Which glue for my shoe?

June 25, 2018 8:45 PM

My hiking shoes are coming apart. Please suggest a proper adhesive to put them back together

My old, trustworthy Merrell Reactor Ventilator hiking/trail shoes are starting to pull apart where the upper joins the base (in the picture, it’s where the upper meets the light gray cushioning.) From the looks of things, I think I could squeeze a dollop of adhesive into the void and fix it up. But what glue to use?

Obviously, the adhesive would need to be waterproof. I would think it should also have to be able to endure a lot of flexion, compression, shear, and movement without losing grip. I guess it would also be good if it didn’t dissolve man-made materials on contact.

What glue am I looking for?

posted by Thorzdad to Grab Bag (9 answers total)

Shoe Goo! That's what you need. It's fixed shoes of mine very well: running shoes, Tevas, and slippers. It adheres, is flexible, and lasts. It's an excellent glue for sticking many things, and excels with shoes.
posted by anadem at 8:51 PM on June 25, 2018 [1 favorite]

My dad always used Shoe Goo on his running shoes but I've never tried it myself.
posted by bendy at 8:51 PM on June 25, 2018

You want Cotol 240 primer (ignore the tube of AquaSeal that comes with it) and McNett Freesole, no question. Much, much stronger than shoe goo. The choice of thru hikers. I put some on my Vasques last summer when the soles started to delaminate in just exactly the way yours are, and then I put hundreds of miles of rough use on those boots—rock scrambles, water crossings, days of rain, you name it—and it hasn't budged even slightly. You can also use alcohol as a primer but Cotol 240 is recommended. For what it's worth, I did my first and largest repair with just alcohol and it's held up just as well. Be sure to clean the delaminating area well before repairing. Also, I wrapped my boots in rubber bands for 24 hours while the glue cured.
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 9:00 PM on June 25, 2018 [7 favorites]

E6000 is similar to shoe-goo but it dries thinner and more flexibly. Available at most sewing & craft stores, takes 12 hours to feel dry but give it 24 and the bond will be like new
posted by wowenthusiast at 10:06 PM on June 25, 2018

Also seconding the using rubber bands (or some string or whatever) as a free-form clamping mechanism to hold your materials in place as they dry. This is crucial.
posted by wowenthusiast at 10:10 PM on June 25, 2018 [1 favorite]

I’ve used Shoe Goo with positive result.
posted by samthemander at 10:51 PM on June 25, 2018

Yes, Shoe Goo has saved my sole many times. I've also used Gorilla Glue to tack down a loose tread on a sneaker.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 2:21 AM on June 26, 2018

Seconding E6000, which I have used to repair my delaminating orthotics.
posted by sarajane at 3:23 AM on June 26, 2018

Is replacing them an option? Is the repair to last only a week or two until a fresh pair is bought? Shoes like those last only about 500 miles/6-12 months and then thrown away unlike Vasque Sundowners. The adhesive joing the sole and uppers is a sign that it's time to replace them. If the adhesive gave up, so has the tread; it probably doesn't grip as well as it used to. Other things that wear out but don't have obvious signs are cushioning (can get flattened, dried out, and fail to absorb stress and pounding) and the heel counter (the cardboard isn't a stiff and doesn't control as well anymore), and any water resistant coating. Another sign that it's time to replace them is that Merrell doesn't sell them any more.
posted by dlwr300 at 8:53 AM on June 26, 2018