At Sole & Trail, we believe good footwear deserves a second life.
Based in Kendal, on the edge of the Lake District, we specialise in professional shoe repairs, Vibram resoling, cleaning and restoration. From trail running shoes and walking boots to everyday trainers, climbing shoes and premium leather footwear, our aim is simple: to keep the footwear you already love performing for longer.
Built on years of experience
Before starting Sole & Trail, Chris spent more than a decade working as part of The Key Cobbler team in Kendal, learning the trade and building experience across traditional shoe repair, modern footwear and specialist resoling.
As demand grew for repairs to trail running shoes, outdoor footwear and trainers, Chris saw an opportunity to build something more focused.
In 2026, Chris and his brother Ty created Sole & Trail as an independent repair workshop specialising in the footwear people wear outdoors, at work and every day.
Sole & Trail combines traditional cobbling skills with modern materials, specialist machinery and a genuine understanding of how performance footwear is constructed and used.
Built by people who love the outdoors
We are trail runners and outdoor enthusiasts ourselves, so we understand how important footwear can be.
Grip matters. Comfort matters. Weight matters. Reliability matters.
When choosing a replacement sole, we consider how the footwear was originally designed, where it will be used and what the customer wants to improve. We aim to maintain the intended weight, profile, flexibility and overall character of the footwear wherever possible.
Every repair is approached with the same care and attention we would expect for our own shoes.
Specialists in modern footwear
Although we still carry out traditional shoe repairs, Sole & Trail has been developed around modern footwear and specialist outdoor repairs.
Our services include:
• Trail and fell running shoe resoles
• Road running shoe repairs
• Walking and hiking boot repairs
• Vibram sole replacement
• Trainer repairs and restoration
• Climbing shoe resoling
• Birkenstock repairs
• Dr. Martens and Solovair repairs
• Leather shoe repairs
• Midsole repairs
• Regluing and stitching
• Protective sole fitting
• Cleaning and restoration
Every pair is assessed individually. If you are unsure which repair or replacement sole is suitable, we can recommend an option based on the footwear, terrain and how you intend to use it.
Official Vibram Ambassador
We are proud to be an Official Vibram Ambassador and Certified Vibram Premium Cobbler.
Working closely with Vibram gives us access to a wide range of genuine sole units, rubber compounds and specialist repair materials.
This allows us to recommend different options depending on the customer’s needs, from aggressive grip for fell running and soft ground to lightweight compounds for trail shoes, durable soles for walking and specialist rubber for climbing.
We are also an authorised repairer for NNormal, Dolomite 54 and Bareback, and we continue to work with outdoor footwear brands to develop practical repair solutions for modern footwear.
Repair instead of replace
Repairing footwear is about more than saving money.
A professional repair can extend the life of footwear that is already comfortable, broken in and suited to your feet. It also keeps usable footwear out of landfill and reduces the need to replace products that may still have many miles left in them.
Not every pair can be saved, and we will always be honest where a repair would not provide a reliable result. We would rather give straightforward advice than complete work we do not believe will perform properly.
Visit us in Kendal
Our workshop is located at:
Sole & Trail Ltd
11 The New Shambles
Kendal
Cumbria
LA9 4TS
Customers are welcome to visit us during our opening hours.
For customers elsewhere in the UK, our mail-order repair service makes it easy to send footwear to us. Choose your repair online, include your order number in the parcel and post your footwear to our Kendal workshop. Once the repair is complete, we will return it using a tracked delivery service.
Why choose Sole & Trail?
• More than a decade of shoe repair experience
• Official Vibram Ambassador
• Certified Vibram Premium Cobbler
• NNormal authorised repairer
• Dolomite 54 authorised repairer
• Bareback authorised repairer
• Specialists in running, trail and outdoor footwear
• Genuine premium repair materials
• UK-wide mail-order service
• Honest advice and transparent pricing
• Independent workshop based in Kendal
Every pair of shoes has a story.
Whether they have crossed mountain ranges, completed races, walked the school run or simply become your favourite everyday pair, we would love to help keep that story going.
For repair advice, email support@soleandtrail.co.uk with clear photographs of the footwear, including the soles and any damaged areas.