How To Care for Wrestling Shoes
Above you'll see a pair of ~30 year old German Combat Speed Wrestling shoes, valued at over $1000. Yet despite their age, they still look like they're off the showroom floor. How you ask? Proper care and storage. Without it, these shoes may have still been new with tags when I bought them, but they would've likely had many issues, the main one being dry-rotted soles.
Wrestling shoes can be prone to dry rot along with other flaws if they're stored improperly or not cared for, especially when we're talking about collector item shoes that can be 25+ years old in many cases.
In this post, I'm going to break down everything I've learned in my 10+ years of collecting about storing and caring for old-school wrestling shoes so your investment doesn't go to waste. I know as well as anyone that old-school shoes typically sell for at least $100, some even more than $1000, so keeping your shoes cared for properly is a great way to protect your investment.
Why Do Wrestling Shoes Dry Rot?
Dry rot in wrestling shoes is very common, especially on the rubber soles, but even at times on the uppers of the shoes in the fabric. Dry rot is a process where the material degrades over time. Typically people say this is due to age, but age isn't the actual reason. The reason for dry rot is typically due to moisture levels, which are impacted by how the wrestling shoes are stored.
When shoes dry rot it's often due to lack of moisture. They become very brittle, and the soles especially can literally shatter. With rubber soles, this is due to the polymers breaking apart, and eventually causing the soles to harden and crack.
In the past, I've had shoes that were brand new with the tags in such poor condition that I needed to sole swap them because their soles were dry-rotted and as hard as a brick.
Tips For Storing, Cleaning, & Caring For Old Wrestling Shoes
When it comes to shoe care, the best advice I have actually received is from the box of a pair of Reebok wrestling shoes that were over 20 years old. Simply put, it recommended the following:
- Always allow shoes to dry naturally at room temperature
- Stuff shoes with paper or store them on a shoe tree
- Do not force dry (eg. hairdryer, tumble dryer, radiator, etc)
- Use shoe polishes, creams, stain removers, etc per the manufacturers instructions
- Do not machine wash or use bleach on leather, canvas or fabrics. Use warm water and a damp cloth and mild soap to hand wash.
- Do not use water on suede and nubuck. There are cleaners specifically for this material that won't stain it.
Interested in seeing where this advice came from? Check out the box below!
Aside from the tips on the shoe box lid above, I also have compiled my best advice on storing and caring for your wrestling shoes. These are all things I do with my shoe collection to ensure they withstand the test of time.
1- Choose a Good Storage Location
Choosing a storage location is key to keeping your shoes in pristine condition. After they start to dry rot, unfortunately, it only gets worse with time.
The absolute worst places to store your rare wrestling shoes would be somewhere extremely cold, extremely hot, or somewhere prone to the elements.
For my shoe collection, I avoid putting any of my shoes in the attic, garage, or basement of my home. This keeps them out of the most extreme conditions and temperatures of the house. All of these areas are prone to frequent changes in temperature and moisture levels, making them not a good place for your shoes. I keep my shoes in my guest bedroom, which is ideal because it's temperature and moisture-controlled year-round.
The other issue with attics, basements, and garages is that they have frequent guests such as mice and bugs. If mice get into the box you're storing your shoes in, they'll likely be disgusting by the time you find them, and at times unsalvagable.
2- Store Your Shoes Properly
As easy as it is to leave your shoes in your wrestling bag year round so they're ready to go for your next practice or tournament, don't do this. Dark, damp shoes are prone to bacteria and mold.
I also avoid putting shoes in plastic containers or bags. Though it will keep them clear of dust, the shoes will be deprived of fresh air and moisture can get locked into the area, which results in smelly shoes, bacteria, and even at times dry rot.
On top of where you store your shoes, how you store them is also important. I personally will put old crumbled newspaper or paper towel balls in the toes of the shoes. This will help them keep their shape over time, especially if you're not wearing them every day. It can also help to avoid having too much moisture in them and reduce odor for shoes that are used.
