Custom Wrestling Shoes

Custom Nike Inflicts are pictured first and second is a pair of Asic Intensity Wrestling Shoes soleswapped with Asic Aggressor bottoms.  Both were done by toughsoleswaps, who can be found on Instagram.  He is one of the best in the business when it comes to custom shoes.

Custom wrestling shoes is a trend you see more and more of everyday.  Lets face it, reviving a pair of shoes that were once called "irreparable" is pretty awesome.  If I had every pair of rare wrestling shoes my older brother threw out when I was growing up due to sole blowouts, or other problems, I'd like to think my collection would be worth double its current value.  Nowadays, throwing out a pair of old shoes is just dumb.  People now not only can replace your old soles with new ones, but they can do so in a way that the shoes still feel normal.  This process, known as "soleswapping" can be done for a reasonable price as well.

I love the fact that you can now bring a "ruined" pair of shoes back to life, but it does have its downsides.  The biggest one I see is the mispricing of custom shoes on the secondary market.  Any antique is worth more if it is all original.  Any street shoe is worth more if it is in original condition.  Why do people think this is different for wrestling shoes?  People take shoes, such as original inflicts, replace the soles so they have a different colored bottom, and then want as much, or even more for them than they would have got for the inflicts in the first place.  It doesn't make any sense to me.

Another downside to these customs is finding a trustworthy person to make them.  Customs can be so much more than just soleswaps.  People nowadays are having their school logos, favorite sports teams, and a million other things put on their shoes.  The big recommendation I have for you when it comes to custom shoemakers or shoe repairmen is to do your research.  Any fool can "repair" shoes with a glob of shoe goo, or "customize" them by using a sharpie marker or a paint pen, but in the end it won't hold up.  Find someone with skill, that has experience, or you may end up with a pair of shoes that are worse than what you started with.

Custom wrestling shoes are genius.  They can set your pair apart from anyone elses, but be aware, if you go and stitch your high school logo on a rare pair of shoes, it could really hurt your chances of reselling them.  If you're like me, and have some shoes you don't ever plan on getting rid of, by all means do it if you please.  I love the idea of bringing old shoes back to life, or putting your own touch to a new pair, but as I mentioned before, original condition is worth the most at the end of the day.  The shoes pictured above are done by toughsoleswaps, who I believe is the best in the business for those planning on having a pair of shoes customized, or planning on bringing that old pair in their closet back to life.