Welt repair

Welt repair fixes or replaces the strip of leather that joins a Goodyear-welted upper to the sole, without necessarily resoling the whole shoe.

Why the welt goes before the sole

The welt sits low to the ground and takes constant flex and moisture. On an otherwise sound pair, the welt stitching or the welt itself can rot or tear years before the sole wears through.

Not the same job as a resole

A resole replaces the sole; a welt repair replaces the join underneath it. A cobbler can often do one without the other, which is why it is worth asking for separately rather than assuming a full resole is needed.