more of in the future. I'm sure I'll be using it for a while longer, and I'll be grinning and pondering over it again when the time comes.
The area around Azumino Mitsushiroyama is easy to climb, has beautiful views, and has the depth of being able to go anywhere if you want to, which makes me think that satoyama is really great.
Vibram Japan official website https://vibram-jp.com/
Vibram official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vibram/
Vibram Japan official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vibram_japan/
Vibram official YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoqFP9DElb99uiE6ckzD6IA
Yans
A person who has grown into a gear lover and finally ended up writing on Gear Gin. He has been a tough gear enthusiast and loves modifying and making his own gear, and also loves outdoor events. We would like to place emphasis on brand exploration and shop reviews.
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