various shoe constructions and sole replacement

[Guest]

At various times and in various locations, people have written that an important property of Goodyear (and similar) construction is that it makes the soles "easy" to replace. I think I have replaced no more than a handful of shoe soles in my life, but I do not remember my shoemaker's ever coimmenting he could not replace a pair of shoe soles, only whether the shoes were worth it. Even if a sole were cemented on, I am not sure why he could not just rip it off and glue a new one on.

Ron Rider of Martigani once told me that Blake Rapid soles can also be replaced.

So, I ask, which construction makes the soles NOT replaceable? Is this a non-issue? Are all the constructions replaceable?

[Guest]

Keep in mind that even soles on Goodyear-welted and Blake-constructed shoes are glued on. It's just that they're stitched, too. I would imagine that replacing the sole on driving mocs or shoes with molded rubber soles would be impossible. It should be possible for just about any other method of construction, assuming that you can find someone with the skills and the equipment necessary to do the job. Don't take your Norwegian-constructed shoes to your corner shoe hospital, though.