I would like to know what other OMers do with their old boots when they are beyond repair. Do you ditch them, like an old partner, or do you give them to an organisation that can still make use of them?
I have two pairs of Scarpa SL's with the soles in reasonable condition but the uppers are cracked and because they have been lying about the house a bit on the brittle side.
I would have liked them to go to the sherpas in the Himalayas but the cost would be prohibitive.
I have done a search but can't see anything there.
Do you give your ex-partners to organisations that can still make use of them, then?? ;-)
I usually keep my old boots in the hope that they'll "come in handy". At the last counting, I have three pairs of boots in various states of wear, all of which I use on and off (the oldest ones for pottering around in the woods, mostly), and about four pairs which are totally worn out. Since the oldest ones are now too small for me, there's not really much point in keeping them anymore ... but I just hate throwing things away!
If the uppers are trashed, I'd just bin them. You could try one of the leather restorers on the market, but if the leather's cracked, then it's pretty much the end, I think.
As far as getting kit out to Nepal, your best bet is probably to see if you know anyone going out there. There's a porter's clothing bank - do a search for IPPG, or the 'International Porter Protection Group on google - but as far as I know, they don't have any collection arrangements in the UK.
I have an ancient pair of Scarpa fabric boots, on their third resole which feel like carpet slippers. To be honest, I just keep them for old time's sake though...
if you need them refurbihing send them to www.altberg.co.uk/ they do a cracking job. I sent an old pair of Gronell's a while back cracked right through they patched them and sealed them still going strong.For those folk with leaky GTX liners don't bin 'em send them to Altberg they can fit new ones.
I have given mine to the DOE store when I was a trainer in school for the kids who don't want to spend a fortune on boots that they will outgrow in 6 months. Otherwise, kit goes to the charity shop if it good enough for resale.
