 |
Shoe repair kits are available at most outdoors store that sell hiking boots. Usually the kits contain useful shoe glue and quality patches.
Loose sole
Called delamination, this occurs when the manufacturer's glue no longer bonds the sole to the upper. Begin the repair by cleaning the upper’s leather and the sole’s rubber with alcohol pads. Next, apply a generous amount of shoe glue, specifically made of urethane, to where the sole meets the upper. Use weight to hold the sole and the upper tight to one another – duct tape works well for this – and let it dry overnight.
Pitted leather
So long as the hole hasn't gone all the way through the leather, superglue can be be used to fill the pit. Once the glue dries, sand down the glue to ensure it’s even with the surrounding upper.
Torn leather along sole
You can hand sew a leather patch over the boot’s ripped up portion. Begin by cutting an unfinished suede leather patch so it neatly covers the affected area. Use shoe glue to hold the patch in place. Finally, sew the patch into the leather; be forewarned that leather is difficult to sew through, and you may want to find a professional to repair this damage.
Learn about trail guidebooks available in the Hittin’ the Trail series.