I have also heard from a few friends who collect retro basketball shoes that they will put gel silica packets in their shoes, especially if they're keeping them in a box. These help to absorb moisture, so they're a must if you do decide to store your shoes somewhere airtight like a plastic box. You can order these by the hundreds for very cheap on Amazon!
3- Kill the Bacteria on Your Shoes
Let's face it, buying rare shoes is cool, but can also be gross. Some shoes at this point have had over a dozen owners, so I don't want to slide my feet into anything that has 12 people's sweaty feet in them.
One of the best habits I've gotten into for my shoes is using a UV light on them to help kill bacteria. This can lead to gross odors throughout your house and more. I purchased a UV Shoe Sanitizer from LED Technologies a while back as this tool is designed to kill bacteria, mold, and fungus with UV light. You simply put it in your shoes, turn it on, and then unplug it when it's done (which I believe is in 15 minutes). Doing this for any shoe you purchase second-hand or wear is a must on an ongoing basis in my opinion! Most wrestling shoes should be hand-washed. I definitely won't be throwing a pair of my teal 88 West Germans in any washing machine or even washing them myself as I'm not a professional shoe cleaner, so this is a great alternative with basically no risk of damaging the shoes.
Below you'll see an image of my 1995 Takedown Supremes using the UV Shoe Sanitizer!
For newer, less expensive shoes, I have just simply run them through the washing machine on a cold cycle. Though this could cause issues, I haven't ever experienced any so I'd say it's relatively low risk. If the shoes aren't overly valuable, I'm fine taking that risk. I just don't prefer to go this route with rare shoes. If I truly had a pair that needed professionally cleaned, I would do just that and send them to a professional.
4- Wear Your Shoes
Oddly enough, one of the best ways to keep your shoes from dry rotting and having issues is to wear them! Shoes weren't meant to just sit on a shelf. They were meant to be worn. This keeps the outer layer of the sole from hardening and keeps your shoes flexible while using them as they were intended to be used. Don't take my word for it! Check out the picture below of vintagevhate420, who has one of the best shoe collections in the world, rocking a pair of $2000+ Pink 88 West Germans at a practice. He even started a hashtag that's taken off in the collector community which is #WDYWT (what did you wear today).
What To Do If Your Shoes Are Ruined From Improper Care?
If you have a pair of shoes that are ruined, whether that be a blow out from them being worn so long, or even a dry rotted sole, I'm happy to help. Though I can't do anything to fix them, I have a blog located here with numerous shoe collectors who specialize in shoe repairs and customizations. You would be surprised at how good some of these people are at making your old, beat up shoes look new again.
If you have other questions, feel free to drop them in the comments below. Though I may not have all the answers, I'm happy to help wherever I can for those looking to learn about wrestling shoes!
Meet The Author
I'm Nolan Barger. I've been collecting wrestling shoes for over 15 years, and I'm the owner of Rare Wrestling Shoes Co. I've bought, sold, and traded more than 1000 pairs of shoes in these years and currently have around 150 pairs in my collection.
As my day job, I work for WebFX, a digital marketing agency headquartered in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. I built this site to combine my love for digital marketing with my love for wrestling and wrestling shoes. My goal of it is to provide helpful information such as photos, price ranges, and more for those looking to learn more about the shoes they have or are looking for.
In my wrestling career, I was a PA state medalist and a 3x NCAA All-American for Lycoming College.
If you have any questions about wrestling shoes, please drop a comment below. I'll do my best to provide you with answers!
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About Rare Wrestling Shoes Co:
As a wrestling shoe collector for over 15 years, I'm constantly trying to buy new shoes and learn the history behind them. If you have questions about old-school wrestling shoes, shoot me a message.
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I’m looking for a pair of Bruce Baumgartner size 10 or 11 for my grandson, an up and coming wrestler in the state of Maryland. I found your article on shoe care interesting and informative. Obviously, it’s the identical last name associated with champion Bruce Baumgartner that has peaked my grandson’s interest in these shoes.
I don’t have any at this time, but they’re great shoes! I’d recommend keeping an eye on ebay as well as other selling sites, or finding some sellers on instagram! There are thousands of collectors on instagram that buy and sell there.
Best,
Nolan